Sport Card Expo Thoughts?

It was my first Expo since 2014, I had a great time! I purchased cards ranging from a Adam Hall FW Auto to a Carter Hart Cup RC. If you actually spent time looking through boxes there were some great finds but as stated above, showcase were full of Gretz/Ovy/Crosby/McDavid/Matthews. It was great running into Jeremy, Ameet and Matthew. Hopefully I’ll be back sooner rather than later!
 
I had a good time there today. It seemed slow but maybe its just me. Picked up some consignment lots and visited with Gomaz, Quincy, 99Goals and a few others that I know from SCF and CnC.
I think overall it was great to be back at Expo.
I hope everyone who set up did well and had a great show!
 
rwong said:
Back room? If it is not the area behind the food court, I have missed it.
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SPACE was created to accommodate the 50 or so vendors that were on a waiting list for Expo. I know 'cause when I booked my showcase rental back in September that IF I did not have a booth, I was SOL!
Also the word on the floor is that it will be either back the #5 OR #2 for the spring Expo.
 
GM,
Thoughts on the expo were these..
1. Love the new room, it felt larger and I hope we are back here..
2. Loved the way it was laid out. It felt like people had room to breathe
3. Customers were looking for specific items. Less window shopping
4. People had money.. I can't tell you how many +$2500 deals I personally witnessed happening.. I did see a six figure deal going down but didn't stick around to see it actually happen
5. People want investment pieces, really nice patches.
6. It is easy to see how people would feel priced out but the hobby has already moved in that direction.
7. If you had slabs, you likely did well.
8. Becket booth was busy, so was PSA and these are all cats who are throwing down $150 + for subs for their cards and the line ups were insane.
9. DJ Skee and Geoff Wilson added to the buzz. Both were nice to talk to as well.
10. There was some cheaper cards but those booths were few and far in between
11. Lots of baseball, basketball and other sports.
12. The crowd was very diverse.. Noticing a lot of new faces in the hobby.
13. Did I tell you money was being thrown around.. yep its true..
14. From the chats I had with customers, a lot of them were white collar workers.
15. Lots of collective buyers.. meaning 3 or 4 guys pooling money together to buy big kicks..

When I have more thoughts I will lay them down..
 
99goals said:
GM,
Thoughts on the expo were these..
1. Love the new room, it felt larger and I hope we are back here..
2. Loved the way it was laid out. It felt like people had room to breathe
3. Customers were looking for specific items. Less window shopping
4. People had money.. I can't tell you how many +$2500 deals I personally witnessed happening.. I did see a six figure deal going down but didn't stick around to see it actually happen
5. People want investment pieces, really nice patches.
6. It is easy to see how people would feel priced out but the hobby has already moved in that direction.
7. If you had slabs, you likely did well.
8. Becket booth was busy, so was PSA and these are all cats who are throwing down $150 + for subs for their cards and the line ups were insane.
9. DJ Skee and Geoff Wilson added to the buzz. Both were nice to talk to as well.
10. There was some cheaper cards but those booths were few and far in between
11. Lots of baseball, basketball and other sports.
12. The crowd was very diverse.. Noticing a lot of new faces in the hobby.
13. Did I tell you money was being thrown around.. yep its true..
14. From the chats I had with customers, a lot of them were white collar workers.
15. Lots of collective buyers.. meaning 3 or 4 guys pooling money together to buy big kicks..

When I have more thoughts I will lay them down..
Click to expand...

I'm with you on everything you said. Especially points 1 and 2.
 
Agree with all that's been said so far. I also felt a lot of the buyers had a real FOMO vibe: BUY NOW BEFORE IT'S EVEN HIGHER! And while that may be true for SOME things...

This show was straight up bonkers. I've never seen feeding frenzy like this.
 
quincy said:
Agree with all that's been said so far. I also felt a lot of the buyers had a real FOMO vibe: BUY NOW BEFORE IT'S EVEN HIGHER! And while that may be true for SOME things...

This show was straight up bonkers. I've never seen feeding frenzy like this.
Click to expand...

Let’s hope those people are out in droves in the spring. Baseball will be firing up again and speculation will be at an all time high.
 
Upper Deck should be ashamed. They had the chance to launch Series 1 and missed out on so much cash that would've traded hands during this show.
 
hobbytime said:
Upper Deck should be ashamed. They had the chance to launch Series 1 and missed out on so much cash that would've traded hands during this show.
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Really? Ugh. How can anyone not understand the challenges manufacturers are facing during the pandemic? Good lord.

Cory
 
will-411 said:
Really? Ugh. How can anyone not understand the challenges manufacturers are facing during the pandemic? Good lord.

Cory
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Opinions suck, eh? Side effect of Covid likely.

His response to you could be “they’ve had two years to prepare for this”, but then we have to lock another thread on Page 2.

Fact: UD makes more money with series one at the Expo than when they don’t have it there. Argue it.
 
Don't have to argue it. The facts of the matter are this: They couldn't get it printed in time. They were in fact travelling to Germany to seek printing services. In addition, the travel restrictions being relatively recently loosened meant that they hadn't planned on being ABLE to attend Expo.

There's so much that went into the inability of UD to attend with fresh UD1, it's kind of embarrassing that you've sauntered past all of them.
 
spooner9ball said:
Opinions suck, eh? Side effect of Covid likely.

His response to you could be “they’ve had two years to prepare for this”, but then we have to lock another thread on Page 2.

Fact: UD makes more money with series one at the Expo than when they don’t have it there. Argue it.
Click to expand...

I'll argue it...UD will make more money in a shorter amount of time with Series 1 at Expo. All they've done is made the crackheads more ravenous. When it does get released, it'll STILL sell out. The ones who actually miss anything are the dealers and collectors who had a one stop shop to buy, break and sell on Expo weekend. UD will still get their money.
 
Upper Deck should be ashamed. They had the chance to launch Series 1 and missed out on so much cash that would've traded hands during this show.

It was not an impossibility. His opinion stands.

EDIT: And you know what, I could really care less, but there could have been intelligent conversation about the logistics of making it happen, and instead wii-man decided to go all vinegar and water instead, which happens more and more here as some cats get more card-woke with the passing days.

We used to play so nice.
 
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Really looking forward to the spring Expo which is usually the ONE less attended!
With UD1, UD2, SPA and The Cup to name a few potential Upper Deck releases, they will have enough of their products to satisfy everyone.
 
Ummm - don't want to sound stupid.......but:

Does UD sell their products directly at the expo?
They didn't at the last National (years ago) that I attended in the US.
I was under the impression that all of the UD product sold in Canada (excluding Epack of course) was sold through distributors.
 
suitman19 said:
Ummm - don't want to sound stupid.......but:

Does UD sell their products directly at the expo?
They didn't at the last National (years ago) that I attended in the US.
I was under the impression that all of the UD product sold in Canada (excluding Epack of course) was sold through distributors.
Click to expand...

Bruce

That is correct, all sales are through the dealers at the show.

The issue that the masses are harping on. Historically UD releases Series I to coincide with the Fall Expo. Howvever, this year Series I releases after the show.

Brian
 

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