My Fanatics Fest Weekend Recap!

[messier2]

Wow, what a weekend! I'm feeling the same tired-excitement-high that I felt when the National was over! A lot of thinking back at the weekend, the deals I made, the people I met, the cool cards I saw/bought, the atmosphere at the Javits, etc.

To sum up the experience in one word: Energizing!

Yes, my feet hurt, I'm dead tired, I've been eating so unhealthy, it's not even funny! But, all worth it at the end. Whether you like Rubin/Fanatics or not, I don't really care. The amount of new hobby people walking around was amazing to see. As I was at a dealer, I could hear the questions being asked "oh wow, a Pete Alonso jersey card! Is this from a jersey he wore in a game?". BTW, he bought the card for $5 and who knows, he may want a Lindor jersey, or a Nimmo jersey...and that starts it all!

The show wasn't perfect at all. It had some short-comings and things it can improve. So, here are my points...the good and the bad.

Let's start with the bad:

* The "Autographing Zone" (never seen that used before) was a mess. It was very poor crowd control. They had temps, rather than security people doing the job and it was not organized at all. I heard a story that people rushed Jalen Brunson's table so much that he stood up and left because he felt un-safe! Next year, they must allocate a longer lineup with actual security people working (so they can easily spot gate crashers, people wanting to sneak in, etc.) and know how to handle them.

* The way to enter the place was terrible! Basically, the VIPs go in the main door and the regular people like me go in the basement and come up. The Javits is big enough that everyone could go in the one main door and just split people up. VIP's to the left; regular people to the right. Sounds simple enough.

* The lack of chairs! That was the one thing Cleveland won at, the chairs! I could not find any chair at all during the event (other than at the stages)! I had to settle for a nice comfortable cement floor. Please, we need chairs along the perimeter!

* The players/celebrities were being mobbed. If I were the celebrity, I would be pissed that they didn't have a dedicated "path" for me to cross without having to go through the crowd and basically causing pandemonium! I would complain for sure!

Ok, now for the good:

* The show floor was very spacious! This is a big deal for me as I hate when it's tight and everyone is on top of each other! Just passing the aisles is tough when you have two giants with 50 lb. backpacks blocking the way. I'm all for high ceiling and larger aisles.

* The WWE fans! I know how popular WWE is, but not the amount of "fandom" each of their top wrestler has is amazing to see! Their entrance feature was the top attraction of the Fanatics Fest in my opinion! That is so cool to the ultimate level...and I'm not even a wrestling fan!

* They made the show for every sports fan! I love that no matter what sport you are a fan of, you are represented with different activations from each of the major leagues, free play for the kids, etc. If you are a sports fan and did not enjoy the activities section, then what can I say!

* The new sports card collector. Walking the show floor all 3 days, I see people that are not the typical "people" I see at shows. Wide-eyed at everything in showcases, kids, adults, mom's, etc. all looking at amazement at the autographs, the prices of certain cards, the autographs of their heroes that are worth $$$$, etc. Good to see potential new collectors after the show!

Well, I wrote a lot as you can see. I have more thoughts, but will save that for another time.

Thank you guys for the read for the last few days! I appreciate it!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the best giveaway I got all weekend was two branded jewelers loupe's from PSA! It had a light so you can open and see the cards more closely! Got 2 and I love it!

[Dave34]

The lack of chairs and uncrowded places to drink saved me some cash.

Fanatics should have known alcohol + places for unhealthy people to sit after 4 hours of walking = maximum money spent.

[Nomad]

To me kind of breezing through the walk through video, it lacks the kind of excitement I would like to see. Kind of reminds me of an airport, the posters are all like low-key executive. I assume the cards would mostly be slabbed and generic rainbow stuff. I'd probably go for something more eclectic and individualistic personally. Definitely the product of a subdued digital age.

Also they totally mishandled the guest thing with the Blez decade break. The first part was fine, talking about a set they knew well in the 17-18 Luka chase, but Peyton Manning was just rushing through what should have been a slow reveal segment discussing the history and aesthetic of NT, relative value of various card types. And players.

The Sapphire Ohtani and 2003 LeBron stuff was basically Blez trying to convince Rubin and co. that they should care about what was coming out. $10 million was the number thrown around 50 times or so. I dunno... what makes the hobby interesting seems so oppositional to the approach of whipping through ultra rare boxes and considering anything a bust unless a single-player grail is hit. Gonna waste a lot of boxes that way.

Nice airy venue though. Im sure that simply not wading through crowds is a bonus to many.

[bkcardcollector]

thanks for sharing

[messier2]

Originally Posted by Nomad

To me kind of breezing through the walk through video, it lacks the kind of excitement I would like to see. Kind of reminds me of an airport, the posters are all like low-key executive. I assume the cards would mostly be slabbed and generic rainbow stuff. I'd probably go for something more eclectic and individualistic personally. Definitely the product of a subdued digital age.

Also they totally mishandled the guest thing with the Blez decade break. The first part was fine, talking about a set they knew well in the 17-18 Luka chase, but Peyton Manning was just rushing through what should have been a slow reveal segment discussing the history and aesthetic of NT, relative value of various card types. And players.

The Sapphire Ohtani and 2003 LeBron stuff was basically Blez trying to convince Rubin and co. that they should care about what was coming out. $10 million was the number thrown around 50 times or so. I dunno... what makes the hobby interesting seems so oppositional to the approach of whipping through ultra rare boxes and considering anything a bust unless a single-player grail is hit. Gonna waste a lot of boxes that way.

Nice airy venue though. Im sure that simply not wading through crowds is a bonus to many.

Believe me, inside the hall....lots of excitement, sounds, cheers, etc. in the show floor.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by messier2

Believe me, inside the hall....lots of excitement, sounds, cheers, etc. in the show floor.

That’s the sound of all the creepy old men stalking that girl with the moustache, Libby Dunne.

[Nomad]

I would like to go to a card show where, like a concert, cell phones not allowed. Not only would Geoff not be present, but some real magic would happen. Like actual hobbyists would participate in big trades.

[thepilluh]

Originally Posted by Nomad

I would like to go to a card show where, like a concert, cell phones not allowed. Not only would Geoff not be present, but some real magic would happen. Like actual hobbyists would participate in big trades.

Would they though? Many don't know the latest comps w/o looking them up on the cell before each transaction.

[nothinbefore]

Originally Posted by thepilluh

Would they though? Many don't know the latest comps w/o looking them up on the cell before each transaction.

Right, which isn't a bad thing..who is really checking every card comp 24/7??

Man's looking to fleece the people talking like that lol

welcome to the future old man no more Beckett price guides

[Nomad]

So watched the rest of the Blez break. Basketball wise, they really did redeem themselves a little. Iverson kept it real and watching those EX2000 get broke in dayglo two-card segments as he capped on and semi dissed Blez was something. Gonna have to crack out that Marcus Canby Essential Credentials /499, such a beautiful card. Even the box of that set went the extra mile.

Exquisite. Wow it was dusty. Shine's hands were shaking, I guess he is an actual collector. I do want to say that I was kind of ho hum though. Panini kind of used it as a basis for a lot of stuff, so the contemporary high end has come a long way. I think we are gonna miss that side of Panini. After all, Italy invented fashion. Hope we get some nice GU Pacers patches in Panini's last hurrah.

[messier2]

I'll be envious of the guys going to Burbank. I have my local mall show to go to this weekend...not - the - same! lol

[Nomad]

Probably wrong thread, but I am really nonplussed by the videos I see from the show. Apparently someone bought out the dude's whole table, so he like goes to stock up on Kabooms and auto rookie stuff with another dealer, comes back and flips to make $500 on it. Loses that and winds up betting like $7,000 on the selling price of some football optic gold vinyl slab. So one of them can go home comfortably ahead.

I mean there is no strategy behind that, it's like treating cards like currency. Might as well watch a casino gambling show.

Instead of what would interest me, like discussing the nuances of various non MJ/Kobe/Lebron 90s crds and condition, raw and ungraded. So you can take em out and look at them, assess whether they might be altered or trimmed. I think that is where part of the hobby took a wrong turn. Slabbing actually cuts you of from the most interesting part of being an advanced collector.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by Nomad

Probably wrong thread, but I am really nonplussed by the videos I see from the show. Apparently someone bought out the dude's whole table, so he like goes to stock up on Kabooms and auto rookie stuff with another dealer, comes back and flips to make $500 on it. Loses that and winds up betting like $7,000 on the selling price of some football optic gold vinyl slab. So one of them can go home comfortably ahead.

I mean there is no strategy behind that, it's like treating cards like currency. Might as well watch a casino gambling show.

Instead of what would interest me, like discussing the nuances of various non MJ/Kobe/Lebron 90s crds and condition, raw and ungraded. So you can take em out and look at them, assess whether they might be altered or trimmed. I think that is where part of the hobby took a wrong turn. Slabbing actually cuts you of from the most interesting part of being an advanced collector.

Making a mockery of the hobby. It’s a shame.

[messier2]

Originally Posted by Nomad

Probably wrong thread, but I am really nonplussed by the videos I see from the show. Apparently someone bought out the dude's whole table, so he like goes to stock up on Kabooms and auto rookie stuff with another dealer, comes back and flips to make $500 on it. Loses that and winds up betting like $7,000 on the selling price of some football optic gold vinyl slab. So one of them can go home comfortably ahead.

I mean there is no strategy behind that, it's like treating cards like currency. Might as well watch a casino gambling show.

Instead of what would interest me, like discussing the nuances of various non MJ/Kobe/Lebron 90s crds and condition, raw and ungraded. So you can take em out and look at them, assess whether they might be altered or trimmed. I think that is where part of the hobby took a wrong turn. Slabbing actually cuts you of from the most interesting part of being an advanced collector.

I passed by that guy several times with him sitting bored behind his empty showcases. Maybe it’s one of those “show off” things where he wants people to know he was just bought out and he has tons of $$$$?! Who knows! People are strange these days…

[jstephens24]

thats the "shout-out kurts card care" guy for the wemby 1/1 at PSA