Can The National be more like San Diego Comic-Con?

Can The National be more like San Diego Comic-Con? by Chris Olds

August 9, 2010, 2:54 pm
Filed under: Beckett Media | Tags: NSCC, San Diego Comic-Con, SDCC, Sports Cards, sports memorabilia, the National

By SUSAN LULGJURAJ | SPECIAL TO BECKETT MEDIA

BALTIMORE – The 31st annual National Sports Collectors Convention finished on Sunday and then dealers packed their boxes (hopefully lighter than when they arrived) and collectors went home with cards, memorabilia and empty wallets.

For five days, collectors looked for different trading cards, game-used items and received autographs at the Baltimore Convention Center. Some left with bags full of goodies they don’t even know where to put yet. While others left with just one or two coveted prizes.

Conventions like these have ways of changing over the years. San Diego’s Comic-Con, which started as a comic book show, has turned into one of the biggest pop culture events in the country. While there are still comics, statues of Superman and places to find your Klingon dictionary, there are different types of events such as Q&A panels with popular television shows that have become the heart of the show.

So how can the National get as big as Comic-Con?

Here were a few suggestions heard on the floor on Sunday.

Hours: The biggest complaint at the National was that it closed too early. Most people leave work around 5 p.m., but the National closed its doors at 6.

“Six is too early,” said Joe Smith, owner of Journey into Comics and Sports Cards of Circleville, Ohio. “It’s too big for them to shop. They should keep it open later.”

Suggestion: Leave the convention open until 8 p.m. on weekdays and 7 on the weekend. This will give collectors more time to stop over and the National could even offer deals. For anyone who buys a one-day pass after 5 p.m., they get the next day included.

Diversity: Card collectors had a difficult time finding modern cards. The amount of vintage cards was overwhelming. So much so, dealers with modern cards had a great week of sales. Smith sold many cards ranging from $1,500 to just $1.

He benefited from being one of the few in sea or vintage and memorabilia items.

“It was tough to find the cards I wanted because I thought there would be more guys I collect,” Brad Callagan, 15, of Baltimore. “I thought there would be more Orioles stuff to get since the show was here.”

Suggestion: Have small- to medium-sized dealers who deal in modern singles (anything from 1993 and on) enter a lottery to get a lowered-cost booth to attend the National. This will allow the dealers more exposure and a chance to sell some of their inventory.

Panels: The Topps Company had a two-hour panel of four executives on Thursday where they took questions from collectors and media members. There were 50 attendees and most of those who went enjoyed the experience and opportunity to speak directly to the people who matter at the card company.

Suggestion: Have each major card company do a panel at the National. This kind of session will break up the monotony of the show with collectors, and even dealers, getting a break from walking the expansive floor.

“I wish there was more stuff like that to do,” said collector Marie Pecora who attended the Topps panel. “For people who are here for all five days, it’s a good way to do something more than just look at cards.”

Not all agree the National should change much. The dealers are the ones who benefit most from the current format. With fewer outside distractions, collectors are spending more time on the floor buying items.

If there were other events that collectors had to pay for, dealers would lose out.

“I think the more they do things like that will take money out of the dealers’ pockets,” said Smith, who was set up at his first National. “I like the way they do things now.”

The card companies had extras for the collectors such as wrapper redemption programs, pack wars and giveaways. They recognized collectors wanted to do more.

Topps appeared at the convention for the first time in many years and had one of the most popular giveaways, a Stephen Strasburg 2010 Heritage wrapper redemption. Panini allowed convention goers to spin a wheel for prizes, Upper Deck gave away prizes and had a wrapper redemption as did TRISTAR and Leaf.

Collectors spent plenty of time in the corporate area with the major card companies and near the TRISTAR autograph pavilion through the five days. There were even unplanned moments such as companies just giving away cards simply because you walked by.

“You never know what you can find over here,” Callaghan said.

Susan Lulgjuraj is a sports journalist. She also blogs at A Cardboard Problem. You can also follow her on Twitter at @CardBandits.

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