Leaf North America's Donruss unit introduces their new NFL
licensed trading card venture called, "The Red Zone" today. This
is Donruss' first football venture, as they previously have
focused on hockey and baseball. The "one-on-one ... interactive"
card game features an 80-card starter pack, "a scoring wheel, and
booster packs to build player personnel." With a target market
of 12-30, Donruss President John Williams believes Red Zone can
be a $50M retail business within two years (CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
10/10). Donruss and fellow NHL licensee, Electronic Arts, will
join this fall for a cross-promotion tied to EA's new NHL '96
game for Sega Genesis. Packs of Donruss NHL trading cards,
"shipping now, are flagged with an offer for $15 off purchase of
NHL '96. Also nearly 1 million Donruss cards will be boxed with
the game" (BRANDWEEK, 10/9 issue).
JORDAN ON CANVAS: Celex Group Inc. and Upper Deck Co. has
released their first product under a production and marketing
deal which allows Celex to produce and market limited edition
Michael Jordan commemorative lithographs, retailing for $149 each
(Celex).
