Fanatics Fan Fest coming in August

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

I’m starting to think people just come here to let off steam like a fight club, lol.

since most folks are here anonymously, that is absolutely the case

[speedyjg13]

Team National feels threatened by Fanatics Fan Fest. The National being defended like PSA right now.

I never been to the National or Fanatics Fan Fest. I've only been to the Burbank Sports Card Show in Anaheim, CA.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by speedyjg13

Team National feels threatened by Fanatics Fan Fest. The National being defended like PSA right now.



I never been to the National or Fanatics Fan Fest. I've only been to the Burbank Sports Card Show in Anaheim, CA.

LOL

So people come in saying Fan Fest will kill the National, and people logically explain why that's not the case and how both can co-exist, and you equate that to feeling threatened?

[JeremyNick]

If you don’t think Rubin is out to kill the National, you’ve not listened to his intent for Fanatics to overtake all aspects of the hobby.

It makes sense for him to come out with a complementary show first and not outright compete with the National. Turning a highly successful “fan fest” into a highly successful fan fest and national card show is more organic evolution.

Whether Fanatics is around long enough to see that evolution through is the question.

[Boo]

I’ve learned that 300 dealers selling cards is not a card show.

[cj828282]

Originally Posted by Boo

I’ve learned that 300 dealers selling cards is not a card show.

Really, we have local card shows with 50-100 tables and those are called card shows.

[mikejones]

Originally Posted by cj828282

Really, we have local card shows with 50-100 tables and those are called card shows.

I believe Mr boo was being sarcastic?

[speedyjg13]

Originally Posted by Boo

I’ve learned that 300 dealers selling cards is not a card show.

I've learned Team National does not feel threatened by Fanatics Fan Fest.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by cj828282

Really, we have local card shows with 50-100 tables and those are called card shows.

Are those tables a small portion of the event? Or are they the focus of the event? Because you can't look at a small portion of an event to categorize what it is.

I learned that people just want to be snarky contrarians. There is no reason people can't enjoy Fanatics Fest and card shows. They aren't pitted against each other. Just be happy the hobby is big enough for options. I remember when it wasn't.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by speedyjg13

I've learned Team National does not feel threatened by Fanatics Fan Fest.

Why would they?

[finfangfan]

To me, I think the more exposure to the hobby the better. I was at car repair yesterday and the tv had ESPN live at Fanatics Fest showing. I’m sure more than a handful of new people were introduced to the hobby this weekend (or maybe even some old fans were reintroduced).

[zworykin]

So I only went today - but I thought it was a pretty solid show. TONS of excited kids, in both the 'hobby' and 'non-hobby' sides of the room. People were actually being polite and everyone was getting along. People were wearing deodorant. Celebs/athletes/Michael Rubin/whatever we'll call Geoff were wandering the floor, and people were excited about that - but again, being polite instead of shoving to the front to get pictures, etc.

Agree with an earlier observation that if your objective was to hunt vintage cards or go through value boxes, this particular set of vendors may not have been your cup of tea (though there were plenty of booths with at least some) - but the mix can always be adjusted next year if there's enough feedback asking for it. There was also some unused space in the cards area, so they could certainly fit some additional vendors.

I think there's room for both this show and the National, and in fact I think it's silly to suggest there isn't.

[Cracktoast]

will be interesting to see how the Fanatics Orlando show does which is supposed to more of a National feel than Fanatics Fest. If Fanatics can have a yearly Fanatics Fest event with several of the Orlando type events through our the rest of the year and make them work like a lot of people hope they for sure have a shot to be the top dog in the hobby card and events wise.

The National will always be around in some form but there is a real chance they just aren't the main attraction they are now.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by zworykin

So I only went today - but I thought it was a pretty solid show. TONS of excited kids, in both the 'hobby' and 'non-hobby' sides of the room. People were actually being polite and everyone was getting along. People were wearing deodorant. Celebs/athletes/Michael Rubin/whatever we'll call Geoff were wandering the floor, and people were excited about that - but again, being polite instead of shoving to the front to get pictures, etc.

Agree with an earlier observation that if your objective was to hunt vintage cards or go through value boxes, this particular set of vendors may not have been your cup of tea (though there plenty of booths with at least some) - but the mix can always be adjusted next year if there's enough feedback asking for it. There was also some unused space in the cards area, so they could certainly fit some additional vendors.

I think there's room for both this show and the National, and in fact I think it's silly to suggest there isn't.

lets see the pickups!

[zworykin]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

lets see the pickups!

Honestly I went to drop off a laaaaarge PSA submission because the ticket and a subway roundtrip was way cheaper than shipping. I hit the tables but wasn't planning to buy anything (unless my white whale showed up, which it did not).

These were the only thing I couldn't pass up.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by zworykin

Honestly I went to drop off a laaaaarge PSA submission because the ticket and a subway roundtrip was way cheaper than shipping. I hit the tables but wasn't planning to buy anything (unless my white whale showed up, which it did not).

These were the only thing I couldn't pass up.

right on!

[elektrokuter]

For anyone curious I ripped a blaster and FFNYC pack
Elly is refractor version so that's nice too
I swear I always pull the Nick/Alika combo for my parallels out of this product (raywave, xfrcator)

[2010GBPackers]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

If you don’t think Rubin is out to kill the National, you’ve not listened to his intent for Fanatics to overtake all aspects of the hobby.

It makes sense for him to come out with a complementary show first and not outright compete with the National. Turning a highly successful “fan fest” into a highly successful fan fest and national card show is more organic evolution.

Whether Fanatics is around long enough to see that evolution through is the question.

If that's true, he has misread who his customer base is.

When Panini took over a majority of the card industry in 2009 I wasn't thrilled at all, but Panini also didn't try to dictate and control the entire hobby through vertical integration. Panini came in and focused on making cards, which they did quite well. I'm 100% confident this show is a blast and the kids love it, I truly believe that. However, I'm also as confident that these kids come from the top 10% of households in America, households that do not reflect where most of the sports card hobbyists come from.

At the end of the day, if Rubin wants to kill the National, he could. But if he attempts to do a show even similar to size and scope at FFF, he'd have to eat so much of the cost it would be financially irresponsible - especially, a business attempting an IPO. You cannot attempt to put on a card show the magnitude of the National and be this extravagant in the process. It just doesn't work, long-term.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

If that's true, he has misread who his customer base is.

When Panini took over a majority of the card industry in 2009 I wasn't thrilled at all, but Panini also didn't try to dictate and control the entire hobby through vertical integration. Panini came in and focused on making cards, which they did quite well. I'm 100% confident this show is a blast and the kids love it, I truly believe that. However, I'm also as confident that these kids come from the top 10% of households in America, households that do not reflect where most of the sports card hobbyists come from.

At the end of the day, if Rubin wants to kill the National, he could. But if he attempts to do a show even similar to size and scope at FFF, he'd have to eat so much of the cost it would be financially irresponsible - especially, a business attempting an IPO. You cannot attempt to put on a card show the magnitude of the National and be this extravagant in the process. It just doesn't work, long-term.

People quickly forget that flashy clips of celebrities and wealth do not represent 99% of America, but the internet sure does have an effective way to convince everyone that it does!

[glassofwater]

IF the dinosaurs at the national don't want to return to LA, then let fanatics do it. I will be there next year in la for sure.

[Cracktoast]

have watched multiple videos where they state the VIP skip the line passes are worthless because everybody and their brother bought them. The line for the exclusive Topps Chrome boxes today were wrapped around the building almost twice. lol

Not sure if there were a limited number of VIP passes available or not or if it was anybody who wanted to pay the $400 could get one. If they weren't it's definitely something they will have to look into limiting for the next event.

[tonedef2oo8]

Originally Posted by Cracktoast

have watched multiple videos where they state the VIP skip the line passes are worthless because everybody and their brother bought them. The line for the exclusive Topps Chrome boxes today were wrapped around the building almost twice. lol

Not sure if there were a limited number of VIP passes available or not or if it was anybody who wanted to pay the $400 could get one. If they weren't it's definitely something they will have to look into limiting for the next event.

But it’s not about cards……

[elektrokuter]

Originally Posted by Cracktoast

have watched multiple videos where they state the VIP skip the line passes are worthless because everybody and their brother bought them. The line for the exclusive Topps Chrome boxes today were wrapped around the building almost twice. lol

Not sure if there were a limited number of VIP passes available or not or if it was anybody who wanted to pay the $400 could get one. If they weren't it's definitely something they will have to look into limiting for the next event.

At the very start of regular hours (nonVIP) yesterday the line at the Topps booth was shorter for regular people than it was for VIP for a bit.

[messier2]

Just got back. It was crowded, but never overwhelming! Another fun day. Full recap later tonight on the basketball forum!

[jfan2024]

At this point, if it isn't abundantly clear, Fanatics has no interest in you the collector making money, buy/sell/trading, etc. They want to pocket every last cent for themselves. You the collector are an ATM, only good for spending disposable income.

Can't afford $50/day tickets for Fanatics Fest? Can't afford $330/box of chrome hobby? Fanatics doesn't care. The place was overpacked today and way more people than yesterday. I'd argue they should double the admission price from a pure business standpoint to lessen the crowd because today was a complete fire hazard compared to yesterday. If that means 95% of America is priced out, who cares. There's already too many people foaming at the mouth for $275 Lids/Topps repack garbage and privilege to spend $330 buying Topps chrome exclusives. Both Lids and Topps sold out an hour even earlier than yesterday by the way. This year's National was the same. Way more demand than supply for any of the redemptions/promo programs even though the juice wasn't really worth the squeeze.

The one thing Fanatics did intelligently at this show was cut out the middle man (D&A, Steel City) and gave money directly to the consumers. Topps is essentially handing people $250 in cash with every hobby box of topps chrome right now given they're $600+ on secondary market. Unlike the National, they didn't let distributors and dealers scam attendees and raise box prices by the price of wrapper redemptions. I can only speak for myself but all my profits went back into a Yao auto, a Nadal auto, and a photo op with Andy Pettitte I otherwise wouldn't have purchased. If Cleveland and NYC have taught Fanatics anything in the last month, I'm guessing it's that there's no need for distributors and dealers in the same scale as has been in the past. They are a monopoly, and I don't see why they wouldn't start squeezing everyone's balls even tighter. This is Fanatics' hobby, and the rest of us are just walking ATMs. The reality is if you're not even a useful ATM in that you're complaining about $50 admissions and $330 hobby boxes, from Fanatics' standpoint you can leave their hobby now and quite frankly, there will still be way more people than needed and can reasonably serve.

I hope they continue down this path though of direct to consumer without the distributors/dealers. I had a great experience, added a couple big autos to my collection, and still am slightly in the black all said and done. Doubt Fanatics will let that continue at this scale, but better to help the end consumer than line the pockets of the middle men peddling Star Wars garbage for $200/box at the National. At the very least, end consumers like me spent that money back anyway with dealers at the show and with Fanatics themselves. For those who like the National and old school card shows, we're getting to the point there's no need to attend shows like the National or Fanatics Fest. Time to go to your local country/state/region shows to find sub-$50 cards