Promo cards abound at NFL Experience

Donruss and Upper Deck have big plans for fans attending the NFL Experience in Tampa Bay Jan. 29-Feb. 1.
For starters, both will have wrapper redemption promo cards. Both redemption programs require fans to open packs at the each company’s booth and will feature Tampa Bay Buccaneers players. Collectors who bring three unopened packs of any 2008 Donruss Playoff trading card product to the booth will receive one card — Jeff Garcia, Earnest Graham, Derrick Brooks or Ronde Barber. Fans who purchase three packs of any 2008 Upper Deck football products (except UD First Edition) can exchange their three foil wrappers for one of four cards — Antonio Bryant, Derrick Brooks, Jeff Garcia and Aqib Talib. For more information on other special Donruss cards and other offers from the two companies, visit my blog at www.scrippsnews.com/waxpak. In addition, Upper Deck will be conducting a second level of wrapper redemptions for a special set entitled “The Franchise” highlighting six NFL rookie standouts from this past season including: Matt Ryan, Jonathan Stewart, Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Joe Flacco and Darren McFadden. To obtain the entire six-card set, collectors need to simply purchase five packs of any 2008 Upper Deck football products at the show (with the exception of Upper Deck First Edition) and bring their unopened foil packs to the booth for redeeming purposes.
Donruss will again be bringing their popular prize wheel to the event. The impressive wheel stands 10 feet tall and each spin provides fans the chance to win limited edition Super Bowl trading cards. Spots on the wheel will designate which cards will be awarded, with this year’s theme being Super Bowl MVPs. Joining several past MVPs will be rookies from 2008 - what some are considering the greatest rookie class of all-time. Super Bowl MVPs include Peyton Manning (Super Bowl XXX MVP), Eli Manning (Super Bowl XXX MVP), Tom Brady (Super Bowl XXX MVP), Ray Lewis (Super Bowl XXX MVP), Hines Ward (Super Bowl XXX MVP), Dexter Jackson (Super Bowl XXX MVP), along with Brett Favre (Jets, and a Super Bowl champion while with the Green Bay Packers), Adrian Peterson (Donruss spokesman) and rookies Matt Ryan, Darren McFadden and Chris Johnson. Rounding out the wheel will be special Gridiron Kings cards of Favre and Darren McFadden, as well as a Rookie of the Year card of Matt Ryan.
Donruss has created a 440-card Super Bowl edition Score factory set that will be sold at the event. Each card will feature the Super Bowl XLIII logo. Collectors purchasing the factory set will get an exclusive 18-card set of those participating in this year’s Super Bowl — nine cards of Arizona Cardinals and nine featuring Pittsburgh Steelers players. The players in the set are: Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, Mewelde Moore, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, Limas Sweed (RC). Troy Polamalu, and James Harrison from the Steelers and Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Edgerrin James, Tim Hightower, Steve Breaston, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Karlos Dansby and Adrian Wilson from the Cardinals.
There’s also a limited edition glossy version of the factory set with each card serially numbered to 250. Those purchasing that set will receive the bonus Super Bowl set along with a memorabilia card specially produced for this event. Those cards feature jersey swatches and are serially numbered to just 25. Players include: Tom Brady, Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss, Darren McFadden, LaDainian Tomlinson, Felix Jones, Rashard Mendenhall, Joseph Addai, Philip Rivers and Terrell Owens.
The factory set is $40, while the limited edition glossy version will sell for $100.
Meanwhile Upper Deck will have booth activities, giveaways and prizes as well. UD will give away assorted single trading cards from its 2008 NFL SP Rookie Edition and NFL SP Authentic products. Those who participate in any of Upper Deck’s interactive games could win prizes such as sample packs, fat packs, pull-string backpacks and more. There will be daily raffles as well.