The 35th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention gets underway Wednesday with organizers expecting at least 45,000 collectors and curious sports fans to descend on the International Exposition Center in Cleveland during its five-day run. The National is the largest sports and entertainment collectibles show in the world.
It’s a place where sports/entertainment collectors, fans and dealers can meet to buy, trade and discuss collecting memorabilia such as trading cards, vintage game-used equipment and other sports- and entertainment-related collectibles, as well as meet high profile athletes and get autographs.
Dozens of current and former athletes have committed to sign autographs during the show’s run including Jim Brown, John Riggins, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Jim Thome, Joe Torre, Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Al Kaline, Reggie Jackson, Randy Johnson, Terry Francona, Johnny Bench, Bobby Hull, Jim Kelly, Bobby Knight, Tony Dorsett, Wade Boggs, Brooks Robinson, Archie Griffin, Deion Sanders, Rod Carew, Frank Robinson, Jerome Bettis, Thurman Thomas, Pedro Martinez, Roberto Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Dale Murphy, Mike Hargrove, Hanford Dixon, Al “Bubba” Baker, Kenny Lofton, and Tom Browning, among others.
Over 750 dealer booths are again sold out according to Co-Founder Mike Berkus who says the show’s corporate pavilion will also be larger than ever.
While the hundreds of dealers from across North America will be the main attraction for many of the card and memorabilia collectors who attend, the 2014 event will welcome the inaugural Amazon.com Sports Collectibles Case Break Pavilion & Center Stage. The attraction will feature 12,000 square feet of space devoted to those who sell spots and then break unopened cases of current products, dividing the contents up among those who select certain teams or buy a random slot. The breaks are recorded on video so anyone with an internet connection can watch.
“We are extremely excited that the 35th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention is returning to Cleveland,” said John Broggi, NSCC Executive Director / Promoter. “Cleveland has an exceptionally strong sports tradition with very avid and knowledgeable collectors and a diversified sports fan base.”
The show hours are:
VIP Party / Media Reception Wednesday – 7/30/14- 2:30pm-4pm
Sneak Peek Wednesday – 7/31/14- 4pm-8pm
Thursday – Saturday – 8/1/14 – 8/2/14 – 10am – 6pm
Sunday – 8/3/14 – 10am – 5pm
Public admission tickets can be purchased on-line at www.NSCCShow.com and on-site at the I-X Convention Center throughout the event. Autograph tickets are available to purchase online and on-site throughout the week at the Cleveland International Exposition Center.
General admission tickets for children under 12 are free.
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