Upper Deck Signs Multi-Year Deal to Become the Exclusive Trading Card Partner of the Canadian Football League and CFL Players' Association

Upper Deck prepares its first premium CFL trading card set, which will be printed in Canada and available in stores on September 24

CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 16, 2014  /PRNewswire/ -- Upper Deck has agreed to an exclusive, multi-year agreement with the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA) to become the CFL's first official trading card partner.

Already Canada's leader in hockey trading cards through its exclusive agreement with the National Hockey League (NHL) and NHL Players Association (NHLPA), Upper Deck intends to deliver the same high quality craftsmanship, innovation and authenticity to CFL fans and collectors across Canada, starting with the first-ever 180-card CFL base set.

"Upper Deck's position as the leader in sports cards and collectibles in Canada will undoubtedly be bolstered by the unveiling of our new CFL line of trading cards," said Jason Masherah, president of Upper Deck. "We are thrilled to announce this new partnership with the CFL and the CFL Players' Association, and we hope that the league's passionate fans will enjoy our inaugural product this fall."

The first premium line of Upper Deck CFL cards will be printed in Canada and is scheduled to arrive in stores across Canada on September 24. The first Upper Deck CFL Football product will contain six cards per pack and 24 packs per box. On average, each box will contain 2 UD Game Jersey cards, featuring a swatch of a player's game-worn jersey, as well as 6 Star Rookies cards, 24 Defense/Special Teams SP cards, and 8 O-Pee-Chee Retro cards.

Other highlighted cards in the first-ever CFL set include Game Jersey Patch parallels (numbered to 15), SP1 and SP2 autographed chase cards featuring retired CFL legends like Doug Flutie and Warren Moon, autographed CFL Signatures cards and Grey Cup Moments cards.

The CFL's first-ever official trading card set is bound to become a collector's prize for years to come.

About Upper Deck
Upper Deck is a worldwide sports and entertainment company built on the pillars of quality craftsmanship, authenticity and innovation. Upper Deck revolutionized the sports trading card experience with anti-counterfeit holograms, high quality card stock and stunning photography in its inaugural 1989 baseball set, and since then its mission has been to capture the excitement of the game and deliver it to fans of all ages. Upper Deck has strong ties to Canada and holds exclusive agreements with the NHL, NHLPA, Hockey Canada, Hockey Hall of Fame, Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr. 

Find more information at www.upperdeck.com, www.UpperDeckBlog.com or follow us on Facebook (UpperDeck), Twitter (@UpperDeckSports), and YouTube (udvids).

About the Canadian Football League 
This is today's CFL: star athletes playing a great game in modern venues. It's the home of the 102^nd Grey Cup this November in Vancouver. It is where the Ottawa REDBLACKS will debut in 2014, playing in the modern TD Place, just as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats move into beautiful, new Tim Hortons Field. This is our league: proudly Canadian and steeped in tradition, but built for the future.

Add the entire 2014 #CFL schedule to your mobile calendar by Tweeting #schedule to @CFL and never miss a play!    @CFL_PR, @CFL, Facebook.com/CFL

About C.F.L.P.A. 
Canadian Football League Players' Association –Establishing fair and reasonable working conditions for ALLCFL Players since 1965. For more information on the CFLPA, visit www.cflpa.com connect with us on Twitter(@CFLPA), and Facebook at www.facebook.com./CFLPA

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SOURCE Upper Deck