Blackhawk Offers Pro Sports Gift Cards

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Blackhawk Network, the subsidiary of Safeway that distributes gift card programs to retailers, began selling gift cards issued by the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball this month. The cards, which usually come in denominations of $25 and $50, can be used to buy merchandise, tickets and other items, according to a report in the San Francisco Business Times late last week. "The emotional impact of sports is why we're so thrilled about this card offering," said Jim Strabo, vice president of Blackhawk Network's sports initiative, in the report. He estimated that sports gift cards could account for one-quarter of Blackhawk Network's sales in coming years.