National Attendees, Remember...

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Is the “hobby” sports, Pokémon, Magic cards, shiny refractors, jerseys with prob fake autos, signed mini football helmets, soccer cards, racing cards, crazy loud box breaks, WNBA, Chicago sports fans getting autographs? Many more avenues for collectors than there was 10 years ago, but if you back out all the non vintage baseball, how different do you think it looks from the National in 2015? Good for the Pokémon collectors but I’m tired of seeing them.

Great questions, and I'd like to hear from some attendees. I suppose the answer is "all of the above." But one thing that's surely different from 2015 is the prices. Holy crap! Where in the world, and it probably is from all over the world, is all that cash coming from? Regardless, this current state seems to me better than the widely predicted one of a dying hobby as those who came up through the golden years pass on, with smaller and fewer shows, declining interest among the newer generations, etc. And even if it's the niches that we once thought of as tangential or even irrelevant to our pursuits that's engaging these younger folks, and our beloved vintage cards and memorabilia gets "collected up" and a smaller and smaller part of the whole, I'd rather see it go this way than the other. I, for one, am blown away by what's happened, and quite happy to see it. Rock on, kids!

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Great questions, and I'd like to hear from some attendees. I suppose the answer is "all of the above." But one thing that's surely different from 2015 is the prices. Holy crap! Where in the world, and it probably is from all over the world, is all that cash coming from? Regardless, this current state seems to me better than the widely predicted one of a dying hobby as those who came up through the golden years pass on, with smaller and fewer shows, declining interest among the newer generations, etc. And even if it's the niches that we once thought of as tangential or even irrelevant to our pursuits that's engaging these younger folks, and our beloved vintage cards and memorabilia gets "collected up" and a smaller and smaller part of the whole, I'd rather see it go this way than the other. I, for one, am blown away by what's happened, and quite happy to see it. Rock on, kids!

There was very little pokemon at all. Around 8% of dealers had non-sport. That part is overblown.

As for new shiny stuff? It absolutely should be there. And has every right to be there as much as vintage. It wouldn't be a healthy hobby if people weren't collecting the new stuff, too.

I was actually pleasantly surprised at the balance of modern and vintage. This show had it all.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

There was very little pokemon at all. Around 8% of dealers had non-sport. That part is overblown. As for new shiny stuff? It absolutely should be there. And has every right to be there as much as vintage. It wouldn't be a healthy hobby if people weren't collecting the new stuff, too.
I was actually pleasantly surprised at the balance of modern and vintage. This show had it all.

Exactly the kind of report I was looking for. Thanks!