The PDC has partnered with the world’s largest sports collectibles manufacturer, Panini, to create the first-ever official darts collectibles in a multi-year licensing deal.
Under the deal, Panini will produce innovative new collectibles products featuring all the PDC’s top stars.
The first exclusive trading card collection will launch at the end of the year, celebrating the World Darts Championship. It will feature autographs of some of the sport’s greatest players, past and present, including Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler, as well as legends such as Phil Taylor.
Over the coming years, fans of darts and collectibles can look forward to high-quality, innovative products that showcase the best of the PDC. The collections will be launched by Panini’s UK office as well as Panini in Germany, where the fan base for darts is the biggest outside of the UK.
Matthew Porter, CEO at the PDC, said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Panini to launch this exciting collection in time for this year’s World Darts Championship. Every sports fan remembers their first Panini album and I’m sure darts fans both young and old will enjoy collecting and trading these cards to complete their set. The designs look great and the autographed cards will be much sought-after, I’m sure.”
Katie Gritt, head of Marketing for Sport at Panini, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the PDC and bringing this exciting new collection to fans of darts and sports collectibles alike. Darts is such an iconic sport with a loyal fan base and we’re excited to bring them collectible products that celebrate the players and the sport they love. With the very best talent included in the collection, we know that fans will love chasing the special autograph cards of their favourite players.”
Marco Pace, head of Sports Collectibles at Panini Germany, commented: “It’s a pleasure to introduce darts to our portfolio in Germany with a series of high-quality Panini collectibles. As the World Championship approaches, we’re offering fans the chance to collect trading cards that showcase the leading figures in the darts world. Among them are Germany’s top players: Gabriel Clemens, Martin Schindler, Ricardo Pietreczko and Florian Hempel. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in bringing the excitement of darts closer to its growing fanbase in Germany. As the sport continues to gain popularity, we are excited to offer fans a unique opportunity to get even closer to their favourite players through our products.”
The Panini World Darts Championship Trading Card Collection will launch at the end of 2024.
Get in touch with Panini on 01604 877 888.