Latest news with #FanaticsCollectibles
New York Times
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Lewis Hamilton signs multi-year deal with Fanatics Collectibles, shares his favorite things to collect
Fanatics Collectibles has signed a multi-year partnership with seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who began the new season with Ferrari after 12 years with Mercedes. The deal covers both memorabilia and trading cards, and includes an exclusive autograph deal, allowing for Hamilton signatures and race-worn items to be a part of his cards produced by Topps, which is owned by Fanatics. This individual deal is a new one, as Hamilton was previously included in Topps' trading cards through the brand's F1 rights. Advertisement This past Friday, Hamilton appeared at the grand opening of Fanatics Collectibles London Flagship Store on Regent Street. There he signed his first Topps Chrome F1 one-of-one card featuring him in a Ferrari race suit (pictured below), along with a 'Forza Ferrari' inscription and autograph on a red parallel of the card limited to just five in existence. Topps has held the Formula 1 trading card and sticker license since 2020, capitalizing on the sport's global surge in popularity following the 2019 debut of Netflix's Drive to Survive docuseries. This also coincided with the pandemic trading card boom that drove up values across all categories. As a result, there have been at least eight sales of Topps F1 cards for more than $100,000, including the Dec. 2024 sale of Hamilton's one-of-a-kind 2020 Topps Chrome F1 autographed Superfractor for more than $1 million. Hamilton cards make up each of the top three publicly known F1 card sales to date, with the other two being his 2020 Topps Chrome F1 (non-autographed) Superfractor, which sold for $900,000 in May 2022 and his 2020 Topps Chrome F1 Sapphire Edition Padparadscha 1/1 card for $740,000 in Sept. 2022. Before jetting off to Florida for the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton spoke exclusively with The Athletic about the new deal, what he collects, and the young drivers card collectors should chase. What made you want to sign exclusively for Fanatics? Well, I remember I met with (Fanatics CEO Michael) Rubin, and I love his enthusiasm. It was really interesting to learn from him about the business, to see (how its) grown. As a kid, I remember collecting Premier League stickers, and I remember swapping them through junior school, even into high school. And I remember just how important it was because always every little bit of change I would get, I would go down and get these little packs and we were (trading) them to be able to fill out those sticker books. Advertisement And when I got into Formula 1, I never thought there would be a memorabilia card of mine. But I have also always been really keen on holding on to my memorabilia, for one day to be able to utilize and to raise money for charity because it's so personal. It's just been incredible to see people around the world just collecting these cards. Obviously, I saw baseball cards over the years, and it's only the last few years that our sport have finally gotten into it. And I wanted to get involved, as it brings people together. As you see today, sheesh there's a lot of memorabilia collectors in for our sport that's super passionate. Those guys are the most passionate because they're going to all ends to try and find these cards. How was it meeting collectors today and what do you think about the Fanatics Collectibles store? It was really personal to see, to meet some of these collectors. Particularly the guy that has one of my one-of-one cards. And he was telling me the story of how he grew up watching Formula 1, and Arsenal and me. It was basically what he was into. So it was kind of surreal because I was like, dude, you look the same age as me. But I thought that was really cool. And we got to open up some of the boxes. It's been amazing to see the brand and how it's grown and how strategic they've been in terms of pulling all the sports together under one umbrella so it's not so tacky, like, being done by so many different companies. And just executed so well. I mean, this store is huge. And the crowd; I came today, I wasn't expecting 10 people. I was expecting a lot of people. And it's been incredible to see front and back just how many people have turned up and it's going to be really interesting. And now I have a place actually that I can come and get my collectibles, which is really cool. Which items have you kept from your career and cherish the most? There's been too many. There's my first go-kart helmet, my first yellow helmet, which my dad painted. That one is probably the most special I would say. Because I remember choosing it, going down to B&Q (hardware store) and coming back with him and him spraying it. My first Monaco Grand Prix trophy, my first race suit. Those things. The first, the first, the first of anything. Same as the cards, the one-of-ones. Advertisement Today I have lots of suits and we go through them. We go through many through the year. But, back then, I only had one for I don't know, God knows how many years. And so those ones are particularly special. How does it feel to be the first F1 driver to have a trading card sell for $1 million? I mean, it's pretty crazy. I've never thought that would ever be the case. The story of it, where the kid had bought it through a pack, the difference that purchase would have made to him and his family would have been huge. I can only imagine these things are just going to continue to go up now, especially with the store opening. I know there's another big launch of another league coming up and just the growth of the business. It's got me really hooked. I was opening up those boxes just now, and I was like, I need to get myself some more of these boxes. Actually, I didn't even take my Ayrton Senna one, damn it. Which young driver would you collect cards of? Naturally, Kimi (Antonelli). (Oliver) Bearman. Isack Hadjar is probably my favorite, he's really cool. What do you collect outside of memorabilia? So I was originally into cars. Now I'm heavy into art. I really, really love art. I love going to galleries. I just love the experience of it. But, car wise, of course I love vintage cars still, but I never ever drive and never have time to go and drive. But to actually sit at home with a glass of wine and admire a piece of art. I got home two days ago, and I just remember walking in. The first thing I did, I dropped my bag, went to this room, and just sat and just looked at this painting that I've managed to get and I just can't believe that I got this painting. But, that's my favorite thing to invest in. I really, really love to buy young up-and-coming black artists as well, and African art. There's just so much to learn in that world. That's what I spend most of my time searching online for. What's the weirdest item that you've been asked to sign? I would say probably the strangest thing was a pair of Japanese boxer shorts. And they were really tiny. They were really small. I didn't know if they were women's hot pants or what. I was like, where do you want me to sign these? 'Just across the butt,' they said. I was like, 'this is so weird,' but I signed them anyways. The guy was enthusiastic. So I just imagine him dancing in his wardrobe in them. (Laughs) The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (All images: Fanatics)
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Collectible trading cards backed to sweep the nation after opening of flagship new London store
Collectible trading cards are set to sweep the UK as the next big trend, according to Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin. The American billionaire was in London to launch the new flagship Fanatics Collectibles store on Regent Street as the booming collectibles hobby scene heads to the UK after becoming big business in the States. Rubin was joined by Rio Ferdinand to launch the store, as well as Premier League stars such as Dominic Solanke, Tosin Adarabioyo and Destiny Udogie, as fans got a first look at a wide-range of rare and exclusive collectible items. 'It's super exciting,' said Rubin. 'There are more than 1,000 hobby stores in America, there are very few over here. You come to Europe and if you're lucky there are 100 hobby stores in all of Europe. 'We wanted to open something that showcases the hobby that we are so proud of. This is an incredible location, an incredible city to open so many people's eyes who don't understand collecting. 'Only a small, single-digit percentage of people that collect cards in America, and it's much smaller over here. It shows us how much growth is ahead of us, how early we are in this incredible hobby. 'This store is going to introduce so many people that aren't collectors to the hobby, and that's incredible for us. This is all about taking people that have heard about it and getting them into it. That's an incredible opportunity for us.' Rubin has already experienced collectibles success in America, having transitioned into the market in 2021. Fanatics secured rights with leagues such as the NBA and MLB before expanding its portfolio to include the NFL, WWE and UFC. Now, Fanatics has secured the rights for Premier League trading cards to go alongside its Champions League rights as it looks to revolutionise the football collectibles market. He added: 'London is such a great hub, so many people come through the city and to be able to have them come see these incredible cards. We are launching Premier League cards in a couple of months, we are the exclusive makers of Premier League cards, Champions League cards, the same goes for F1 – sports that are so beloved here. We are going to showcase the great things we do.' The store, just moments from the iconic Piccadilly Circus, officially opened on 25 April and plays host to some of the rarest and most sought-after cards worldwide in its central ring display. It also contains an innovative studio for live streaming and content creation and a number of other interactive features, as well as the opportunity to purchase cards and other collectibles. 'The launch of our flagship store represents a game-changing moment for the hobby,' said David Leiner, President of Trading Cards for Fanatics. 'The store is packed full of innovative features that make it so much more than a retail space; it is designed to unite seasoned collectors, welcome fans who are new to the hobby, and bring a burgeoning community together around the excitement and unpredictability that makes trading cards so special.'
Associated Press
14-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Watkins becomes first women's college athlete to sign with Fanatics sports merchandise platform
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Fanatics and Fanatics Collectibles sports merchandise platforms announced a multi-year deal Friday with Southern California women's basketball star JuJu Watkins. Fanatics said Watkins is the first women's college athlete to sign a deal with the company. The returning All-American is the nation's No. 2 scorer and a leading candidate for national player of the year honors. Fans will be able to purchase Watkins-themed memorabilia through Fanatics, such as autographed photos and basketballs. The partnership will mark the first time she is featured in a USC uniform in a standard trading-card offering. Her first standard card will be in 2025 Bowman University Chrome Basketball.
