To help promote NBA trading cards with the hobby channel, NBA Properties, Inc. retained NMG to create and implement a pair of hobby channel sales promotion for the Spring 1999 and Spring 2000.

Coming off the 1998-99 NBA Lockout, NMG and the NBA wanted to encourage hobby retailers to promote NBA trading cards. The resulting NBA Grab the Game promotion offered an impactful display and merchandising contest for hobby retailers and an exciting sweepstakes for consumers.

More than 500 hobby retailers participated in the promotion that generated extensive retail promotion for NBA trading cards at a time when MLB trading cards usually receive premier retail space. Hobby retailer Dan Cunliffe of Auburn, Maine was honored for the best retail display and received a free 2-hour autograph appearance from NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton at his shops. More than 10,000 consumers entered the sweepstakes to meet NBA great Shaquille O’Neal at a Lakers game in LA. The promotion was honored as the best hobby promotion by a league/licensor in the 1999 Card Trade Awards – voted upon by hobby retailers and industry insiders.

Fresh on the heels of this successful promotion, NBA Properties and NMG teamed up again in 2000 with a more targeted promotion to increase retail sales and promote NBA trading cards during the NBA Playoffs.

The NBA Finals 2000 Showdown was, in essence, an NBA Playoff grid that offered collectors at more than 700 hobby shops a team to follow during the 2000 NBA Playoffs for every 3-pack purchase during April. Collectors earned prizes for every round their team advanced. The winner in each store earned an autographed trading card and entry into the national sweepstakes for one of 15 hobby store shopping sprees valued from $100-$2000 – a prize rewarding both the consumer and hobby shop.