It was great to have our second intern Luke Silpe, venture to The National a few weeks ago and report on his findings…
Overall Impressions from The National
Walking into the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, I knew it was going to be big. I expected the rows and rows of cards, the packed aisles, the buzz of deals happening all around. What I didn’t expect was how quiet the energy felt, and how real.
There’s no massive Jumbotron welcoming you in. No booming music, no over-the-top intro videos or branded hype tunnels. The National doesn’t need any of that. It’s just table after table of cards, collectibles, conversations, deals, and decades of knowledge crammed into one convention center. In a hobby that’s gotten flashier and louder over the years, this show was a reminder that collecting is still, at its core, about the moments that happen face to face, not on screens.
Compared to something like Fanatics Fest, where the branding and content steal the show, the National felt more like a trip back in time. At Fanatics, it’s LED walls and big-name activations. At the National, you’ll find 100-year-old baseball gloves, faded ticket stubs, and binders full of commons that haven’t been touched in years except now, someone’s flipping through them like it’s 1995 again.
But as cool as that vibe was, the layout was tough. There wasn’t much structure to the floor — no clear sections for vintage, modern, memorabilia, or high-end cards. Everything was jumbled together, which made it harder than it needed to be to find what you were actually looking for.
Something else that really stood out: the absence of any major presence from pro leagues or teams. Aside from a small Walmart booth, there were no big displays, activations, or tie-ins from MLB, NBA, NFL and not even a team booth or promo giveaway. Considering how tied collecting is to fan engagement these days, it felt like a huge missed opportunities.
That said, the heart of the show is still beating strong. People shouting, “I just pulled a 1-of-1!” followed by a crowd rushing over. A dealer showing off a signed Muhammad Ali glove. Another flipping through a binder of vintage stubs like they’re rare gems. Every corner of the floor is alive with trades, stories, and nostalgia.
The booths from places like Heritage Auctions added some weight to the event, too. They felt more like mini museums than vendor setups, with Batman costumes, presidential autographs, and classic Hollywood photos reminding you that collecting goes way beyond just sports.
Unique Finds – Women’s Sports and More
One thing I was really curious about going in: Would women’s sports finally have a stronger presence this year? Unfortunately, not really.
There was one booth designed only for women’s memorabilia, which was exciting to see, but it was very small. There were a few standout cards, Serena Williams, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, but they were rare and scattered. Most of the time, they were tucked into dealer cases like novelties instead of front-and-center showcases.
I asked a few vendors if they carried WNBA or women’s soccer cards. Most said no, or that there just wasn’t much demand. A few said they wanted to stock more, but the supply just wasn’t there yet.
Still, it felt off. Just like Fanatics Fest at the National there was not even one visible space focused on what’s probably the fastest-growing part of the sports world, women’s sports.
Even walking the floor, it was hard not to notice. Out of hundreds of booths, barely a handful highlighted women athletes in any major way. That’s not just a gap, it’s a blind spot.
Final Thoughts
After a weekend of walking the floor, flipping through binders, and talking to collectors, I left with a deeper appreciation for the roots of the hobby, and a clearer view of where it still needs to grow.
The National is special because it’s real. It’s the father and son flipping through cards together. It’s the vendor who’s been at this show for 30 years and knows the backstory behind every item in his case.
But it’s also clear there’s a disconnect between the nostalgia that drives much of the show and the direction the hobby is heading. The lack of women’s sports presence, the absence of major league engagement, and the chaotic layout all point to an industry that sometimes hesitates to evolve.
The thing that stuck with me most wasn’t a specific card or conversation, it was the feeling that this space is still being shaped. Both the physical convention and the hobby itself are evolving. And people like me, showing up with fresh eyes, have a chance to be part of what comes next.
If The National wants to keep its place as the heart of the hobby, it needs to keep honoring its history, but it also has to make room for new stories, new fans, and new forms of collecting. That means giving women’s sports a real spotlight, bringing the leagues back into the fold, and building an experience that’s just as exciting for what’s next as it is for what’s been.
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