The National - Not Your Average Card Show

This summer, my son and I attended the 42nd Annual National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC) in Atlantic City. I admit our expectations were very high – with the anticipation of over 90,000 attendees, this huge event would boast many VIP signers, a variety of corporate sponsors and vendors – it was going to exceed expectations. While the National was good, it, unfortunately, turned out to be the same as any other card show. It was just bigger. Nothing made this a unique experience for collectors who attended.

I surmise the reason for this lack of focus on us, the collector, (a.k.a. the customer), is simple - the National is built around dealers and corporate sponsors. The experience for the collector is secondary. Take for example the news posted on social media sho

rtly after the event. It stated, "The results of the ballot sent to eligible voters are in and the NSCC Board of Directors is pleased to announce the sites for future events." That's right. The NSCC has chosen the location for the next 3-years – Chicago in '23, Cleveland in '24, and Chicago again in '25. I read the article and realized there was no input requested from collectors. Isn't this the "Sports Collectors" Convention? Aren't we sports collectors? Why aren’t they asking, “Where would collectors want the National to be held?”

The lack of focus on the collector is evident in more than just selecting the location. After attending the National this past summer, it was incredibly clear that this is a dealer-focused event. The show management and board of directors are still stuck in their 1989 Field of Dreams mindset, "if you build it, they will come." If I were to guess, these guys are running the same type of National show today that they did back then. I don't know about you, but today's generation of collectors expects more focus to be on them the customer.

So, what needs to change? Here are some observations we took back from this year's 42nd National.

A National App

Nearly every type of convention we've attended in the last 10 years has an app. This allows you to stay up to date and get notified of events happening in real time. The National is a show that can benefit immensely from this. As an attendee this year, it was very unclear what was going on and when. So how can an app benefit the collectors who attend the National?

· It will allow all attendees to register and create a profile, sign up for events, and get alerts of what's happening throughout the weekend

· It can connect collectors through a social platform in the app to meet, sell, or trade

· Obtain reservations with vendors to participate in their events – booking a time to submit graded cards, group breaks, giveaways, even order National T-shirts

VIP Program

Maybe you purchased a VIP ticket for $169, or even a super VIP at $209. That got you some added benefits that the standard admission daily $25 ticket didn't' receive, right? Sure, it got you a bag equipped with a show program, and some cool card packs provided by some of the corporate sponsors. The super VIPs got that cool eBay bag and included parking at the garage, which was great!

The additional benefits of the VIP tickets were to obtain free autographs from a group of 21 former players who attended. Now while it got you priority access to the lines for autographs guests, the challenge that most of us experienced was not knowing when a player was signing and thus missing the opportunity. The announcements were garbled through the PA system. It just wasn't clear what was happening and when. What can the National do to make this a better experience for the collector? Here are some thoughts.

· The players providing the free autographs were paid whether a VIP ticket holder got an autograph or not. To that end, the VIPs should be able to sign up to receive the autographs that they can pick up at the autograph pavilion when it's convenient for them. A corporate sponsor can sponsor the photos or cards of each player. The play can then sign it for the VIP ticket holder, and the VIP can pick them up when they are ready, (probably with a push notification in the app 😉).

· This all goes back to creating a National App. With that App, VIPs, or all attendees, can sign up for alerts when the player they are looking to get a signature is signing.

Trade Night

If you were lucky enough, or motivated enough, to wait in line for over an hour, you could attend trade night, which was held on Thursday night once the show closed. It was a fairly simple event to set up. A room was reserved and everyone who showed up had to find someone to trade with. The room was packed with people and seats were at a premium. Some collectors were entrepreneurial and set out their cards. Others wandered through the room aimlessly trying to find someone to which they could connect. Bottomline, it was chaotic and very difficult to navigate. So, what could be done to make it better? Here are some ideas that could improve the experience for attendees.

· Get collectors to register to attend the event and provide the type of cards they are looking for.

· Provide those that register with a colored wristband that shows the sport they're looking to trade – i.e. Blue for baseball, Orange for football, etc. Yet another corporate sponsor opportunity!

· Have more than one night. If you register to trade, provide multiple nights for collectors to connect, or simply let people who have registered connect through the app with each other.

Not Your Average Card Show

The sheer size of the National show floor was enormous and quite overwhelming. It was quite a site to see an endless sea of vendors with all kinds of cards and collectibles. This is not your average card show – it's the National. To that end, collectors should demand that it should be different, better, bigger, and unforgettable. The National Show Managers need to shift their focus on those consumers who attend the National and shift the focus from dealers and corporate sponsors. I would venture a guess, it may have been this way since its inception. It's time for a change. Let's make the National about us, the sports collector. This will not only make an improved experience but will continue to help grow the hobby for everyone.