ESPN and Upper Deck Reach Multi-Year Agreement for ESPN-Branded Card Collection
ESPN and Upper Deck have reached a multi-year agreement to produce an ESPN-branded trading card
collection. Upper Deck will create and distribute cards for baseball, basketball, football and hockey,
incorporating ESPN's signature style to each trading card. The series will launch with a 90-card baseball
set in spring 2005. Trading cards will be sold at mass retailers and hobby stores nationwide at a suggested
retail price of $2.99 per pack.
Each sport-specific set will showcase the game's elite performers with themed cards based on ESPN's programming
lineup, featuring SportsCenter, The ESPY Awards, ESPN Classic SportsCentury, Baseball Tonight, NBA Fastbreak,
NFL Live and more. For example, LeBron James -- who won a 2004 ESPY Award for "Best Breakthrough Athlete"
-- will be featured on a special ESPY Award winners card. The ESPN series also will include biographical information
and statistical details on the back of each trading card.
"The leading sports entertainment company is teaming with the leading sports and entertainment trading card
company to create a product for both the hardcore and casual collector," said Rick Alessandri, senior vice president
and general manager, ESPN Enterprises. "ESPN-branded trading cards will contain the creative ingenuity of ESPN and
Upper Deck's distinct products."
"The Upper Deck Company continues to attract market leaders such as ESPN that believe in our long-term growth
prospects, product innovation, and pioneering spirit," said Louise Curcio, vice president of marketing, Upper Deck
Company. "This agreement further allows us to deliver amazing content to our expanding consumer base which brings
them closer to the action on the field."
ESPN, Inc.
ESPN, Inc. is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50
multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of seven domestic television networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS,
ESPN Deportes, ESPNU (launching March 2005), ESPN Today, ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD (launched January 2005), ESPN Regional Television,
ESPN International (networks and syndication), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, SportsTicker, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN
Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN 360 (broadband), ESPN Mobile, ESPN
Video-on-Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV.
The Upper Deck Company
The Upper Deck Co., LLC is a premier global sports and entertainment-publishing company that delivers a portfolio of relevant, innovative and multi-dimensional product experiences to collectors, sports and entertainment enthusiasts. Founded in 1988, The
Upper Deck. Co., LLC is located in Carlsbad, Calif. For more information on the Upper Deck Company and its products visit www.upperdeck.com.
Source: The Upper Deck Co, LLC
Date: April 14, 2005
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