Fanatics Creating Their Own Shows, How Does This Effect The Future of The Hobby?

[Eric72]

More than likely, it will lead to two separate and distinct hobbies:

• Those who embrace/participate in Fanatics' model of the hobby
• Those who ignore/avoid the things Fanatics puts in place

Some people will likely try to keep one foot in each side of the hobby, especially at first. In my opinion, though, they'll eventually gravitate towards one thing or the other, hyped up "events" or traditional card shows.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Eric72

More than likely, it will lead to two separate and distinct hobbies:

• Those who embrace/participate in Fanatics' model of the hobby
• Those who ignore/avoid the things Fanatics puts in place

Some people will likely try to keep one foot in each side of the hobby, especially at first. In my opinion, though, they'll eventually gravitate towards one thing or the other, hyped up "events" or traditional card shows.

Agreed. The Fanatics marketing assumption seems to be that the hobby explosion over the past three years will continue to grow exponentially. The company should be doing all it can to help the remaining brick and mortar card store owners and show promoters. Fanatics wants to control the main distribution points of product (ex. Amazon, Target, Walmart). Fanatics does have quite the roster of exclusive athletes. I don't see how this hurts vintage card collectors.

I had this same feeling when Krause publications bought Tuff-Stuff and promised to continue having shows. Krause just wanted to sell magazines. Fanatics is a different beast.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Eric72

More than likely, it will lead to two separate and distinct hobbies:

• Those who embrace/participate in Fanatics' model of the hobby
• Those who ignore/avoid the things Fanatics puts in place

A more concise (and far more polite) version of what I would have said.

Those who gravitate to modern sparkliness and pathetic Sharpie scribbles can all form a separate camp elsewhere and it would be a dream come true. If any of them tire of the rigmarole, then I'd happily welcome them over to the vintage side. All of what Fanatics offers has thus far been of no personal use and had no impact on my area of the hobby as I utilize it. Happy to keep it that way.

[Exhibitman]

I read the story on the Fanatics plan and it doesn't really sound like much of a card show. More like Comicon, frankly, with a big component of sales of Fanatics products and services and the collector-dealer trading floor as an afterthought at best. They retained IMG, which does the Mint Collective in Las Vegas, to run it. I had little interest in that and don't see much to be interested in at the Fanatics planned events either.

We really have entered an era of divergence between vintage collecting and the modern 'experience' and Fanatics' stuff doesn't seemed geared towards vintage collectors. Makes business sense, I guess, since Fanatics can't create more vintage cards but it can create and market the next Biggest Best Ever Thing at will.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I read the story on the Fanatics plan and it doesn't really sound like much of a card show. More like Comicon, frankly, with a big component of sales of Fanatics products and services and the collector-dealer trading floor as an afterthought at best. They retained IMG, which does the Mint Collective in Las Vegas, to run it. I had little interest in that and don't see much to be interested in at the Fanatics planned events either.

We really have entered an era of divergence between vintage collecting and the modern 'experience' and Fanatics' stuff doesn't seemed geared towards vintage collectors. Makes business sense, I guess, since Fanatics can't create more vintage cards but it can create and market the next Biggest Best Ever Thing at will.

No clue what they are doing. I just know they are throwing billions into the industry but your analysis above, if accurate, is why this will not impact smaller local shows. They sound like they are catering to another part of the industry.

[bigfanNY]

I am decidedly on the side of folks collecting anything sports related will definitely benifit vintage down the road. More collecting memories now for 8 to 18 year olds means a healthy hobby when they are in their peak earning years.
So far my only gripe with Fanatics is that they restrict their athletes from signing tickets. As for big corporate shows with top athletes signing it sounds like a great way to introduce my grandkids to collecting. In a few years I can definitely see them asking to go to Comicon to meet Captin America ( Chris Evans is going to be at NY this year fee around $260). I hope they ask to go to the Fanatics Experience to meet their favorite players as well.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

I am decidedly on the side of folks collecting anything sports related will definitely benifit vintage down the road. More collecting memories now for 8 to 18 year olds means a healthy hobby when they are in their peak earning years.

I completely agree. New cards have always been the gateway drug to older cards. If you have that collector gene and you see the old stuff, you will get addicted. My point was more on the lines of my not seeing much of interest to me at a Comicon-style event. Though I have to cop to attending a few Star Trek conventions back in the day, even stood in line for an hour to meet James Doohan and made a fanboy ass of myself.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Eric72

More than likely, it will lead to two separate and distinct hobbies:

• Those who embrace/participate in Fanatics' model of the hobby
• Those who ignore/avoid the things Fanatics puts in place

Some people will likely try to keep one foot in each side of the hobby, especially at first. In my opinion, though, they'll eventually gravitate towards one thing or the other, hyped up "events" or traditional card shows.

From this point on, please refrain from using the words 'Fanatics' and 'Hobby' in the same sentence. Fanatics has no interest in being involved in a hobby. Their only interest is in a commodity based business where they see unexploited potential for profit and growth. Much like the major card manufacturers during the spin up to the junk wax era.

Crap, I just broke my own rule.

[eastonfalcon19]

Not so much on the card side but I went to the Philly show in May and had a game used baseball from Steve Carlton's 319th win. It has provenance and a letter from MEARS. The handler would not let Steve add a Game Used inscription or even the date of the game. The excuse I got was they could get sued for adding that inscription. I guess Fanatics doesn't allow any Game Used inscriptions on items.

[Casey2296]

Fanatics is not good for this hobby, much like Walmart was not good for local businesses when they came to town. It's a tired story filled with egos, power and money. Reminds me of that cartoon my kids watched when they were kids, Pinky and the Brain, two rats who were trying to "take over the world".

This is the same outfit that spent millions pumping NFT's to the masses, how many naive investors listened to them and lost money.

Same schtick as Goldin/West just a fancier wrapper.

Makes me appreciate the old school collectors and net54 even more.

[glynparson]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

From this point on, please refrain from using the words 'Fanatics' and 'Hobby' in the same sentence. Fanatics has no interest in being involved in a hobby. Their only interest is in a commodity based business where they see unexploited potential for profit and growth. Much like the major card manufacturers during the spin up to the junk wax era.

Crap, I just broke my own rule.

They are a business I expect a business to act like a business especially one that has investors giving them money. They are obligated to treat it like a business.

[Stuke1976]

I wouldn't doubt Fanatics tries to buy out existing shows.