Media Release For Immediate Publishing
IPL and Topps partner to introduce exciting and new Trading Card Game
Topps Company Inc., is the world leader in sports and entertainment collectables
New Delhi, March 19, 2010: The Indian Premier League and Topps Company, Inc., a leader in sports and entertainment collectables worldwide, today announced a long term partnership to launch a range of exciting and new collectable products and trading cards for the IPL in 2011. Topps has been the market leader for collectable trading cards since inventing the modern trading card in 1952.
As part of this association, Topps will introduce a range of IPL collectables that will include stickers, albums and trading cards, which will be sold both at retail and digitally. Topps will support the partnership with a substantial marketing campaign, including TV and sampling initiatives as well as a nationwide ‘Game Play demonstration tour’, which will allow children to play and swap their IPL collectables.
Sundar Raman, Chief Operating Officer, Indian Premier League, said, “This alliance with Topps – the world leader in collectables, is part of our effort to actively engage IPL fans across multiple platforms. Collectable trading cards are an integral part of any fan experience globally and through this partnership we are happy to introduce Indian fans to this unique and exciting global concept. There have been numerous instances where collectable trading cards of famous players have become invaluable to their owners. I am certain that this association with Topps will set a trend in world cricket for others to follow.”
Michael Eisner, Chairman, Topps further added, "Topps trading cards and stickers are, around the globe, an integral part of the history and heritage of many sports. Our relationship with the IPL today marks the start of a new era for IPL cricket fans that will enable them to connect with their sport, their team and their heroes through the medium of Topps products. The IPL is the most successful and exciting sports league to have been launched in the last 20 years and I am thrilled that Topps will be part of it".
Chris Rodman, Topps Vice President said, “The Topps business has, like the IPL, has been built on creativity, innovation & dynamism and it is these skills that we will harness in generating mass consumer appeal for an exciting range of IPL collectables. Few properties in the world can rival the IPL for passion and interest and when this is allied to Topps trading cards and stickers we are confident in building a long term franchise that will benefit IPL cricket fans around the globe.”
Headquartered in New York, Topps distributes throughout the world via a network of international offices. The company has sold more trading cards in the world than anyone else. Topps’ English Premier League Match Attax trading card product is the world’s most successful sports trading card.
Besides the English Premier League, Topps offers a wide range of both sport and entertainment collectables including products featuring the Bundesliga football, Serie A football, Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Start Wars, Ben 10 and Disney’s Club Penguin.
About Topps Company, Inc.
Topps is an international marketer of entertainment products, principally collectible trading cards, confections, sticker collections, and collectible strategy games.
The Topps Company was founded in 1938 as Topps Chewing Gum, and in its early years produced a popular penny "Topps Gum" from a factory in Brooklyn, N.Y. After World War II, the company developed Bazooka Bubble Gum, and in 1950, added trading cards to its product line. Baseball cards appeared in 1951 and quickly became a vital part of pop culture, a tradition that continues to this day, and includes football (both American and European) and basketball, in addition to entertainment cards and stickers and albums. In July 2003, Topps acquired WizKids, LLC a designer and marketer of collectible strategy games. Topps was acquired in October 2007 by Madison Dearborn Partners, a private equity group, and Michael Eisner, former CEO of Disney. Now headquartered in New York City, Topps maintains offices in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, and Argentina, in addition to the U.S.
Topps also manufactures the popular lollipop brands marketed as Ring Pops, Push Pops, Baby Bottle Pops and other novelty candy and gum products.
