An event that collectors of vintage sports cards and memorabilia circle on their calendars has a new home for 2024 but it’s about as close to the old one as you can get.
The annual Strongsville Sports Collectors Convention, held for many years at the Best Western Hotel in the Cleveland suburbs, is moving to Brunswick Auto Mart Arena, a larger facility located next door. The move allows the show to expand in size and provide more room for attendees to move around.
This year’s show runs from Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21.
Dealers, auction companies and service providers from 18 states and Canada are expected to occupy well over 100 booths at the arena. SGC will be accepting grading submissions.
Sellers typically bring some of their better cards and memorabilia to the event, which attracts a large crowd of buyers whose collections are focused on older material.
However, the show’s move to a large space has also afforded the opportunity to expand its list of autograph guests. Nearly 20 signers have committed, including Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, former third baseman Toby Harrah, Football Hall of Famers Willie Roaf and Ozzie Newsome, Browns’ wide receivers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, kicker Dustin Hopkins and offensive tackle Dawand Jones as well as a group of former Browns that includes Bernie Kosar, Greg Pruitt, Brian Brennan, Bob Golic, Reggie Langhorne and others.
The show’s roots go back to 1978, when it began as the Cleveland Area Sports Collectors Show but most people in the hobby simply referred to it as ‘Strongsville.’ The show faded away in the early 2000s before auctioneer Paul Fusco resurrected it in 2008. Lelands took over the show in 2019 after Fusco suddenly passed away.
Show hours are 2-7 PM Friday, 10 AM-6 PM Saturday and 10 AM-4 PM Sunday but early entry tickets are also available. More information is available on the show’s website.
