Hughes Don't Say? U.S. Gold Medalist Inks Memorabilia Deal

By Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large, The Sports Business Daily

Olympic Gold Medal figure skater Sarah Hughes has signed her first memorabilia deal — a six-month exclusive arrangement with N.Y.-based Grandstand Sports. One source put the deal in the low- to mid-five figures. Hughes is in the process of signing pieces for the memorabilia house, including photos, Olympic programs, tickets, Time and Sports Illustrated covers and skates. The items range in price from $50 for a signed small photograph to $300 for a signed pair of skates and will be sold at Grandstand's N.Y. store and its Web site. While every memorabilia dealer has been after Hughes, Grandstand Owner Howie Schwartz said, "This (memorabilia deal) wasn't something they (the Hughes family) were looking for." What netted Grandstand the deal? Schwartz: "They are being besieged with charity requests and we are supplying them with enough product (as part of the deal) to hopefully take care of that."