National Trade Night Brings Out Ballroom Full of Hobbyists

Sometimes words cannot do justice to what actual photos can show.

 

NSCC 2023 Trade Night.

 

 

In an upstairs ballroom at the Stephens Convention Center Thursday evening, Trade Night attendees packed the room, many of them lugging around black or silver cases loaded with slabbed cards, autographs and who knows what. Others were laying their cards on the large round tables eager to trade or make a deal.

Among the attendees:  Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin who mingled with the crowd for a bit.

 

An annual and official 2023 National Sports Collectors Convention event, trade night started several years ago with a little over a dozen attendees munching on pretzels and soft drinks. On Thursday night around 4,500 people entered the line, which snaked downstairs, out the door of the convention center and down the street. The fire marshal had to put an end to the number that were allowed inside at any one time.

 

Now, thanks to word of mouth and social media, the event has grown to become an attraction in itself.  Organizers included founders JImmy Mahan of Kentucky Road Show Cards and Ryan Johnson of Card Collector 2 with support from Panini America, Heritage Auctions and Geoff Wilson’s Sports Card Investor.

“It’s wonderful how far it’s come because it is authentically about the hobby, we don’t make a dime, all sponsor money goes to renting the room, beverage stations and free t-shirts,” Mahan told SC Daily. “It’s for the hobbyists and it allows folks that sometimes are quick to argue online, instead sit at a table and realize, ‘ hey we have a lot in common’. “

 

Deals were getting made at every table and in every corner of the room.

One of a couple pickups from trade night last night! pic.twitter.com/uGcx4qQtr6

— cp_sportscards (@cp_sportscards) July 28, 2023

 

According to some in attendance, there are only a few rules to follow:

 

1. Be polite.

2. Be fair

3. Don’t leave your cards unattended (one collector had a stack of cards stolen)

4. Be patient.

5. Don’t interrupt deals

6. Have a great time.

 

Mahan loves that the event has grown organically and appeals to the traditional side of collecting.

“It’s the lowest common denominator of the hobby.  Meeting and trading for what you love and creating relationships through cards.  It has nothing to do with me or Ryan, it’s the power of the hobby. All you need is a good space and some time.”

For full coverage of the show up to now and all week long, check out our special section here.

Sign up to get our headlines in your email each morning here.

Follow our Twitter feed here.