Bowman Transcendent VIP Party Questions

[pjray55]

Hi All,

I was fortunate enough to win a ticket in one of Houdini's breaks and I am thinking of attending (and possibly getting a second ticket for my son) but was hoping to get some help with some questions first.

Is there an age minimum for attendees or can I purchase a second ticket for my 12 year old son to attend with me?

I have found quite a few posts about the Topps Transcendent and Hall of Fame Transcendent parties but little on Bowman - how have the Bowman parties been similar and how have they been different?

How does the Bowman swag compare to that of the Topps parties? If I buy a second ticket for my son how much realistically might the swag offset the ticket cost?

Safe to assume it would be during spring training and in either Florida or Arizona?

Thanks in advance for any help and feel free to offer up additional suggestions / recommendations.

Patrick

[89Giants]

I went to the bowman one last year. No age limit and it's been held in Phoenix the last few times. Didn't know which prospects would be there in advance but expect 3 top 10 players. It's a fun time and if you sell off all the swag you will get most of the ticket $ back. Transportation is on you and if they don't give much notice flights can be pricey

[zworykin]

Originally Posted by pjray55

Hi All,

I was fortunate enough to win a ticket in one of Houdini's breaks and I am thinking of attending (and possibly getting a second ticket for my son) but was hoping to get some help with some questions first.

Is there an age minimum for attendees or can I purchase a second ticket for my 12 year old son to attend with me?

I have found quite a few posts about the Topps Transcendent and Hall of Fame Transcendent parties but little on Bowman - how have the Bowman parties been similar and how have they been different?

How does the Bowman swag compare to that of the Topps parties? If I buy a second ticket for my son how much realistically might the swag offset the ticket cost?

Safe to assume it would be during spring training and in either Florida or Arizona?

Thanks in advance for any help and feel free to offer up additional suggestions / recommendations.

Patrick

12 would be perfectly fine - at the "2021" party (Phoenix, late February 2022) there were several kids younger than that. One of the poor security guards spent about half his night just reminding them to stay on the dirt and off the infield grass!

The Bowman party was pretty much like the Topps party this year - mixer with appetizers/drinks, dinner with athlete Q&A, quick handshake and photo with the players, then stadium tours/more mingling/chance to take batting practice. For Bowman we had the advantage of it occurring during the offseason, so we were able to do a lot of that out on the field, including the BP. The Topps party took place (in D.C.) on an off day during the season so they understandably didn't want us out on the field (but BP down in the cages was pretty cool too).

No idea when/where this year's Bowman party will be, but your guess makes a lot of sense.

The swag I suppose probably varies from party to party, but based on what we got this year I'd imagine you could recoup most, if not all, of the cost of the ticket (assuming you paid a reasonable price...) if you put in the work, especially if you get particularly lucky with any hits in the sealed product/VIP packs.

[pjray55]

Originally Posted by zworykin

12 would be perfectly fine - at the "2021" party (Phoenix, late February 2022) there were several kids younger than that. One of the poor security guards spent about half his night just reminding them to stay on the dirt and off the infield grass!

The Bowman party was pretty much like the Topps party this year - mixer with appetizers/drinks, dinner with athlete Q&A, quick handshake and photo with the players, then stadium tours/more mingling/chance to take batting practice. For Bowman we had the advantage of it occurring during the offseason, so we were able to do a lot of that out on the field, including the BP. The Topps party took place (in D.C.) on an off day during the season so they understandably didn't want us out on the field (but BP down in the cages was pretty cool too).

No idea when/where this year's Bowman party will be, but your guess makes a lot of sense.

The swag I suppose probably varies from party to party, but based on what we got this year I'd imagine you could recoup most, if not all, of the cost of the ticket (assuming you paid a reasonable price...) if you put in the work, especially if you get particularly lucky with any hits in the sealed product/VIP packs.

Originally Posted by 89Giants

I went to the bowman one last year. No age limit and it's been held in Phoenix the last few times. Didn't know which prospects would be there in advance but expect 3 top 10 players. It's a fun time and if you sell off all the swag you will get most of the ticket $ back. Transportation is on you and if they don't give much notice flights can be pricey

Thank you both for the help, much appreciated!

[Bambino22]

Congrats! I won two tickets two years ago and regretted selling. Hope you go.

[JWBlue]

Sincere question.

How is the food a these events? Curious if Topps cuts corners.

[zworykin]

I liked the food at the Bowman and Topps parties. Not so much at the Jeter Stadium Club event. I believe they just used the host facility's in-house restaurant/catering service for each of them.

[pjray55]

Thanks all for the answers and insight, I ended up picking up a second invite for my son

[zworykin]

Awesome, glad to hear it. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

[pjray55]

Sorry but one last question, when you email to RSVP do they confirm receipt of your RSVP, do they request any additional information?

Just nervous about missing something.

[zworykin]

In the past they asked me for the hologram numbers on the envelope and on the invite itself (they each had a sticker), plus mailing address and phone number. Eventually they'll send you some terms and conditions to sign and return. Not sure if they'll be asking for proof of vaccination this year, but they did last year.

Oh - and it looks like I'll see you there!

[pjray55]

Originally Posted by zworykin

In the past they asked me for the hologram numbers on the envelope and on the invite itself (they each had a sticker), plus mailing address and phone number. Eventually they'll send you some terms and conditions to sign and return. Not sure if they'll be asking for proof of vaccination this year, but they did last year.

Oh - and it looks like I'll see you there!

Nice, looking forward to meeting!

[awz50]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Sincere question.

How is the food a these events? Curious if Topps cuts corners.

The real questions being asked here

[zworykin]

I'm hearing first week in March, in AZ. Tentatively.

Assuming that's the case, who plays their spring training games in AZ? And who do we think might be possible guests from those teams?

Guests from the first two Bowman parties for reference:

2020 Transcendent, party early 2021 - Marco Luciano, Nolan Gorman, Spencer Torkelson (two guys who had played rookie/A ball, plus Tork who was just drafted out of ASU and projected to fly through the minors)
2021 Transcendent, party early 2022 - Jordan Lawlar, CJ Abrams, Bobby Witt Jr. (one guy who had only played a couple games of rookie ball before a season-ending injury (and FWIW was in the Dbacks system, so local to the party), plus two guys about to hit the bigs)

These are the names I wouldn't be surprised to see, at first glance:

Arizona Diamondbacks - Corbin Carroll, Druw Jones, Jordan Lawlar (unlikely to be two years in a row though)
Chicago Cubs - Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cristian Hernandez, James Triantos
Chicago White Sox - Colson Montgomery, Oscar Colas
Cincinnati Reds - Elly De La Cruz, Victor Acosta
Cleveland Guardians - George Valera
Colorado Rockies - Ezequiel Tovar, Benny Montgomery, Warming Bernabel, Yanquiel Fernandez
Kansas City Royals - Gavin Cross
Los Angeles Angels - Zach Neto, Denzer Guzman, Arol Vera
Los Angeles Dodgers - Jose Ramos, Maddux Bruns
Milwaukee Brewers - Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Eric Brown Jr.
Oakland Athletics - Tyler Soderstrom, Max Muncy
San Diego Padres - Jackson Merrill, Samuel Zavala
San Francisco Giants - Aeverson Arteaga, Heliot Ramos
Seattle Mariners - Harry Ford, Jonatan Clase, (please let JRod do it, his cards in the product have the RC logo... he's not too old yet...)
Texas Rangers - Jack Leiter, Luisangel Acuna, Kumar Rocker

[pjray55]

Originally Posted by zworykin

I'm hearing first week in March, in AZ. Tentatively.

Assuming that's the case, who plays their spring training games in AZ? And who do we think might be possible guests from those teams?

Guests from the first two Bowman parties for reference:

2020 Transcendent, party early 2021 - Marco Luciano, Nolan Gorman, Spencer Torkelson (two guys who had played rookie/A ball, plus Tork who was just drafted out of ASU and projected to fly through the minors)
2021 Transcendent, party early 2022 - Jordan Lawlar, CJ Abrams, Bobby Witt Jr. (one guy who had only played a couple games of rookie ball before a season-ending injury (and FWIW was in the Dbacks system, so local to the party), plus two guys about to hit the bigs)

These are the names I wouldn't be surprised to see, at first glance:

Arizona Diamondbacks - Corbin Carroll, Druw Jones, Jordan Lawlar (unlikely to be two years in a row though)
Chicago Cubs - Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cristian Hernandez, James Triantos
Chicago White Sox - Colson Montgomery, Oscar Colas
Cincinnati Reds - Elly De La Cruz, Victor Acosta
Cleveland Guardians - George Valera
Colorado Rockies - Ezequiel Tovar, Benny Montgomery, Warming Bernabel, Yanquiel Fernandez
Kansas City Royals - Gavin Cross
Los Angeles Angels - Zach Neto, Denzer Guzman, Arol Vera
Los Angeles Dodgers - Jose Ramos, Maddux Bruns
Milwaukee Brewers - Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Eric Brown Jr.
Oakland Athletics - Tyler Soderstrom, Max Muncy
San Diego Padres - Jackson Merrill, Samuel Zavala
San Francisco Giants - Aeverson Arteaga, Heliot Ramos
Seattle Mariners - Harry Ford, Jonatan Clase, (please let JRod do it, his cards in the product have the RC logo... he's not too old yet...)
Texas Rangers - Jack Leiter, Luisangel Acuna, Kumar Rocker

Thanks for the update and JRod would bring this to a whole other level!

[zworykin]

George Valera, Druw Jones, Kumar Rocker.

Edit - just remembering, Druw Jones wasn't in Draft. So assuming they make card(s) for him for the party as usual, that would be his first ever Bowman?

[pjray55]

Originally Posted by zworykin

George Valera, Druw Jones, Kumar Rocker.

Edit - just remembering, Druw Jones wasn't in Draft. So assuming they make card(s) for him for the party as usual, that would be his first ever Bowman?

Is this confirmed or speculation? Any other details yet? Thanks for sharing!

[zworykin]

Confirmed, March 1. One of the minor league ballparks, not Chase Field.

[awz50]

Originally Posted by zworykin

Confirmed, March 1. One of the minor league ballparks, not Chase Field.

Sounds kinda dull

[pjray55]

Originally Posted by zworykin

Confirmed, March 1. One of the minor league ballparks, not Chase Field.

I should have checked my email before asking as I just saw it. I have stayed at the Biltmore before and it is a nice property. Mid- week is tough with the kids being in school but will have to make do I guess.

I hope that the event is similar to in the last and that Fanatics doesn’t make any changes for the worse.

[zworykin]

Yeah being at the minor league park instead of the big league stadium is a bit of a letdown, but it is what it is. Wonder if it was an availability thing? I'm not aware of anything else scheduled there until the WBC starts on the 11th, but who knows.

Agreed, nice hotel - though I'll be staying at my parents' house.

[zworykin]

Looks like the "he'll sign once his hand is feeling better" George Valera autos have been shipped - my dad and I both received ours today, and of course we both got a GV-2. If any of you get a GV-1 and want to figure out a straight-up trade for GV-2, hit me up!

[pjray55]

Originally Posted by zworykin

Looks like the "he'll sign once his hand is feeling better" George Valera autos have been shipped - my dad and I both received ours today, and of course we both got a GV-2. If any of you get a GV-1 and want to figure out a straight-up trade for GV-2, hit me up!

Nice! Do they come USPS? If so nothing for us today. We have three coming, if we get two GV-1 we would be glad to help you out.

[zworykin]

Originally Posted by pjray55

Nice! Do they come USPS? If so nothing for us today. We have three coming, if we get two GV-1 we would be glad to help you out.

Awesome!

Ours came in FedEx envelopes, no advance notice from Topps at all.