WHA awards exclusive trading card license to Pacific
Published on January 28, 2004 under World Hockey Association 2 (WHA2-2) News Release
NIAGARA FALLS, ON (January 28th, 2004) â The recently resurrected World Hockey Association has announced that Pacific Trading Cards, Inc. has been awarded an exclusive license to be the league's sole manufacturer of trading cards.
The WHA, which operated from 1972-79, returns to the ice for the 2004-05 season. One of the league's top stars, Bobby Hull, is the new WHA Commissioner.
Although the new pro hockey league will not start until next season, Pacific will be producing retrospective-themed WHA hockey cards throughout the 2004 calendar year. The first releases will be autographed cards of Bobby Hull and WHA all-time scoring and games played leader Andre Lacroix, which will be serial-numbered to 1972 and available individually in February. The Hull and Lacroix cards will be followed up with autographed issues of a number of other WHA stars from the 1970s. Pacific also plans to release a full WHA retrospective trading card product through hobby and retail outlets in the fall.
"This is a very important step for the WHA to bring in a company like Pacific as a licensee," said Hull. "They are an outstanding company with a track record of producing great hockey card products. What they bring to the table will really help the WHA reach out to its fans from the past, as well as market to its new generation of fans."
Pacific has not yet announced its line-up of products for the 2004-05 season, but did indicate that the Seattle-area company was pleased to be a business partner of the new league. "We are excited to be a partner of the WHA as they move forward," said Jeffrey Morris, Pacific's Vice President of Marketing. "The WHA represents a significant part of Professional Hockey's heritage, and they have made a commitment to bring an exciting, wide open brand of hockey to fans throughout North America and Europe in the future.
"Our company's focus for the immediate future will be on the retrospective elements of the WHA, focusing on Bobby Hull, Andre Lacroix and many of the other great stars that the league was known for in the 1970s. As the league gets closer to dropping the puck for their first game next season, Pacific will have plans in place to announce new WHA products focusing on and featuring the league's new and current stars."
According to WHA Executive Director Tim Keighan, Pacific's involvement in the newly resurrected WHA is an important piece of the league's marketing puzzle that is now firmly in place.
"Having a company of Pacific's caliber involved with the WHA is a big step for the league," said Keighan. "They are a world class organization with an outstanding brand name and reputation. Having them as Partners in our endeavor will add tremendous exposure not only to hockey fans but also at mass retail outlets in the United States and Canada."
Keighan added that the WHA is planning on announcing the franchises participating in the 2004-05 WHA season this spring.
World Hockey Association 2 Stories from January 28, 2004
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