The National has moved to the east coast this year but Chicago will still host a couple of larger sports card shows including one that’s scheduled for this month.
The Fanatics Sports Spectacular will be held at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, March 18-20 with over 80 autograph guests and 350 dealer booths set up on the show floor.
The autograph lineup includes current and former stars from baseball, football, basketball, hockey, boxing and soccer. Chicago favorites Dick Butkus, Bobby Hull, Dennis Rodman and Andrew Shaw will be there (along with several other current Blackhawks), but so will Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Mike Schmidt, Clyde Drexler, Hakeem
Olajuwon, Earl Campbell and Steve Largent.
A few 2015 NFL rookie stars are on the schedule including Todd Gurley and Amari Cooper, as well as the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Orlando Pace, Marvin Harrison and Kevin Greene.
In addition to the autographs, fans who pay extra will be given the opportunity to catch a pass from Montana, Kelly and Marino.
“Chicago is one of our favorite stops on the Fanatics Authentic Sports Spectacular schedule each year,” said Ross Tannenbaum, President of Fanatics Authentic, “Bringing out the most attendees, the city always inspires us to find new ways to create memories for fans, such as the new experience we offer to play catch with NFL Hall of Famers.”
Show hours are 4:30-9 PM Friday; 9:30-5 Saturday and 10-4 Sunday.
Daily show admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under (children 3 and under are free). An all-inclusive VIP experience costs $99. In addition to admission to all three days of the show, the VIP package includes 30 minutes early entry every day before the show opens to the public, an express line bracelet to cut wait time for signings, one autograph ticket for VIP guest Kyle Fuller, one random autograph ticket, one random autographed 8×10 photo, and raffle tickets for the chance to win prizes.
Tickets for autographs, inscriptions, and photo-ops can be purchased for all athletes scheduled to attend. You can get the full schedule here.
Autograph tickets, authentication vouchers, and VIP packages can also be purchased on the website or at the show. If you can’t make it, signed items from the attendees and other players can be found here.
Fanatics is also planning a Chicago show for May 14-15.