CLEVELAND — The results are in, and the improvements are clear.
In its first year under new management, the National Sports Collectors Convention showed the industry’s largest event is headed in the right direction.
There is still much to do, however, and for the hobby to thrive, the show must improve even more in a number of specific areas.
Truthfully, it was hard to know what to expect from new leadership entering 2024. This group has orchestrated shows in Chantilly, Virginia, and Philadelphia, both of which are among the best events in the country. However, it’s also hard to follow the record-breaking attendance from Chicago in 2023.
After one show, the new team has delivered — some.
Those attending this year’s show at Cleveland’s I-X Center were greeted by a variety of long-awaited upgrades, an encouraging sign for an event that has underwhelmed more than once in recent years.
Hobbyists enjoyed a much cooler temperature than the stifling heat that plagued Chicago last year. Food trucks were a welcome surprise, and this year’s show was better organized than past events with corporate sponsors tucked against the back walls behind dealer tables.
It’s easy to look at the results and see potential, but potential isn’t good enough.
The National remains far from perfect, and as the sports card hobby’s flagship event, it must improve in a number of areas to be the show collectors need it to be.
Accessibility
It can be difficult to blame management for factors outside of the venue doors, but no issue was discussed more than the traffic jams heading into the show.
The team directing vehicles to the I-X Center wasn’t as effective as needed, and it was too difficult to navigate both arrivals and departures. A single drop-off point isn’t acceptable for a major sporting event, and The National should be no different.
Collectors with disabilities also reported ongoing issues entering the show at all. This hobby is meant to be enjoyed by everyone, and anything less than easy access to those that need it most is a failure. Corporate vendors blocking handicapped parking is addressable by management, and what some collectors experienced in Cleveland is unacceptable.
Comfort
Once inside, bathrooms were limited with egregiously long lines far too common. The I-X Center should no longer be an option if it can’t comfortably accommodate the basic needs of collectors on the show floor, and access to bathrooms in a reasonable amount of time is one of those things.
Food trucks were a major upgrade to what was offered at previous conventions, but a better lineup of healthy options would have been great, too — especially for those at the event for consecutive days or the entire week.
The VIP area on the lower level was nicely done, but outside of the media lounge, it appeared hard to find a quiet spot of any kind. Creating a quiet area at an event like this is certainly a challenge, but it’s also important to understand that the youngest members of the hobby community might need a break from the showroom over the course of a long day.
Infrastructure
Internet access and cellular service remained an issue for nearly all involved. This has become a running theme at The National, and while access was reportedly upgraded by new management, collectors didn’t seem to feel the impact. A number of vendors reported to cllct they purchased cellular hotspots but found little improvement.
The PSA booth found success with a hardwired connection, but that isn’t a realistic option for many. This left corporate sponsors struggling to access resources. Dealers have long preferred cash, but the inability to reach digital payment services in an increasingly cashless world resulted in a number of lost sales across the show.
Whether it’s accessing PayPal or uploading a video from the show floor, improved internet access is a must moving forward.
Organization
Though the show was better organized in general, the layout of dealers and corporate booths remains a mess.
Breakers were largely grouped together, but that concept never made it to the rest of the showroom.
As always, there is no organization between modern and vintage cards or memorabilia. Even if management has a plan to refresh the layout, vendors must show support, and there’s little evidence that long-term attendees grandfathered into the show have any interest in improving the collector experience if it impacts their own.
That experience applies to corporate booths, too. While card manufacturers such as Topps, Panini America and Upper Deck were grouped together, the auction houses, card graders and marketplaces were spread across the floor.
The interactive map of the show floor was a wonderful addition, but it can’t fix an organizational issue that has only grown worse as the show’s inventory and corporate makeup has diversified. If breakers can be grouped together thoughtfully, the rest of the show can, too.
The autograph pavilion also remains disorganized and intimidating for new collectors. Little guidance is provided to those new to the experience, making it harder to get started than it needs to be. The National’s incredible lineup of signers is one of its biggest draws, but it might not remain that way without major changes soon.
The National has always been one of the trading card industry’s most flawed events — it’s the most complicated, after all. A long history of issues that previous management had no interest in addressing is another hurdle that will be difficult to navigate in the coming years.
The immediate progress is encouraging, however. There’s much work to be done, especially when it comes to accommodating the most basic needs of hobbyists, but the blueprint is there, and this team appears ready to deliver.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.