Last month, PWCC was rebranded as Fanatics Collect, a move that has major implications for the sports collectibles category. Sotheby's is partnering with the iconic sports merch seller Fanatics to tap into an audience of collectors. Fanatics, one of the top sellers of sports merchandise, is teaming up with the storied auction house on Fanatics Collectibles. This step redoes the basics of the trading card market, allowing collectors to touch some of the rarest and most valuable trading cards, some of which are valued at $100,000 and higher.
Fanatics' Strategic Move
Fanatics acquired the prestigious trading card brand Topps in January 2022, marking its biggest move into the collectibles space yet. Immediately, this strategic acquisition made Fanatics one of the biggest fish in the sports collectibles pond - opening the door for even bigger moves that followed en masse.
Rebranded as Fanatics Collect
PWCC Rebranding to Fanatics Collect: A Historic Moment for the Company Fanatics has also confirmed that all services previously provided by PWCC - including auctions, vaulting, marketplace listings, and authentication - will now be provided under the Fanatics Collect brand. The reimagination of this marketplace aspires to be the most trusted and exciting destination of collectibles at every price point for every collector.
Sotheby's Partnership
Unveiling Rare Trading Cards
The partnership with Sotheby's has unlocked several new pathways for collectors to acquire the very best trading cards on the market via a series of live and online auctions specific to cards. Having both intentions to accelerate transactions, and bring a positive cultural touch to the hobby, CompatActivity is partnering with Youtooz. Among the dozens of offerings is the card poised to be the sports card highlight of the year – a 1948 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson card (PSA 8) that is expected to sell for $275,000 to $350,000 at the live auction slated for September in New York.
Ushering in a New Era
Fanatics and the MLBPA intend to further the evolution of the trading card market through this initiative. That goes to show what a big milestone this is for the trading card community, which is both large and active. It is not just about buying or selling; it is adapting to a new era of excitement, innovation, and access.
New Marketplace Features
A re-imagined Circular Economy: The New and Improved Fixed-Price Marketplace Experience Brand New Weekly and Monthly Auctions Additionally, the platform has plans to launch peer-to-peer trading, AI concierge services, card scanning, and digital collectibles later this year. Fanatics launches NFT trading card marketplace. These new tools are part of the Fanatics roadmap to offering a robust NFT trading card platform
Fanatics Fest NYC
Held at the Javits Center, the event will include celebrity appearances, collectible-themed livestreams, and a retail "superstore" for sports fans, along with exclusive apparel collaborations, and trading card drops that will be co-presented by Topps. It exhibits Fanatics' commitment to interacting with global sports fans and collectors.
In short, Fanatics rebranding of PWCC as Fanatics Collect, as well as its partnership with Sotheby's represents a seismic change within the sports collectibles industry. On one hand, it does indicate just to what length Fanatics is willing to go to cement itself as one of the primary power brokers of the sports collectibles landscape, but it also might be an avenue for high-end, sought-after trading cards to reach collectors. The sports collectibles world will now embark on an exciting, transformative journey with the introduction of Fanatics Collect and an entirely new way for collectors to enjoy one-of-a-kind, accessible experiences.
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