The public tussle between Fanatics/Topps and Panini has been tumultuous for everyone involved, including the collectors. All bets are off, and collectors worldwide are wondering about the future value of their prized cards. Learn all about the potential future value of Panini NBA cards and how to estimate upcoming Panini NFL card values with this Giant Sports Cards guide.
Recap: What Happened To The Panini License?
Both companies are locked in an antitrust suit at the moment. The latest arbitration ruling gives Panini the right to continue producing licensed NFL cards until further orders. Prior to the NFLPA’s premature contract termination, Panini held the rights to the NFL license until 2026. If nothing changes now, collectors will have access to all-new licensed NFL Topps sports cards in 2026.
The Panini news doesn’t get better on the football card front either, with Panini set to lose the NBA license in 2025.
Panini’s Loss, Your Gain
All that said, it’s not all gloom and doom, especially if you’re a seasoned collector. Let’s take a look at the bright side of the Panini-Fanatics fiasco.
All-New Inventory
Panini football cards have been on the shelves for years now. They’ve had the time to establish a solid community, and collectors know what to expect when they pick up a hobby case. The downside of this consistency is that Panini’s designs have gotten stale over the years—at least according to some collectors.
This latest piece of Panini news could be a good sign for collectors who have been waiting for something new. We can already see this happening with the hype around the return of Topps Chrome basketball cards. A few different things could happen now:
- Panini might be forced to overhaul its existing approach to card design. Collectors might see all-new parallels heading into 2025. This could impact the value of Panini’s NBA cards once the license switches over.
- Topps/Fanatics will have to work hard to convert the Panini loyalists. A recent example of this is their exclusive autograph deal with Victor Wembanyama for the 2024 Topps Mercury release.
Competition is always good for the customer, and we’re seeing that adage play out in real-time with the Panini vs. Topps clash.
Cheaper Hobby Boxes
Collectors generally believe that the Panini news will put downward pressure on Panini NFL card values. There are two ways to look at this:
- A dedicated Panini collector waiting to pick up and trade basketball cards in 2025-26 might be disappointed. Unlicensed cards tend to be less valuable than their licensed counterparts.
- A collector who’s in it for the long run could see this as an opportunity to get a great deal on Panini hobby boxes. There’s always going to be a niche market for certain popular player cards, even if they’re unlicensed.
As a collector, you should never underestimate the power of nostalgia. Panini cards might be going out of fashion for certain collectors today, but nostalgia for the older designs are bound to set in as time passes and people get used to Topps releases. Consider what happened to ‘09 Upper Deck products once they lost the NBA license.
Selective Sets
The Panini news could be great for those with the patience to play the long game. Panini NBA card values might remain stable through 2025 despite the license changes because of the strong presence of niche collectors in the market. These collectors are always looking to build selective sets focusing only on a single brand or product lineup, like Panini Chronicles. This could be a great time to stock up on those Panini sports cards to cater to that market.
What About The Current Panini Lineup?
If you’re worried about your current or older Panini sports cards losing value, don’t be! The current batch of licensed cards is likely going to hold its value very well heading into 2025-26, despite the Panini news. These Panini cards might even become more valuable, considering they’re going to be the last group of licensed Panini NBA/NFL sports cards for a while.
So, What Are The Downsides?
Current Panini NFL card values might hold steady in the future, but it won’t all be smooth sailing.
There’s going to be a ton of speculative buying and selling due to the license changes.
Collectors will be looking to pick up new sports card releases and flip them once market conditions turn favorable. This might affect the availability of the last batch of licensed hobby cases. We recommend pre-ordering upcoming sports card releases from a trusted retailer like Giant Sports Cards if you’re worried about availability.
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