The buzz is real.
Early projections about a bustling crowd and booming business didn’t disappoint on day two of the 43rd Annual National Sports Collectors Conventional.
It’s big in space, about 200,000 feet more as the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center opened another section to boast 600,000 feet of deals.
While official attendance figures aren’t released, NSCC spokesman Ray Schulte says both Wednesday and Thursday numbers “exceeded expectations.”
It was easy to feel crammed walking through the sales aisles. the convention was floor jammed four or five people wide and just as packed lengthwise.
One dealer near the main entrance told a collector it wasn’t more than just hype. Just minutes after the show opened he was swimming in business.
“It’s going to be a lot longer day, with a lot more show space. It’s like a whole new show.”
How big is it?
“It’s all most stupid big,” he remarked. “It’s a lot bigger and a lot better.”
It was that way almost from the start. Wednesday night, historically a slow day as the five-day event eventually gained steam.
Speaking of steam(y), giant doors that had been opened to allow corporate and dealer move-ins stayed open long enough to make the room uncomfortably hot for some. Even that didn’t kept crowds from coming–and staying.
One of the famous faces spotted at the show–one used to hot weather– was a well known golfer.
Thanks to @bubbawatson for stopping by the @nsccshow Singles Club!!! Enjoy the @ClaytonKersh22 rookie! pic.twitter.com/tHQFKXCs30
— Singles Club (@DollarCards) July 27, 2023
Kirk Kovacs of Kovacs Sports noticed a similar trend. He and Brian Dec are set up in booth 1010. They specialize in vintage sports memorabilia.
“We are selling and if we aren’t selling – we are telling lots of stories. There are lots of questions.”
No matter if you collect cards, memorabilia, autographs or something totally different, chances are there’s a National booth that has it. Few dealers were ever lonely. The crowd size meant a steady stream of customers from the time of VIP ticket entry until the doors closed at six o’clock that evening.
Long time NSCC dealer Brian Marcy of Scottsdale Cards in Arizona was perhaps the most enthusiastic of all. “We’ve been selling a lot,” he said.
“The fire marshal might come in this afternoon.”
I am not 100 percent sure he was joking.
To veteran dealers the massive crowds conjured up images of the epic ’91 National in Anaheim when the fire marshal did threaten to shut the place down. That show is considered the hallmark for NSCC attendance.
Despite very uncomfortable temperatures throughout much of the hall, the crowds kept coming–and buying.
Marcy spent considerable time leading up to the show giving exact attention to his inventory. He want to make sure cards were priced right. A long-time dealer at the National, Marcy says the secret is knowing the market. Not basing it on what you paid or want you want to get.
“The only price that matters is the price right now.”
At other booths, dealers with higher ticket items noticed a more tempered response. That usually means they are considering and need to mull it over. In many cases, they come back with more cash.
“I’m definitely hearing collectors talk of spending more than originally planned,” Marcy said.
The National will do that to a person.
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