Comments from Brian Gray at Industry Summit

[mingus_md]

Saw this on another site: http://www.beckett.com/news/industry...fs-brian-gray/ . One of the interesting points is that Leaf gave up their CHL license. I wonder if anyone is going to pick it up. I really enjoyed ITG Heroes and Prospects, and would like to see something like that surface somewhere in the future.

[apod417]

I would like to see @bprice pick that CHL license up and would be even better if Upper Deck dropped the AHL and he got that too, I miss the old Heroes and Prospects of the Price years those were great sets.

[jogesc2]

I would like to see @bprice pick that CHL license up and would be even better if Upper Deck dropped the AHL and he got that too, I miss the old Heroes and Prospects of the Price years those were great sets.

+1

[MR.M's Cards]

"People buy stupid stuff everyday" wow

[Sharky94]

"People buy stupid stuff everyday" wow

I would agree with him about buying digital-only cards. I collected some Denver Broncos digital only cards about 10 years ago. But it was free. And they sent you a yearbook if you completed the set. They did it simply to drive visitors to the site. At first I thought it was strange because I just figured most were like me and just doing it for the novelty and a free yearbook. But I have to admit, I knew more about the Broncos that year than any football team since I followed the 49ers as a kid. But I just don't get people who actually pay for digital-only cards. Talk about giving people money for nothing...

[frankiefives]

While I'd love to see Dr Price back with a CHL license, Upper Deck would be great as well. Having a Heroes & Prospects type product with an NHL license along with the CHL license would be great, no?

[RGM81]

What I like most about the suggestion by @frankiefives here is that it would be a great opportunity for a lot of Upper Deck's Diamond Dealers and other assorted network people to work closely with their local CHL team. Players Choice here in Kelowna is literally around the corner from Prospera Place. It would be super easy for them to set up signings with the Kelowna Rockets players and send those stickers/cards in to UD.

[creasecollector]

Someone has to pick this up. The CHL is great for collectors, especially if they make it deep enough with a lot of their players.

[pwaldo]

But I just don't get people who actually pay for digital-only cards. Talk about giving people money for nothing...

I don't really get it either but I remember somebody said is it any different than people who buy digital things for games and cell phones? Basically the same thing if you think of it like that I guess.

[Gallinator]

Of course, digital-ONLY without ability to convert to a physical piece at some point must seem silly to all but the oddest of oddball collectors (unless one can monetize it somehow - get people to pay you for what you bought virtually and are holding virtually). For any market that engages in virtuality, there is either a physical product tied to it or a virtual experience that offers utility to the buyer. EPack does this by allowing virtual-only base cards to be "foiled up" to Silver and Gold physical analogs. I think the question to Mr. Gray should have been followed up to clarify his views. Leaf would seem to be an ideal manufacturer for this type of direct marketing, so I'm not sure why he is so quick to poo-poo it.