Topps out---Fanatics in

[JRX]

Originally Posted by nera20

i think the Fanatics deal could end up being a good thingfor the hobby they can go to topps, upper deck, and panini and say you work for us and produce the products since we have all the rights and for each sport they are required to produce 15 products a year for each sport and and all products contain team logos and names.

This way as a hobby the collectors get more choices and no non licensed products.

Football and basketball get Topps Chrome, Topps Flagship, Definitive

Basketball, Baseball and Football get Exquisite, Sp Authentic again

Baseball gets Flawless, National Treasures

All with Logos again

Could be great for the Hobby and Collectors

Only flippers may have a issue with somethings

Overall if handled the right way this could be fantastic but only time will tell.

Ignoring the idea of giving other people a cut, given the size of the deal, they can't just do what the other companies did and turn a profit unless they either dramatically increase costs or cut out all the middlemen.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by whitmm

Tell me how it's different. The card market and the clothing market are different. But stop acting like Heritage and A&G and Stadium Club are separate brands/companies/whatever. When you get down to the basics, they are different styles of the exact same thing. The material might be different, the design on it might be different, but it's still a baseball card. And as you said, you aren't buying a blank t-shirt just because it's that style. Guess what, you aren't buying a blank baseball card because of that style. You're buying because of the logo on it or the player picture.

Truly dazzling!

I told you how it is different. Did you not read my post you quoted? You seem to have issues with that.

If you want to play the semantics game, go ahead. But if you truly think that a Braves shirt, sold under the "Weathered" collection name, is the same as Topps producing cards under the registered trademarked brand of Stadium Club, I really cannot help you wrap your brain around it.

All cards are different styles of the same thing, right? It is all just a 2 1/2 X by 3 1/2 inch hunk of cardboard anyway, right?

I think you need to step away from your keyboard for a bit. Or, at least until you sell us all on your game plan that Fanatics should just be starting everything from scratch.

I understand it is easier for you to push back on my thoughts, on the way they most likely will enter the market. But, just for fun, how about you list your reasons why they will take your path, of unestablished brands and a completely new company.

I get that it is easier for you to try and tear down my thoughts. But we are all breathless waiting on your ideas on how they will enter the market.

Originally Posted by whitmm

If you're complaining about Panini being watered down, you're blaming Panini for it. If you're complaining about Topps being watered down, you're blaming Topps. If you're complaining that baseball cards in general have too many sets across all companies, you're blaming MLB.

Once again, and I am repeating myself, I said, and I will quote myself once more here Panini "still gets complained about" watering down product. Not "I would like to complain about Panini watering down product".

I even went on to say "The 50 set a year number is not mine, its fact. Good, bad or indifferent, it is what it is. I am not complaining about it, I am simply stating its existence. "

None of what you are saying, has anything to do with what I said, and you quoted. My reason for stating that the NFL requires Panini to produce 50 different sets a year was simply to say it is not as easy as using one lone brand name, when you have to come up with 50 different sets.

How you jumped to your conclusions on any of that, is beyond me.

[THE(NEXT)LEVEL]

The current companies are putting out hot garbage on a plate at ridiculously inflated prices, and all of it is selling out, so you mean to tell me that Fanatics isn't going to do well even if they have their own lines and ditch Topps and Poopnini, yeah, ok.......

[mj91534]

Nationals at this point and saving up for it big.time

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

I think it would be funny if Fanatics created a brand (either) called: Tops Flagship or Toppps Flagship

Fanatics Flagship. Topps doesn’t have the Flagship name trademarked.

It would be hilarious.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by BigRhino

Ok this does seem plausible that they try to get either of topps or panini. But it begs the question, why not try to buy one of them first and then go after these exclusive licenses? Now that they have stabbed everyone in the back, will they be able to make a deal with either of them? Possibly, who knows. Seems like a bad strategy to me tho, especially since money appears to be no object to fanatics

Good question! It goes back to my story of how Fanatics did Majestic dirty.

If Fanatics, who wanted to make and sell their own licensed MLB jersey, just bought out Majestic, they would have had to pay a lot for a successful company, that currently held the exclusive right to make MLB apparel.

Instead of paying top dollar, for a successful company, Fanatics in turn struck their own deal with MLB, to now become the exclusive apparel company for them.

Overnight, the value of Majestic tumbled, as nearly all the value in the company, was tied to them making and selling incensed MLB apparel. Without that deal, and their ability to make pro goods, they were nothing more than a brand and a factory.

With their value low, even with 3 years left to still make MLB goods, Fanatics swoops in and buys the crippled company for much less than it was worth 5 months prior, when its licensing agreement was unchallenged.

That is why there are so many parallels I can draw from that deal, to what this card deal might look like. Why pay Topps value, with their record setting 2020 year on the books, when the value is Topps is worth so much less, when they wont be able to make/sell "real" baseball cards any more.

Fanatics essentially took aware these companies means to operate. And now, when it comes to sports cards, the only real value left in those companies can only truly be realized by Fanatics, who holds all the cards (pun intended). Who else would pay as much to buy them out, except for the company that can make licensed cards?

[Grid]

Just a quick Fanatics history lesson. Fanatics is not known for creating and building their own brands. They got to be as big as they are, buy buying existing brands and making them their own.

After stealing the MLB license away from majestic, just a few months later Fanatics bought majestic so they could make their own apparel.

Top of the World company, the number-one licensed collegiate hat manufacturer, was bought out by Fanatics, so they can have their own company to make hats.

Lids, the largest retail seller of sports caps, was bought by Fanatics to then sell the above hats that they are now making

WinCraft, the company we have all seen before, that made licensed sports-themed merchandise, such as clocks, mugs, wall decor, trash cans, banners and more. They were bought out by Fanatics, so Fanatics could have their own company to make the same stuff.

A lot of us know Fanatics Authenticated memorabilia. That was all just a buyout of Steiner Sports, Fanatics did not start an autograph company, they bought one.

Fanatics does not really start any companies, outside of their own. They have always bought existing companies, and used them to grow their business. I cannot see why they would not do the same with sports cards, as that has clearly been their track record here.

[Kracer52]

Originally Posted by Grid

Just a quick Fanatics history lesson. Fanatics is not known for creating and building their own brands. They got to be as big as they are, buy buying existing brands and making them their own.

After stealing the MLB license away from majestic, just a few months later Fanatics bought majestic so they could make their own apparel.

Top of the World company, the number-one licensed collegiate hat manufacturer, was bought out by Fanatics, so they can have their own company to make hats.

Lids, the largest retail seller of sports caps, was bought by Fanatics to then sell the above hats that they are now making

WinCraft, the company we have all seen before, that made licensed sports-themed merchandise, such as clocks, mugs, wall decor, trash cans, banners and more. They were bought out by Fanatics, so Fanatics could have their own company to make the same stuff.

A lot of us know Fanatics Authenticated memorabilia. That was all just a buyout of Steiner Sports, Fanatics did not start an autograph company, they bought one.

Fanatics does not really start any companies, outside of their own. They have always bought existing companies, and used them to grow their business. I cannot see why they would not do the same with sports cards, as that has clearly been their track record here.

I strongly believe that they do not need to purchase or license Topps/Panini brands at all. They will be the only game in town for sports cards of the three largest sports in the US. If you want sports cards, you're buying Fanatics. That greatly decreases their need for strong, recognizable branding from the jump. I highly doubt that the MLB and the various PA's would dump their established partners if they wanted to keep doing the same things within this space. You also don't have Luber run it if you want to keep the status quo within the cards market.

Does this mean they won't buy or use Topps and Panini trademarks? Of course not, but I think there are a lot of reasons to think that they want to forge their own path. If the numbers we've heard are accurate, they're paying roughly $83MM per year for the same license that Topps was paying just over $20MM for. Why increase costs by having to buy multiple other card companies or pay a yearly license fee?

Im not saying they won't, but I wouldn't be surprised either way, and it certainly isn't a sure thing.

[BigRhino]

Originally Posted by Grid

Just a quick Fanatics history lesson. Fanatics is not known for creating and building their own brands. They got to be as big as they are, buy buying existing brands and making them their own.

After stealing the MLB license away from majestic, just a few months later Fanatics bought majestic so they could make their own apparel.

Top of the World company, the number-one licensed collegiate hat manufacturer, was bought out by Fanatics, so they can have their own company to make hats.

Lids, the largest retail seller of sports caps, was bought by Fanatics to then sell the above hats that they are now making

WinCraft, the company we have all seen before, that made licensed sports-themed merchandise, such as clocks, mugs, wall decor, trash cans, banners and more. They were bought out by Fanatics, so Fanatics could have their own company to make the same stuff.

A lot of us know Fanatics Authenticated memorabilia. That was all just a buyout of Steiner Sports, Fanatics did not start an autograph company, they bought one.

Fanatics does not really start any companies, outside of their own. They have always bought existing companies, and used them to grow their business. I cannot see why they would not do the same with sports cards, as that has clearly been their track record here.

That makes sense then. I didnt know they bought Steiner. So techically they have promised equity on a company they havent bought yet lol

[Kracer52]

Originally Posted by Grid

Good question! It goes back to my story of how Fanatics did Majestic dirty.

If Fanatics, who wanted to make and sell their own licensed MLB jersey, just bought out Majestic, they would have had to pay a lot for a successful company, that currently held the exclusive right to make MLB apparel.

Instead of paying top dollar, for a successful company, Fanatics in turn struck their own deal with MLB, to now become the exclusive apparel company for them.

Overnight, the value of Majestic tumbled, as nearly all the value in the company, was tied to them making and selling incensed MLB apparel. Without that deal, and their ability to make pro goods, they were nothing more than a brand and a factory.

With their value low, even with 3 years left to still make MLB goods, Fanatics swoops in and buys the crippled company for much less than it was worth 5 months prior, when its licensing agreement was unchallenged.

That is why there are so many parallels I can draw from that deal, to what this card deal might look like. Why pay Topps value, with their record setting 2020 year on the books, when the value is Topps is worth so much less, when they wont be able to make/sell "real" baseball cards any more.

Fanatics essentially took aware these companies means to operate. And now, when it comes to sports cards, the only real value left in those companies can only truly be realized by Fanatics, who holds all the cards (pun intended). Who else would pay as much to buy them out, except for the company that can make licensed cards?

I think the main difference is that they needed Majestic for their manufacturing capabilities. Topps outsources their printing and manufacturing don't they? So it wouldn't really be a vertical integration situation like Majestic was.

[SupermanBrandon]

Fanatics buys the license. Thus destroying the business of the company that previously held the license. Then Fanatics buys that company for pennies on the dollar. Then Fanatics continues making that product under the previous name but with their license. Brand Recognition...just under new ownership. Its genius...if you have enough money. Topps will sell to Fanatics soon enough.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by Grid

None of what you are saying, has anything to do with what I said, and you quoted. My reason for stating that the NFL requires Panini to produce 50 different sets a year was simply to say it is not as easy as using one lone brand name, when you have to come up with 50 different sets.

How you jumped to your conclusions on any of that, is beyond me.

And you continue to think it's hard to just change the design slighty and come up with a new name. You don't think Fanatics can do the same thing. Fanatics series 1, Fanatics Foil, Fanatics Gold, Fanatics Luxury. It's the same thing Topps and Panini do. Topps Series 1, Topps Heritage, Topps Gold Label, Topps Chrome. Panini doesn't come up with 50 brands for NFL and 50 other brands for the NBA and 20 more for MLBPA. The run Donruss across all of them, they run Optic across all of them. Topps trademarking different names is not them.

You keep harping on needed brand recognition to be successful. That would matter if you had multiple companies to compete against. Fanatics will be coming into this as the only brand in the game. This isn't a company trying to break into a market with established competitors, they eliminated the competition. For every person that says they are done if they can't buy Topps, there's more than one person that will continue to buy sports cards. The card industry is not going to collapse and go extinct because the old brands are gone. The hobby has had it's highs and lows through the years. That happens in every type of hobby. But trading cards have been around for 100+ years, it's going to be around for years after, with or without the Topps names or the Panini names.

I'm not sure how you can insist that different lines of t-shirts when this:

Originally Posted by Grid

And your list of Fanatics "brands" are just inventory and style markers, used to sell different shirts and such. The IP, in your example, is the Braves. You are not going there to buy a blank T-Shirt Just because you like the style of their "Win Stripe" collection or because you heard great things about their "Front Line" series of tops. They sell a "Weathered" collection of shirts, that are made to look worn and beaten in. "weathered" is the style, and lets the consumer know what collection they are buying from. That way, if they like that weathered Brave shirt, they can view other weathered shirts in that series. It is not an intellectual property onto itself.

is the exact same thing Win Stripe is a collection of shirts all made in the same design. That sounds an awful lot like Topps making their Stadium Club line all in the same design. Fanatics could easily make an annual "Win Stripe" collection where they keep similar design from year to year.

[Kracer52]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

Fanatics buys the license. Thus destroying the business of the company that previously held the license. Then Fanatics buys that company for pennies on the dollar. Then Fanatics continues making that product under the previous name but with their license. Brand Recognition...just under new ownership. Its genius...if you have enough money. Topps will sell to Fanatics soon enough.

That only makes sense if Fanatics wants to keep the sports card market the same as its always been, instead of making a radical change. They hold all the cards. They have almost a pure monopoly on the 3 largest sports. I don't think the legacy brands are essential to their success.

[CicadaMound]

If they want to buy out another manufacturer

1. Topps can survive on candy sales
2. Panini-Europe can survive on soccer stickers
3. Upper Deck can survive on Michael Jordan's ego, but are vulnerable to an NHL deal

Panini-USA and Upper Deck are more vulnerable to a takeover than Topps from a financial perspective.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by Grid

If you want to play the semantics game, go ahead. But if you truly think that a Braves shirt, sold under the "Weathered" collection name, is the same as Topps producing cards under the registered trademarked brand of Stadium Club, I really cannot help you wrap your brain around it.

Stadium Club is a set design produced by Topps, is it not? Allen & Ginter is a set design produced by Topps, is it not? They aren't independent companies owned by parent company Topps. Topps doesn't have a different design department for each one of their sets. A&G doesn't have its own customer service department. It 100% is the same thing as a clothing company creating different design collections every year. Topps created and trademarked the name Stadium Club. But Stadium Club does not manufacture cards.

Sports are different than most things because they have set seasons. It's easy to break out collection.

Just because you can't wrap your brain around the fact that when it's put into its most basic form, Topps is doing the same with multiple sets (which are simply just different designs) as a clothing manufacturer does, that's your problem.

And you're right, this is like you dealing with your 5-year old. Because I've asked you why or to explain it and your only response is "because I said so." And if you'd like to show me where I said Fanatics best play is to completely start from scratch, that would be great. Because starting from scratch is not the same thing as coming up with designs cards is not the same thing as starting from scratch. They don't need to buy out a company to gain their manufacturing abilities. Topps and Panini already outsource that stuff. All Fanatics would need to do is reach out to them. My point is not that they shouldn't or couldn't, it's that they don't need to. You've jumped to that conclusion.

[sfgiants4life]

Originally Posted by CicadaMound

If they want to buy out another manufacturer

1. Topps can survive on candy sales
2. Panini-Europe can survive on soccer stickers
3. Upper Deck can survive on Michael Jordan's ego, but are vulnerable to an NHL deal

Panini-USA and Upper Deck are more vulnerable to a takeover than Topps from a financial perspective.

With the amount of nonsport releases that Upper Deck has been pushing out I think they will survive.

[SupermanBrandon]

Originally Posted by Kracer52

That only makes sense if Fanatics wants to keep the sports card market the same as its always been, instead of making a radical change. They hold all the cards. They have almost a pure monopoly on the 3 largest sports. I don't think the legacy brands are essential to their success.

I see them going somewhere in the middle, honestly. Cards are cards. There's only so much you can do. But I see them spreading their wings as they get further into this hobby space w/ NFTs, Digital Cards, etc.

[Kracer52]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

I see them going somewhere in the middle, honestly. Cards are cards. There's only so much you can do. But I see them spreading their wings as they get further into this hobby space w/ NFTs, Digital Cards, etc.

Definitely agree with that. I just think that they likely want to build a foundation within the Fanatics brand and become a one stop shop for all sports related memorabilia. I don't know if they do that by using legacy brands that aren't associated with that name. It can be tough to build a brand name, but they'll have a massive head start by being the only game in town. I just can't imagine you would create a subsidiary, give up some equity in it, and pay a massive bump on the previous contracts, just to turn around and pay to use those same legacy brands.

[BigRhino]

Originally Posted by whitmm

Stadium Club is a set design produced by Topps, is it not? Allen & Ginter is a set design produced by Topps, is it not? They aren't independent companies owned by parent company Topps. Topps doesn't have a different design department for each one of their sets. A&G doesn't have its own customer service department. It 100% is the same thing as a clothing company creating different design collections every year. Topps created and trademarked the name Stadium Club. But Stadium Club does not manufacture cards.

Sports are different than most things because they have set seasons. It's easy to break out collection.

Just because you can't wrap your brain around the fact that when it's put into its most basic form, Topps is doing the same with multiple sets (which are simply just different designs) as a clothing manufacturer does, that's your problem.

And you're right, this is like you dealing with your 5-year old. Because I've asked you why or to explain it and your only response is "because I said so."

Grid did say that it is possible that Fanatics could develop their own brands and sets but that it would go against the way they have run their business over the years. Honestly, Grid has convinced me that they will buy one of them out. My guess is they buy panini

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by BigRhino

Grid did say that it is possible that Fanatics could develop their own brands and sets but that it would go against the way they have run their business over the years. Honestly, Grid has convinced me that they will buy one of them out. My guess is they buy panini

I'm not saying that they won't either. But Grid originally said in a response to me that they probably would buy out one of them. And then he specifically said they need to. In a later comment he changed his wording and is trying to act like he never said they NEED to. And then he's trying to say I haven't been reading what he's writing.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by Grid

And your list of Fanatics "brands" are just inventory and style markers, used to sell different shirts and such. The IP, in your example, is the Braves. You are not going there to buy a blank T-Shirt Just because you like the style of their "Win Stripe" collection or because you heard great things about their "Front Line" series of tops. They sell a "Weathered" collection of shirts, that are made to look worn and beaten in. "weathered" is the style, and lets the consumer know what collection they are buying from. That way, if they like that weathered Brave shirt, they can view other weathered shirts in that series. It is not an intellectual property onto itself.

You aren't buying Allen & Ginter just because of the name, you aren't buying Heritage just because of the name. You're buying it because of the logo on it and the player on it and because you like the design. Just like you aren't buying the "Win Stripe" collection just because it's the "Win Stripe" collection. You're buying that shirt because you like the team that's on it and because you like that style. You're not buying either one of them because of the intellectual property

[Grid]

Originally Posted by Kracer52

I strongly believe that they do not need to purchase or license Topps/Panini brands at all. They will be the only game in town for sports cards of the three largest sports in the US. If you want sports cards, you're buying Fanatics. That greatly decreases their need for strong, recognizable branding from the jump. I highly doubt that the MLB and the various PA's would dump their established partners if they wanted to keep doing the same things within this space. You also don't have Luber run it if you want to keep the status quo within the cards market.

Does this mean they won't buy or use Topps and Panini trademarks? Of course not, but I think there are a lot of reasons to think that they want to forge their own path. If the numbers we've heard are accurate, they're paying roughly $83MM per year for the same license that Topps was paying just over $20MM for. Why increase costs by having to buy multiple other card companies or pay a yearly license fee?

Im not saying they won't, but I wouldn't be surprised either way, and it certainly isn't a sure thing.

I just dont buy the "Only Game In Town" line. No offense.

If a town just has one casino, and that casino never changes their machines, offer promos or otherwise gives you a reason to come back, they will lose customers. Its the same reason why Disney opens new shows, parades, restaurants or rides all the time.

Even with Panini being the lone supplier of licensed NBA & NFL cards for all this time, they still have to keep coming up with reasons for us to come back for more.

Since they took over, we have seen the advent of points, which went from people hating them to stock piling them. The use of said points for exclusive content on their website. The launch of FOTL products, with additional content. The advent of the blockchain for digital assets. And a retail offering, that would have been unheard of 10+ years ago.

I remember when retail was all trash. Most of it was just hit-less versions of hobby packs. The best you could hope for, was to get your hands on some Excel or Fairfield repacks, that actually had hobby packs in them.

Now, you have retail exclusive content. You have Mega boxes and special blasters. You have Fanatics, Walmart & Target exclusive versions of product.

Really, if Panini just said we make cards, so lets keep just doing that, they would have left money on the table. Them wanting to continue to get your money, or better yet, them wanting even more of your money, has lead them to innovate without any competition.

Originally Posted by Kracer52

I think the main difference is that they needed Majestic for their manufacturing capabilities. Topps outsources their printing and manufacturing don't they? So it wouldn't really be a vertical integration situation like Majestic was.

Incorrect, they had Under Armour lined up to do the manufacturing for them, had Majestic not fallen the way they hoped. Make no mistake, buying Majestic, gaining their brand recognition and taking over their operations on the cheap is exactly what Fanatics likes to do.

Yes, Topps doesn't actually print cards. But, Topps has a full staff of people from the card industry on hand. Beyond the IP's that would come from the purchase of Topps sports card division, they would gain literally everything they need to make cards immediately.

It just all depends on the price Topps would need to sell that division. Make no mistake, this news coming out RIGHT before Topps planned stock IPO could be telling. If Fanatics wanted Topps, once they went public, they would have had to buy up stock at published pricing. And that stock would be for the entire company, which fanatics doesn't need.

Unless they want to sell candy and gift cards, which make up the other half of total sales.

Fanatics leaking the news, when they did, kept that from happening. And made getting to their sports card division alone, that much more obtainable.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by whitmm

You aren't buying Allen & Ginter just because of the name, you aren't buying Heritage just because of the name. You're buying it because of the logo on it and the player on it and because you like the design. Just like you aren't buying the "Win Stripe" collection just because it's the "Win Stripe" collection. You're buying that shirt because you like the team that's on it and because you like that style. You're not buying either one of them because of the intellectual property

You no longer get any more of my time.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by Grid

You no longer get any more of my time.

Is that because you can't actually argue against it? You want to think that normal marketing and brand recognition don't apply to the trading card industry.

You have still failed to tell me how Topps creating different sets is any different than a clothing company making different lines of t-shirts or Levi's making different jean lines, or Nike making different shoe lines.

I will repeat this, because it's true, Stadium Club being trademarked does not mean that Stadium Club makes cards. It means Topps trademarked that name so that no one else can use that name. And Topps applies that name to that annual design style.

You are also the only one that thinks Fanatics would potentially just make the Fanatics brand card and leave it at that. You're response to Kracer shows that. Nowhere did he say Fanatics wasn't going to continue change designs and be innovative. In fact, the idea of them needing to buy up the existing brand names goes directly against your "if they never change up their machines, people aren't going to come back." And honestly, casino slot machines for the most part stay the same, they just change the graphics. And people keep coming back. People gamble because they like to gamble, just like people like to collect sports cards because they like to collect sports cards. I can also show you people that go to the casino to play the same machines and get upset when the casino removes that machine. And you know what happens? They find a new machine to play and they get stuck on that one. But they don't stop going to the casino, they find a new thing there. And those are the Topps loyalists right now. You might lose some, turnover happens, but there will also be some that just find a new thing.

[Kracer52]

Originally Posted by Grid

I just dont buy the "Only Game In Town" line. No offense.

If a town just has one casino, and that casino never changes their machines, offer promos or otherwise gives you a reason to come back, they will lose customers. Its the same reason why Disney opens new shows, parades, restaurants or rides all the time.





Incorrect, they had Under Armour lined up to do the manufacturing for them, had Majestic not fallen the way they hoped. Make no mistake, buying Majestic, gaining their brand recognition and taking over their operations on the cheap is exactly what Fanatics likes to do.


It just all depends on the price Topps would need to sell that division. Make no mistake, this news coming out RIGHT before Topps planned stock IPO could be telling. If Fanatics wanted Topps, once they went public, they would have had to buy up stock at published pricing. And that stock would be for the entire company, which fanatics doesn't need.

Unless they want to sell candy and gift cards, which make up the other half of total sales.

Fanatics leaking the news, when they did, kept that from happening. And made getting to their sports card division alone, that much more obtainable.

Disney is an awful example. They have a ton of competition for theme parks. Even within Orlando they have to compete with Universal. The reason they continually open new parks, new restaurants, and new attractions is for customer retainment and to compete with both Universal and various other vacation options. Fanatics won't have any of those problems within the card world.

Also, if Fanatics wanted an easy takeover of Topps, it would have been easier and likely cheaper to wait until after the merger to dump this news. With Topps staying private, it cuts down on a lot of methods to take over a company. Especially if Topps doesn't actually want to sell.

Im also not sure why you're being so adversarial and combative in this thread. Its been a fairly conversational thread without animus until this page.

Lastly, as far as Majestic goes, Under Armor ended up getting cut from that deal, and Majestic now uses their plant to manufacture the Nike labeled stuff for MLB. That was absolutely a vertical integration deal.