The 2017 National isn’t the only large sports collectors show in Chicago during the next several months. The spring edition of the Fanatics Sports Spectacular (formerly the Sun-Times Show) returns this weekend (March 17-19).
Held at the Stephens Convention Center in suburban Rosemont, the same venue that will host the NSCC in late July, the Fanatics show will draw a big group of dealers from around the country, carrying everything from vintage cards and memorabilia to the latest unopened boxes. Auction houses and grading/authentication companies will also be on hand.
As always, the autograph lineup is a big one, headlined by the three newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jeff Bagwell, Ivan Rodriguez and Tim Raines will all be signing Saturday. The base fee for Rodriguez and Bagwell is $99 while Raines’ signature is $79.
Among the dozens of other guests signing at various times and prices Friday through Sunday are Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Jim Kelly, Joe Greene (he won’t sign “Mean Joe”, Randy Moss, members of the Dallas Cowboys ‘Doomsday Defense’, David Ortiz, Dennid Eckersley, Robin Yount, Ozzie Smith, Steve Carlton, William Shatner and the cast of the movie Hoosiers. Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell was forced to cancel after undergoing surgery this week. The entire autograph lineup is posted here.
General admission tickets are $10 with weekend VIP passes which allow early admission, autograph priority and a free signature are priced at $99. Both admission and autograph tickets can be reserved online until noon Eastern time Wednesday. After that, you’ll have to buy them at the show site.
Show hours are 4:30-9 PM Friday; 9:30-5 on Saturday and 10-4 Sunday.
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