Panini, renowned for its sports trading cards, has made a significant foray into the world of golf with an exclusive partnership announcement with LIV Golf on a Thursday. This groundbreaking collaboration grants Panini the exclusive rights to produce and distribute trading cards featuring the talented players associated with LIV Golf. While Panini has a rich history in crafting golf cards under the Donruss brand since the early ’80s, this deal marks a fresh start following Panini’s acquisition of Donruss.
The agreement paves the way for Panini to introduce a brand-new line of golf trading card products, offering avid fans and collectors worldwide something truly distinctive. The initial offerings from Panini will range from physical trading cards to items such as match-worn memorabilia and player autographs. Noteworthy is the debut of LIV Golf trading cards under Panini’s esteemed Prizm and Impeccable brands, alongside the innovative Panini Instant card program capturing gripping moments from tournaments and seasons, and the LIV Golf Team sets.
With 54 players signed up to LIV Golf for the upcoming 2024 season, the tour, established in 2022 with backing from Saudi Arabia, is set to host the majority of its 14 tournaments outside the U.S., incorporating a team dynamic into its 54-hole competitions. Panini has wasted no time and has already begun promoting the 2024 LIV team sets on its platform, signaling the swift progress of this partnership.
Greg Norman, the Commissioner and CEO of LIV Golf, expressed his thrill at the alliance with Panini, emphasizing the opportunity to introduce cutting-edge products to a global audience of passionate fans and collectors. This collaboration is not only set to raise the profiles of LIV Golf players and teams in the collectibles domain but is also a step echoed by Ian Poulter, the co-captain of Majesticks GC, who expressed his delight in partnering with a leading trading card brand.
Mark Warsop, the CEO of Panini America, highlighted the distinctive and inventive format of LIV Golf as a pivotal factor behind this partnership. Warsop is of the belief that the team and league structure of LIV Golf bring forth new elements of collectability for fans. He sees the appeal of LIV Golf to younger demographics and its roster of elite players aligning seamlessly with Panini’s brand image, setting the stage for a prosperous collaboration and the establishment of a dedicated fan base.
As Panini gears up to unveil this thrilling new collection, LIV Golf boasts a lineup of stellar players, including multiple major championship victors and other icons of the sport, promising a captivating product lineup for enthusiasts and collectors alike. This partnership emerges at a time when Upper Deck is on the brink of launching its latest golf set featuring PGA Tour luminaries, indicating a growing enthusiasm for golf memorabilia and trading cards in the marketplace.
