Latest news with #sportscards
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
West Coast Card Show 2025: The Largest Sports Card Event in the Western United States
West Coast Card Show is Expected to Draw 40,000 Attendees, 1,200 Vendors, and Showcase Multi-Million Dollar Sports Card Collections ANAHEIM, Calif., July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The West Coast Card Show is back and bigger than ever, set to take place August 21-24, 2025, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. As the largest sports card show on the West Coast, this event promises to be the ultimate gathering for collectors, investors, and fans of all ages. This Year's Show is Bigger and BetterThis year's West Coast Card Show will bring together over 1,200 vendors, including international exhibitors, grading companies, and auction houses. With an anticipated attendance of 40,000 people, this show is expected to nearly double the turnout from last year. In addition to offering a comprehensive selection of sports cards, this event will feature exclusive VIP experiences, including Steph Curry licensed cards that will serve as badges for VIPs, making for a one-of-a-kind keepsake for collectors. "We aim to provide the best sports card show on the West Coast and cater not only to the US audience but collectors from around the world," said Ken Coscolluela, Marketing & Events Manager for the West Coast Card Show. "This is our biggest show to date, with an expected 40,000 attendees, 1,200 vendors, and 30 corporate sponsors." This year's event will feature new exhibitors such as Walmart Collectibles and Vee Friends, alongside established leaders in the industry. The show will also feature grading companies, live auction submissions, and rare collectibles including memorabilia, Pokemon, and non-sports cards, with some items reaching prices in the millions of dollars. At last year's show, a one-of-a-kind 2024 Topps Chrome Update Rookie Debut Paul Skenes Patch Autograph card was displayed. It later sold for $1.11 million at auction. Key Show Event Details: Show Dates: August 21-24, 2025 Location: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California VIP Night (Thursday, August 21): 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM General Admission (Friday, August 22): 12:00 PM - 7:00 PMVIP access at 11:00 AM General Admission (Saturday, August 23): 11:00 AM - 7:00 PMVIP access at 10:00 AM General Admission (Sunday, August 24): 10:00 AM - 4:00 PMVIP access at 9:00 AM Interactive Experiences for All AgesThe event isn't just for serious collectors - there will be something for everyone. From the Kids Cardathon, a fun and engaging activity for younger attendees, to networking opportunities and high-end investments for seasoned collectors, this show has been designed to be a fun and immersive experience for all. There will also be expanded floor space, better food options, and ample seating to accommodate the growing crowd. Security and SafetyThe event will be well-secured. In addition to private security, the Anaheim Police Department will be on-site to ensure safety for all exhibitors and guests, especially considering the valuable merchandise being showcased. Ticketing and VIP PackagesTickets are available for both general admission and VIP access. VIP packages offer exclusive early access, as well as special perks such as the limited-edition Steph Curry badge card. For more details, visit our ticketing page: West Coast Card Show VIP Tickets. The Growing Impact on the Local EconomyAs one of the largest sports card shows in the country, the West Coast Card Show continues to make a significant impact on the local economy. The influx of thousands of collectors, industry professionals, and tourists will contribute greatly to the local economy by driving foot traffic to Anaheim's hotels, restaurants, and businesses. "We expect great things from this event. It's a great opportunity for collectors to buy, sell, and trade, as well as an incredible platform for us to connect with sports card fans," said Ryan Jones, Director of Marketing and PR for Auction Monthly. Looking to the FutureThe West Coast Card Show's long-term vision is clear: to continue growing and solidifying its place as the premier sports card event in the Western United States. With a focus on expanding the exhibitor list and enhancing the attendee experience, the show looks forward to welcoming even more passionate collectors in the years to come. "Our goal is to make this an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Whether you are an industry veteran or a first-time visitor, we want to create lasting memories for everyone," said Ken Coscolluela. About West Coast Card ShowFounded in 2022, the West Coast Card Show has quickly grown to become the largest card show on the West Coast, catering to both sports and non-sports card enthusiasts. Committed to continuously enhancing the experience for collectors, the West Coast Card Show is the destination for all things sports cards. For updated information and tickets, visit: Website: Instagram: @westcoast_cardshow Media Contact: Ken Coscolluela Marketing & Events Manager ken@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE West Coast Sell Cards
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Replay Sports Cards Aims to Donate 1 Million Cards to 40,000+ Kids in Chicago Area
Nation's first national sports card shop franchise calls on attendees of 2025 National Sports Card Convention to support its "Replay Gives Back" campaign Donations to support local Chicagoland youth charitable organizations Attendees can also experience live sports card breaks at the Replay booth CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Replay Sports Cards ("Replay") – America's first national franchise dedicated exclusively to the hobby – is going all-out at the 2025 National Sports Card Convention (July 30-Aug. 3) at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., to spread the joy of collecting. Supporting Chicagoland Youth Throughout the convention, attendees can visit the Collectors Lounge to support the company's bold goal: collecting 1 million sports cards to donate to over 40,000 children, ensuring the magic of card collecting reaches those who may otherwise be left out. Replay will donate all cards collected to local youth-focused organizations, such as Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and Noah's Arc Foundation, among others. "The excitement of opening a pack of cards is timeless, and Replay Gives Back is our way of sharing that joy with kids who've never had the chance," said Brent Schepel, co-founder of Replay. "It's about inclusion, generosity, and building the future of the hobby, one card – and one child – at a time. We built Replay Sports Cards to be a place where collectors feel like family. At The National Sports Card Convention, we're excited to welcome everyone – from diehard collectors to curious first-timers – and leverage the opportunity with this incredible audience to help us do something meaningful." Spreading Joy Through Cards Founded with a mission to cultivate community and inclusion in the hobby, Replay's leadership sees the Gives Back initiative as more than a charity drive. "Sparking that sense of wonder in a kid opening their first pack – there's nothing like it," said Mike Martin, co-founder of Replay. "We're passionate about growing the hobby and making it more accessible. Too many children are priced out of collecting today, and we want to change that." Since launching the program in November 2024, Replay Sports Cards has taken in more than 1.5 million donated trading cards. The sports cards franchise sorts and packages all donations into 25-card packs, including 1-2 chase cards – making each pack brimming with the excitement that makes collecting sports cards so special. These card packs are then delivered to children nationwide through local and national community partnerships. Replay encourages all attendees, collectors, and industry partners to support the campaign by bringing extra or unwanted cards to the National and helping spread the word. The Replay Gives Back card packs include everything from legendary brands like Upper Deck, Leaf, Topps and Panini to Pokémon. Donations are also accepted year-round at any Replay Sports Cards shop or by mail. The Replay Experience In addition to helping reach the goal of donating 1 million cards to kids across the Chicagoland area, visitors will also get to experience live sports card breaks. "We're seeing a tidal wave of new interest in sports cards, and we built Replay to meet that wave with the infrastructure and innovation today's collectors expect," said Mike Weinberger, co-founder and president of franchising for Replay. "But none of it matters if we don't bring new generations into the hobby. At its core, Replay Gives Back is about expanding access – so that no kid has to just watch from the sidelines. This moment at The National is a chance for the whole industry to come together and make a bigger impact." For more information about Replay Gives Back, visit For those interested in making their mark in the growing trading card community, visit for more information. ABOUT REPLAY SPORTS CARDSReplay Sports Cards is the first-ever sports card shop franchise, offering a full-service experience that includes buying, selling, trading and grading. With three shops across the Southeastern U.S. and a strong presence at major card shows nationwide, Replay delivers an approachable, trustworthy environment for collectors of all ages and experience levels. The franchise is designed to make card collecting accessible, exciting, and meaningful, blending modern retail with a deep love for the hobby. Originally founded as One Stop Sports, Replay Sports Cards combines deep industry knowledge with a community-first mindset, both in-shop and through weekly livestreams on Whatnot (@ReplaySportsCards) and TikTok, (@ReplaySportsCards). To learn more, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Replay Sports Cards Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Repack SCAMS – How We're FIXING This Big Problem!
Geoff Wilson announces a big change to address repack scams in the sports card hobby, making collecting safer and better for everyone.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Forerunner leads $30 million round in collectibles marketplace Courtyard
I admit it, I have a soft spot for sports cards. Over the past year, an embarrassingly steady stream of small eBay packages have been arriving on my family's doorstep in New Jersey thanks to my 12-year-old's newfound love for basketball cards. As I think has become plainly apparent to my wife by now, I'm complicit in encouraging this passion—with more than a tinge of nostalgia driving my mind and heart back to my own baseball card obsession in the late '80s and early '90s. And I'm not alone. Trading cards like Pokémon and sports cards have exploded in popularity in recent years, fueled in part by nostalgic yearning during the early days of the pandemic and new digital gamification elements of the hobby that have turned collecting for some into an FOMO-induced, impulse-buying sport. Now, one of the fastest-growing startups in the space—New York City-based Courtyard—has raised a $30 million Series A to double down on growth. Forerunner Ventures is leading the round, joined by the company's existing investors NEA and Y Combinator. Founded in 2021 by Nicolas le Jeune, who previously worked at YouTube, and Paulin Andurand, a former Apple software engineer, Courtyard markets itself through its website as selling 'mystery packs' of cards and comic books via a digital vending machine. What that means in practice is that customers agree to pay either $25, $50, or even $100 for an unknown Pokemon or sports card—or $200 in the case of a comic book—and then an algorithm randomly assigns them a card or comic from the startup's massive inventory of collectibles stored in the company's secure vault. Before purchasing, customers can view the probability that they will 'pull,' in industry speak, a card of certain value. If you're disappointed by the card you receive, you have a few options. Courtyard will immediately purchase the card back for 90% of its fair market value. Customers can also choose to list the item for sale on Courtyard's marketplace, which doesn't charge any fees to sellers. That ability to quickly sell out of a purchase you aren't interested in, or disappointed by, is at the heart of Forerunner's attraction to the startup. 'Courtyard stands out as the first collectibles marketplace that's actually designed to be liquid,' Forerunner partner Nicole Johnson wrote in an email to Fortune. 'That might sound like a small thing, but it's a big unlock: it lowers the barrier to entry [for consumers] in a category that's historically been tough to navigate.' If the card's a keeper, customers can keep it secured for free in Courtyard's storage facility, and have it shipped to them. (Many customers don't realize, and don't really need to, that they are in reality purchasing an NFT, or digital token, that represents a specific physical card—or piece of merchandise.) The mystery packs have been a hit. In January of 2024, Courtyard was selling about $50,000 of merchandise a month. Today—just a year and a half later—le Jeune says the company is selling $50 million a month. And that's with the comic book category just recently launching and with all sales happening via a website; the startup is expected to release its first mobile app in the coming days. The startup makes money when it buys cards back from customers for 90% of its value and resells it to customers in a new mystery pack. The same card is sold an average of eight times a month on the platform, the company said. Courtyard also relies on a large network of collectibles dealers who source merchandise for the startup, helping make the startup the largest buyer of trading cards in the world right now, according to le Jeune. But clones are popping up and the CEO said he is willing to go into the red to step on the gas and expand the startup's lead, through a mix of hiring, paid marketing, and product category expansion. 'We want to make sure we double down on the growth and capture the market as fast as possible,' the CEO said. When I tried out the service recently, I purchased a $25 mystery basketball card. It turned out to be a rookie card for Jalen Green, a young NBA player drafted as the 2nd pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. Green was recently traded by the Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns and has not lived up to his initial promise. Courtyard offered me $9 for a card valued in the broader basketball card market at $10. I didn't accept, and have chosen to store the card with Courtyard for now, hoping that Green might play better this year and the value of the card might increase, making it worth it to keep or to add to my son's collection. For a first experience, though, it was a bit disappointing even if I knew logically that pulling a card of greater value was not at all guaranteed. I asked le Jeune about the risk that a first-time buyer experience like mine might dissuade a customer from sticking around and making another purchase. 'We could fake it and make you feel at the beginning like you get a good card every single time,' he said, 'but we would not be okay with that.' As the company gets bigger, he added, Courtyard will be able to offer more value to its customers for each transaction. 'We grew so fast but it's still the early days,' le Jeune said, 'and there's so much room to make it a much better experience.' See you tomorrow, Jason Del ReyX: @delreyEmail: a deal for the Term Sheet newsletter here. Joey Abrams curated the deals section of today's newsletter. Subscribe here. This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Jordan, Crow-Armstrong, and Clark: Who's hot in the sports card market heading into The National
Two of the hottest names in the sports card hobby appropriately carry Chicago ties given the city will host next week's National Sports Collectors Convention, which is the premier annual sports card and memorabilia show. Even in 2025, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan still carries the most weight on the planet in the sports card market. And at Wrigley Field, outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong stands as the centerpiece of the Chicago Cubs' resurgence with the team transforming into a legitimate World Series contender this season. Advertisement There's no doubt hobby darlings like Jayden Daniels, Caitlin Clark, and Shohei Ohtani should command attention across the National, especially with Clark setting yet another women's sports card record on Thursday night. But what's amazing is that even with so much sports culture caught up in 'the now,' Jordan still remains supreme in the collectibles and memorabilia world. Jordan is the most searched athlete on eBay every month without fail, including June. His card sales in the first half of 2025 rank No. 1 among all athletes at $28.7 million, via GemRate — a website that tracks card sales and grading. 'Is anyone going to touch Jordan? I mean that's a level of iconic that's hard to match,' said Brandon Crawford of COMC, a card consigning company. Mark Laird of the Las Vegas based Paradise Card Breaks said anything featuring Jordan receives huge demand, ranging from insert cards in sets from the 1990s to autographed cards only found in Upper Deck products. Laird also points to the scarcity of Jordan autographed cards since Upper Deck hasn't printed licensed NBA products for many years. 'He's set forever,' Laird said. 'Is Jordan ever going to sign again? He doesn't want to sign any cards. And Upper Deck having a (exclusive) license of Michael Jordan cards, they're not all of a sudden gonna be flying out in Fanatics products. So it's rare air. Jordan cards are always going to stay that way.' As for Crow-Armstrong, he'll be among many Cubs players signing autographs next Thursday during the show's first full day. Other Cubs standouts like Kyle Tucker and Shota Imanaga will attend Thursday, but Crow-Armstrong's hobby popularity currently challenges some of the staples. The value of PCA's 2020 Bowman Draft 1st autographed card with a gem mint 10 grade from PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) last sold for $900. That's up 847 percent from one year ago. 'He has absolutely just skyrocketed as far as in the hobby and in the sport itself,' said James Morehead of the Iowa based Topp Tier Breaks, 'He's an MVP candidate in my opinion. His stuff has absolutely gone nuts.' For those looking outside a Chicago connection, cards for Daniels and Clark should be heavily displayed and transacted throughout the show. They rank second and third, respectively, behind Jordan in eBay's June global search popularity. Advertisement Clark has been among the top five most searched athletes each of the last 12 months, dating back to when she made her first WNBA All-Star team in July 2024. Her new Indiana Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham even received a bump in hobby notoriety recently after Cunningham notably defended Clark during a skirmish against the Connecticut Sun in June. Searches for 'Sophie Cunningham rookie' increased more than 400 percent from May to June. 'The market is super hot like nothing we've ever seen before,' Laird said. ' Between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, I'm talking about freight trains like some of these guys like Ohtani and (Paul) Skenes. It's in the same boat.' Like C.J. Stroud last year at The National, collectors will likely flock to all things Daniels this year after the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year guided the Commanders to last season's NFC Championship game. Daniels ranks third in card sales volume through the first half of this year at $17.6 million according to GemRate, only behind Jordan ($28.7 million) and Ohtani ($20.3 million). That said, Laird expressed hesitation with Daniels' market heading into the 2025 season. citing Stroud's sophomore slump in 2024 following an outstanding 2023 season. He feels snagging cards from more proven quarterbacks without Super Bowl rings, like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow could be a better direction to turn. 'To me, it's almost like fool's gold,' Laird said. 'I'm a little fearful there for the Commanders, but I would rather invest with those star quarterbacks, the ones that are right on the cusp. Generally, there's just too much risk with those like Year 2, Year 3 quarterbacks.' One player Laird, Morehead and Crawford said buyers on their eBay Live streams have recently clamored for has been Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who's on pace to challenge the single season home run mark. Advertisement In June, where 'The Big Dumper' hit 11 home-runs and won American League Player of The Month, eBay searches for 'Cal Raleigh rookie card' increased more than 980 percent within the collectibles category compared to the month prior. According to Market Movers, which tracks online card sales, Raleigh's 2022 Topps Chrome rookie card was one of the 10 most heavily transacted cards across all sports in June. 'Not very many people knew of Raleigh because of Julio Rodriguez,' Morehead said. 'JRod was the big rookie for the Mariners in 2022, and so nobody really cared about Cal. And then as time goes on and all of a sudden he starts doing this, it's like, 'Oh, man! Look at this dude! Who's this dude?' I love seeing a catcher do this, too. You could probably lump them in a little bit with the pitchers in the hobby. You can only name a few catchers that have solid value. It's fun to watch. It's great for the sport.' 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