Panini America Launches First Officially Licensed NFL Sticker Album and Sticker Collection

ARLINGTON, Texas, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the success of Panini's 2010 FIFA World Cup sticker collection, Panini America (www.paniniamerica.net) has launched the first officially licensed NFL sticker album and sticker collection in the U.S.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101026/NE87970 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101026/NE87970 )

The sticker collection features NFL superstars and rookies from all 32 NFL teams, including Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre and Tim Tebow.  Sticker albums and packets are currently available for purchase at retailers across the nation, including Walmart, Target, Toys"R"Us and NFL.com.  

"Collecting and trading stickers is the basis of the global Panini brand," said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop. "We are very excited to launch our first officially licensed NFL sticker collection and hope that sticker collecting will become a favorite pastime of sports fans and families across the U.S. as well."

As part of the official release, Panini America officials will distribute more than 20,000 NFL sticker albums via promotional kits delivered to Pop Warner programs nationwide. The first Pop Warner program to complete two full sticker albums will win a helmet grant and an appearance by a local NFL player, in an effort to raise awareness for on-field safety and concussion prevention.

"We felt a promotion that encourages and introduces NFL Sticker collecting should also include an effort to promote safety on football fields at the youth level – the ability to utilize stickers and raise awareness of the seriousness of concussions in football is a win-win situation," said Jason Howarth, Panini America's Vice President of Marketing.

Panini has also exclusively partnered with The Boston Globe to introduce the NFL sticker collection and generate excitement around collecting. The Boston Globe is the first U.S. newspaper to partner with Panini on this kind of initiative. During the month-long promotion, Panini will insert 460,000 NFL sticker albums into the Sunday, October 24th edition, followed by 1.4 million sheets of NFL stickers in the Sunday editions between October 31st and November 14th.  One specially marked sticker sheet will be included that grants one lucky winner a meet and greet with an NFL player and a visit to a local school of the winner's choice.

Panini hopes to capitalize on the excitement of the 2010 NFL season and generate an enthusiasm for sticker collecting in the U.S. that rivals that of collectors around the world.  Panini anticipates a success similar to that of its most recent Toy Story 3 sticker collection and the well-established FIFA World Cup collection, which has proved successful since 1970 in 100 countries worldwide.

Panini's official 72-page NFL sticker album retails for $2, and packs of eight stickers retail for $1.  The collection includes 560 unique stickers – 400 glossy, 100 holographic foil and 60 silver foil stickers.

ABOUT PANINI:

The Panini Group, established almost 50 years ago in Modena, Italy and has subsidiaries throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States.  Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectables and is fast becoming the most significant Publisher of Collectables in the U.S. with official licenses for NBA, NFL, NHL, FIFA, Disney, DreamWorks, Warner Bros. and other key properties from many other licensors.  Panini has distribution channels in more than 100 countries and employs a staff of over 800.  For more information visit us at www.paniniamerica.net or www.paninigroup.com. You can also follow Panini America on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and on YouTube.

SOURCE Panini America