Panini America, Taco Bell Team Up for Tasty 150-Card NBA Hoops Kid’s Meal Set
There’s simply no way to overstate the manifold magnificence of Taco Bell’s Doritos Locos Tacos. For my money, they represent arguably the most delectable development in recent culinary history. But no matter how compellingly consumable and overwhelmingly popular they’ve become (in original or new Cool Ranch form), they still may not be the most important factor driving kids and collectors into Taco Bell outlets across the country for the next few months.
For a limited time at participating locations, there are 150 other items on the Taco Bell menu — special 2012-13 NBA Hoops Basketball trading cards created exclusively for Taco Bell kid’s meals — that could prove to be every bit as popular as those crazy tacos.
In a special promotion that began earlier this month and will run until late May, every Taco Bell kid’s meal comes with one five-card pack of the special 2012-13 NBA Hoops Basketball cards. The 150-card set includes five players from each of the 30 NBA teams, rounded corners and updated photography for the 14 rookies in the set. In addition, each of the those Rookie Cards also includes a special “Rated Rookie” logo.
Following a somewhat stealthy start, the promotion has started to gain momentum among the collecting crowd in recent days, drawing inquisitive emails to the Panini America inbox and generating chatter on Twitter.
In addition, the Taco Bell set also includes updated photography for several star players whose off-season team changes were not captured in the mainstream 2012-13 NBA Hoops release earlier this season, including Joe Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Jason Kidd (New York Knicks), Andrew Bynum (Philadelphia 76ers), Landry Fields (Toronto Raptors), Jeremy Lin (Houston Rockets), Andre Iguodala (Denver Nuggets), Ray Allen (Miami Heat), Steve Nash (Los Angeles Lakers) and Dwight Howard (Lakers).
Today, we’re pulling the curtain back by showcasing some of the sweet cards in the set, including images of all 14 Rookie Cards featuring 2012 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot imagery as well as images of the nine veterans mentioned above.
For the record, both of my sons are in the process of building their complete Taco Bell sets. After all, every kid’s meal they order represents another Doritos Locos Tacos opportunity for me. Talk about the ultimate win-win situation.
The Knight's Lance 
Yo quiero Taco Bell!
Funny.
Viva mas:)
Tracy, the rounded corners are very cool! Panini should continue this concept with other brands or just keep the idea with NBAHoops. Will the checklist be posted online?
Excellent promotion, I know I would have much preferred to get trading cards with my kid’s meal than some cheap plastic toy I would break or lose in less than a week when I was that age. Thanks Tracy!
I’m taking for granted no auto’s or relics? Still pretty cool, gracias!!!!
That is correct. No autos or memorabilia. But completely agree, way cool.
Cool idea! Might have to get me (I mean my kids) some kids meals soon!
I see someone being very sick of tacos building that set 🙂
Now I am going to have to start eating kids meals…move over Chilupas!
I read this blog and immediatly ran for the border to get some tacos and cards. Unfortunatly the nearest Taco Bell is not participating in the promotion because the lack of kids meal volume they sell at that Taco Bell. I told the manager if they had the Panini America Basketball cards in the kids meal they would sell like crazy and he told me he dropped the ball on this one. I bought 1 kids meal for my son (he got a plastic pirate toy) ARGHHH! and well, ARGHHH! I also bought 2 Nacho Locos for myself. Going tomorrow to literally run for the county border to try another Taco Bell.
You guys should offer adult toys (haha) for any meal deal – we like the packs too!
tu sólo vive una vez…nosotros somos jovenes:)
are there any hits
Any way Panini can set up a hockey card set with Mcdonalds or Tim Hortons in Canada? I loved collecting the Mcdonalds sets with my kids. We would go buy a meal and some cards. The kids had to eat everything before they could open the packs. Was some good family time that I miss.
Panini had one last year with Boston Pizza and Molson Canadian! Mmmm, first place I stop after Timmy’s when I cross the border.
I’m sure that collectors would love to see the Holograms from Denny’s return.
OOOOOOO. A Grand Slam Hologram with your Grand Slam Breakfast. Brings back those 90s memories. Got a few of those back in the day!!
Tracy,
Is there a link to the participating Taco Bell handy?
I sure hope my kids like Taco Bell!
So mad at myself! Went to Taco Bell last night and didnt remember about the cards until I was paying for my food. Forgot to order a kids meal. Ugh…Easter dinner at Taco Bell today!
This is a pretty cool promo! If I knew last week I would have had a kid’s meal (or 2) instead of the Doritos tacos!