MBNA Corp. has teamed up with Score Board Inc. to offer what they say is the first cobranded credit card for the sports collectibles market.
MBNA America Bank of Newark, Del., will issue a Score Board/Classic Games MasterCard to qualified sports and entertainment collectibles enthusiasts.
Card's Rate Is 15.9%
Score Board is a Cherry Hill, N.J.-based marketing company, and Classic Games is a subsidiary that manufacturers games and trading cards.
The MasterCard carries a 15.9% variable rate with a $20 annual fee that is waived the first year.
The card will identify and reward sports memorabilia enthusiasts based on card usage. Cardholders can accumulate and then redeem bonus points for various Score Board, Classic Games, Catch a Star, and Gartland USA products that MBNA will purchase from Score Board.
Score Board markets and distributes its products over national and regional shopping, sports, and other cable television channels as well as through retailers and hobby and specialty shops.
Hooking Up with College Athletes
Classic Games is known for its card sets of college athletes who have been drafted by professional teams.
One of the hottest of those recent graduates, Orlando Magic basketball star Shaquille O'Neal, signed a multimillion-dollar, multiyear agreement giving Score Board exclusive rights to provide a wide range of memorabilia and collectibles based on his likeness.
Mr. O'Neal will serve as spokesmnan for Classic Games and appear in commercials for company's products.
Score Board's other subsidiaries are Catch a Star Collectibles, which offers entertainment-related memorabilia; Gartlan USA, which makes and distributes ceramic and metallic collectibles; and California Gold, a manufacturer of photographic and gold-plated record plaques.
