3 days ago
Rare finds: Collectors fuel surging demand at Windsor trading card show
Vanessa, 7, shows off her nearly complete Pokémon Journey Together set. June 1, 2025 (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)
A once niche trading card and collectible show in Windsor is now a scene where hundreds of collectors show up to do business.
On Sunday morning, the 13th edition of the Rad Sports Card and Collectible Show took over the Forest Glade Arena.
'The dealers carry a lot of different products, from Pokémon to sports cards and other sports memorabilia,' said show organizer Robbie Durling.
Binders in hand, attendees walked from table to table in an effort to find the right deal to either sell from or add to their collections.
Trading cards have seen a significant increase in interest and value in recent years, Durling said.
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Robbie Durling, creator of the Rad Sports Card and Collectible Show, sits in front of a table of cards for sale. June 1, 2025 (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)
Specific cards, especially those printed in limited amounts or featuring signatures, can often fetch a pretty penny.
'It is really just a piece of paper, but it's what that piece of paper means to the individual collector that can make it so valuable,' Durling said.
'It's not only, you know, the value, but it's more of the perceived value.'
Created in 2022 , Durling said his show has increased alongside the interest in collectibles.
At their first event, they featured about 14 tables with cards and memorabilia for a crowd of about 50 people.
On Saturday, Durling said they showcased about 36 tables, and overall attendance could reach 500 people by the time the show wrapped.
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Organizers estimate nearly 500 people attended the 13th edition of the Rad Sports Card and Collectible Show at Forest Glade Arena, June 1, 2025 (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)
'I think a lot of that stemmed initially from the pandemic and that kind of trajectory of sports cards and trading card game cards. It just hasn't slowed down,' he said.
Durling credits a sense of community that has formed around training for the success of the Rad show.
'When you walk around, and you see people smiling, and you see them trading, and you see them dealing like that's really what these shows are all about, just the community coming together,' he added.
While it was never expected to grow to such heights, Durling said he plans to continue hosting the shows every couple of months.
