Observations on the current state of the hobby from a show this weekend

[NYBBFAN]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Will I see you at the Oct 11th Inside Pitch show?

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by NYBBFAN

Thanks for sharing your experience! Will I see you at the Oct 11th Inside Pitch show?

No, the only show that I will do this year, if I get a table, will be the Sports Wax Promotion in Mooresville. Otherwise, I will be doing my next show in 2026.

[clsports]

Originally Posted by hammerva

I readily admit that what I am looking for is extremely niche (wrestling cards) but this Philly show was one of the more disappointing ones I have had in terms of what I am finding stuff. Oh there was plenty of wrestling but it was a lot of the stuff I have seen at almost every show. Even from the dependable dealers. I was sure that people would have decent supply of 2025 Cactus Jack and nobody had it except for a couple people trying to sell hobby boxes over $350 which is laughable. Still a very good show and maybe if I had more money I could have dived into the football boxes. Seems like there are more dealers but the newer ones are TCG only. We are starting to get to the point where the autograph area is getting crowded with everything around it

I thought it was kind of funny that they said this was the 50th year of doing this show. I mean I can believe 40 but 50? I would love to see what the Philly card show would have looked like in 1975.

I recall going to that show as far back as 1978 or 1979. I went to the Philly Show this past weekend and heard that same announcement of the 50th year. I have been going since I was about 11 or 12 so makes sense! The early year's were in Willow Grove.

This past weekend, I was just an observer. I bought nothing since there is never any dealers that bring what I collect (Minor League team sets). I went for one auto I needed for my Eagles team signed helmet.

The show was very full. It seemed to me that the dollar boxes were not as full with people as I expected. I did hear many younger people just discussing their cards values in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Many trying to sell high dollar cards and/or trade for others.

[theshowandme]

The Chantilly show is going to have to find a new location

https://theburn.com/2025/09/25/dulle...-ikea-store-1/

[Slvnumber2]

Speaking of shows, we’re going to the Midwest monster for the first time next weekend since it’s only a couple hours away. We go to the national every year, and we’ve been to Nashville as well. How does the Midwest monster compared to the Nashville show in terms of product and size. Thank you.

[byronscott4ever]

Was in Portland for a convention and the Doubletree was hosting a show…was thinking it was 90% Pokémon but by the end maybe it was 70%. Breezed through it without a purchase but it seemed well-attended.

[oldgoldy97]

[swerve]

My table got pillaged at a one day show Saturday. People non-stop until the end.

Looking forward to the big show here in Austin in three weeks but I'm going to be scrambling to try and have enough decent stuff to make it through 3 days after this past Saturday.

[f2tornado]

Went to a small local show on Saturday that was not well advertised and it was still relatively busy. A couple dealers had some fun bargain bins. I'll see how the one at Canterbury just south of Minneapolis goes on Saturday. It was uninspiring in May. On the plus side, the Pokémon people get their own show the next day so it shouldn't be cluttered with that stuff.

[ironfireman]

Originally Posted by NYBBFAN

Thanks for sharing your experience! Will I see you at the Oct 11th Inside Pitch show?

Yeah thanks for the report Raleigh504 - I talked to a couple other vendors. Both said Sunday was pretty slow and one had to get a hotel for a 2-day so he probably wouldn't do it again. The other said it was terrible, he got put on the back row facing the wall and just didn't get enough traffic. Again, great for the promotors they can get $40 for a 1 day VIP admission but I just can't justify it and neither can a few other guys I talked too. The Charlotte Inside Pitch will be almost as big and is $7 for the day and $10 for a weekend $5 parking. Hickory is just as big and $5 free parking. One of my favorite shows in free.

[byronscott4ever]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

Was in Portland for a convention and the Doubletree was hosting a show…was thinking it was 90% Pokémon but by the end maybe it was 70%. Breezed through it without a purchase but it seemed well-attended.

Later on Sunday, I was walking by Holladay Park, saw these and figured it was linked to the show


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[TimBuckTwo]

Not show related but hobby related.

Went to an LCS today and there is hardly a sighting of new product from the last couple of years or recent.

As well the inventory looked to be lightening up and there were price reductions across the board on what they had.

Seems they cannot purchase any direct new stuff from the lack of stuff on the shelf.

Is the high price facade starting to crack?

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

dealer propaganda!

[fen584]

Originally Posted by clsports

I recall going to that show as far back as 1978 or 1979. I went to the Philly Show this past weekend and heard that same announcement of the 50th year. I have been going since I was about 11 or 12 so makes sense! The early year's were in Willow Grove.

This past weekend, I was just an observer. I bought nothing since there is never any dealers that bring what I collect (Minor League team sets). I went for one auto I needed for my Eagles team signed helmet.

The show was very full. It seemed to me that the dollar boxes were not as full with people as I expected. I did hear many younger people just discussing their cards values in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Many trying to sell high dollar cards and/or trade for others.

I was absolutely floored by this at the Philly Show as well. Granted, I've been out of the loop for awhile and just kinda sorta starting to maybe get back in, but I couldn't believe the numbers I heard out of the mouths of kids who couldn't have been older than 13 or 14 (and they had some absolute banger cards).

Not hating whatsoever, but it was an eye-opener for sure.

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by fen584

I was absolutely floored by this at the Philly Show as well. Granted, I've been out of the loop for awhile and just kinda sorta starting to maybe get back in, but I couldn't believe the numbers I heard out of the mouths of kids who couldn't have been older than 13 or 14 (and they had some absolute banger cards).

Not hating whatsoever, but it was an eye-opener for sure.

People vastly underestimate the size of this hobby and how much money is actually in it. The ones would complain about $40 blasters do not represent the hobby. My son has a friend who does stupid video game youtube videos. He is a maybe 14? He makes enough from his videos to buy pretty much whatever he wants (within reason). We aren't talking Lambos here, but whatever computer, video game, VR, shoes, clothes, etc that he wants. All his money, not his parents.

I did a quick google search out of curiosity, although I know the numbers could be high or low. It said in 2024 an estimated 2 million creators made $100,000 or more annually on youtube. If you add in the other social media networks there would be that many more.

A lot of people think too small. This isn't 1992, our world is full of money and a lot of kids have figured out how to get their share. I would say there are a large number of kids who out earn their parents.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by premium1981

People vastly underestimate the size of this hobby and how much money is actually in it. The ones would complain about $40 blasters do not represent the hobby. My son has a friend who does stupid video game youtube videos. He is a maybe 14? He makes enough from his videos to buy pretty much whatever he wants (within reason). We aren't talking Lambos here, but whatever computer, video game, VR, shoes, clothes, etc that he wants. All his money, not his parents.

I did a quick google search out of curiosity, although I know the numbers could be high or low. It said in 2024 an estimated 2 million creators made $100,000 or more annually on youtube. If you add in the other social media networks there would be that many more.

A lot of people think too small. This isn't 1992, our world is full of money and a lot of kids have figured out how to get their share. I would say there are a large number of kids who out earn their parents.

And you think kid hustlers are going to spend their disposable income buying high-priced sports cards? Pokemon cards? Sure. Sports cards? Dubious. This isn't the pandemic market anymore. The modern sports card hobby is all about the gambling.

[KhalDrogo]

A teen working a part time job and investing in crypto can easily make $50k+ a year. All this with zero expenses. Smart kids creating a foundation for themselves.

[PuddleMonkey]

If you guys need any financial advice I'm here to help.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by ironfireman

Yeah thanks for the report Raleigh504 - I talked to a couple other vendors. Both said Sunday was pretty slow and one had to get a hotel for a 2-day so he probably wouldn't do it again. The other said it was terrible, he got put on the back row facing the wall and just didn't get enough traffic. Again, great for the promotors they can get $40 for a 1 day VIP admission but I just can't justify it and neither can a few other guys I talked too. The Charlotte Inside Pitch will be almost as big and is $7 for the day and $10 for a weekend $5 parking. Hickory is just as big and $5 free parking. One of my favorite shows in free.

Agreed, plus with competition that weekend actually in Charlotte didn't help (cheaper entry fee and free parking). Luckily, I had a decent spot and there was about 4 tables around me that didn't show up the next day. It was slow but I did have a reseller come by both days and wipe me almost clean from my PSA cards. Sold a decent amount to other vendors too. Also the table cost wasn't cheap either so the promotor did do well for himself I am sure.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

A teen working a part time job and investing in crypto can easily make $50k+ a year. All this with zero expenses. Smart kids creating a foundation for themselves.

If your argument is crypto is a better speculative asset than trading cards or Labubus (the modern Beanie Babies), I would have to wholeheartedly agree. The question then becomes, which one provides a better means of money laundering or tax evasion?

[StateEx]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

If your argument is crypto is a better speculative asset than trading cards or Labubus (the modern Beanie Babies), I would have to wholeheartedly agree. The question then becomes, which one provides a better means of money laundering or tax evasion?

Isn't crypto just Beanie Babies for nerds?

[Twalk1975]

Damn, it was a nice break for a few months.

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

If you guys need any financial advice I'm here to help.

If I were you, I wouldn't be sitting by your rotary phone waiting for a call.

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by solt0131

If I were you, I wouldn't be sitting by your rotary phone waiting for a call.

Just because he was wrong about the hobby in the largest way possible doesn't mean he doesn't hold value to financial conversations. People have made a lot of money watching Jim Cramer and doing the opposite of what he says. Maybe same could apply here.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by StateEx

Isn't crypto just Beanie Babies for nerds?

I feel like it's the digital version of gold bullion -- "Invest in crypto, because it's decentralized and the banks don't control it -- protect yourself against the inevitable financial collapse."