Setting up at Chantilly this weekend?

[ValKehl]

I have been going to the Chantilly Show forever. When I arrived shortly after noon today, the parking lots were fuller than I have ever seen them before! Enjoyed chatting with several Board members.

[brunswickreeves]

My brother and his son were there and said it was absolutely packed. They’re into modern basketball, which maybe somewhat represents the demographic of that aspect of the hobby. They spent quite a bit of money on several boxes and ripped the packs open together to create a great memory and try to discover a Cooper Flagg auto. Same perhaps for modern baseball, lots of younger collectors accompanied by their patent(s), or their parents getting back into the hobby and introducing their kids to it with today’s superstars.

I’m curious if the continued and lasting strength of this collecting hobby is mostly driven by the total demographics…many young parents with kids (or modern collectors sans kids) decades away from retirement and no material impact on their current living expenses from a downturn in the stock market (their money of which is more likely tied up in 401ks, than active stock market investment).

[parkplace33]

My take.., the stock market hasn’t hit the card show market. Shows are packed.

[Rich Klein]

After Black Monday, many people went back to baseball cards as an investment so the market boomed when the stock market tanked.

If it's not a recession but just a stock market correction, there could well be another addition to the exploding card market. People will look for a more fun way to utilize their $$$ and cards are more fun the CNBC or Fox Business.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

I have been going to the Chantilly Show forever. When I arrived shortly after noon today, the parking lots were fuller than I have ever seen them before! Enjoyed chatting with several Board members.

Glad to hear this, but I would like to see a show this size without the autograph guests--not that I have anything against them--to gauge the strength of the card and memorabilia markets. It does seem that there is a new generation of younger collectors of what we used to somewhat derisively call "shiny stuff" coming to and setting up at shows, but Chantilly has for decades been mostly an autograph show with the dealers as window dressing, and I wonder if that's changed much. In any case, packed is packed and that's great.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Glad to hear this, but I would like to see a show this size without the autograph guests--not that I have anything against them--to gauge the strength of the card and memorabilia markets. It does seem that there is a new generation of younger collectors of what we used to somewhat derisively call "shiny stuff" coming to and setting up at shows, but Chantilly has for decades been mostly an autograph show with the dealers as window dressing, and I wonder if that's changed much. In any case, packed is packed and that's great.

Hank, traffic in the aisles was heavy as was traffic at the tables of dealers with the "shiny stuff." The traffic at the tables of vintage dealers seemed good, and I hope these dealers did well.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Hank, traffic in the aisles was heavy as was traffic at the tables of dealers with the "shiny stuff." The traffic at the tables of vintage dealers seemed good, and I hope these dealers did well.

Great to hear, Val, perhaps some dealers of both kinds of material will weigh in on what was moving and where the action was for this crowd.

[jefferyepayne]

Agree that Chantilly was pretty crowded. I got there an hour after the show opened on Friday and had to stand in line for almost 20 minutes. That's never happened before.

Picked up some great great items but all football related.

jeff

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

I have been going to the Chantilly Show forever. When I arrived shortly after noon today, the parking lots were fuller than I have ever seen them before! Enjoyed chatting with several Board members.

+1

I stopped in today on the way home from western VA and the place was busier than I have ever seen before.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I stopped in today on the way home from western VA and the place was busier than I have ever seen before.

Huh? Ryan, I thought your home these days is your "gentleman's farm" in western VA. Hope all is going well for you and yours.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by brunswickreeves

I’m curious if the continued and lasting strength of this collecting hobby is mostly driven by the total demographics…many young parents with kids (or modern collectors sans kids) decades away from retirement and no material impact on their current living expenses from a downturn in the stock market (their money of which is more likely tied up in 401ks, than active stock market investment).

I just got back from the show. After a two year hiatus it was good to be back at a CSA show. Why the hiatus? Total lack of decent baseball guests.

The place was busy. I believe it is a mix of both aforementioned demographics leaning heavier to modern collectors sans kids. Oh, kids were present, just not enough to sustain a hobby. To me the vibe is more of an investor, trading, box breaking fest then the Tuff-Stuff and Marco Rol (RIP) CSA shows of my thirties and forties. Pokemon? Actual tables with no merchandise just buying? Interesting business model. It is an endless flip-fest until it isn’t.

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Glad to hear this, but I would like to see a show this size without the autograph guests--not that I have anything against them--to gauge the strength of the card and memorabilia markets. It does seem that there is a new generation of younger collectors of what we used to somewhat derisively call "shiny stuff" coming to and setting up at shows, but Chantilly has for decades been mostly an autograph show with the dealers as window dressing, and I wonder if that's changed much. In any case, packed is packed and that's great.

I hear you Hank. Today, the crowd was on the floor, not in the autograph area and the lineup today was decent. I arrived just before noon and the line to purchase autograph tickets was minimal. I was there to get Jim Thome. Show wise, perhaps there is now something for everyone, okay, okay not pre-war collectors, though there was a smattering of material. Memorabilia wise there was not much there. Long time vendor Mendy’s did not show up or I just missed them. CSA or local code might be prohibiting dealers from building their booths upward. I could see the entire floor from end to end without much visual interference. Mendy’s always had the five or six, 7 foot tall lighted display cases filled with memorabilia. With the small flat fee for STAR autograph guests north of $100, perhaps some autograph collectors are being more selective. I refuse to pay $350 for Big Papi. Until his price comes back to reality his signature will be missing from my HOF picture. I always remember the refrain a fellow collector responds with when asked about missing signatures, “Well, I don’t have Babe Ruth either”.

[Rich Klein]

[QUOTE=Huck;2508111]

Actual tables with no merchandise just buying? Interesting business model

I should remind you that was the Alan Rosen way of setting up at a show. Just him and a cohort or two or three and money to spend on cards. Been done before and will be done in the future

Rich

[bbcard1]

I went and had a good time on Friday. It was really crazy busy. Bought a few cards, sold a few books, but nothing staggering. The was very busy. I've been going since the first one.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

I went and had a good time on Friday. It was really crazy busy. Bought a few cards, sold a few books, but nothing staggering. The was very busy. I've been going since the first one.

You didn't mention you were a Net54 member when you were at my table!

[Huck]

[QUOTE=Rich Klein;2508112]

Originally Posted by Huck

Actual tables with no merchandise just buying? Interesting business model

I should remind you that was the Alan Rosen way of setting up at a show. Just him and a cohort or two or three and money to spend on cards. Been done before and will be done in the future

Rich

True. I question whether Rosen purchase material was coming through the Chantilly doors. Also, Rosen died in 2013. It was just something seldom seen at a CSA show. That collection of tables seemed to be pretty busy.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Huck

I refuse to pay $350 for Big Papi. Until his price comes back to reality his signature will be missing from my HOF picture.

I'll gladly draw two lines ending in loops on your item for half that.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Huh? Ryan, I thought your home these days is your "gentleman's farm" in western VA. Hope all is going well for you and yours.

LOL. No, its not my primary residence... yet.

Congrats on the Baltimore Orioles Card in LOTG -- so tough. I saw Dan M at the show today and was shocked to learn he didnt win the Lefty Grove (fell asleep). Sorry I missed you Val, but good to see some old friends