Clemente’s Corner: Why Fanatics Fest Was Better for Hockey Fans Than the National
It’s been quite a busy summer for card and memorabilia collectors. Over the span of just a few weeks, both the National Sports Collectors Convention and Fanatics Fest NYC took place in Cleveland and New York, respectively.
Many of you went to one of these big shows. Some may have even gone to both. I was among that group who walked thousands of steps in an effort to compare the two shows and figure out which one was better.
So, which one was the better show?
The answer depends largely on what you were looking for. The National is a card and memorabilia show with autograph signers. Fanatics Fest was sold as the first-ever “immersive sports festival” that also had a card show as a part of it. They, too, had signers, but it was much bigger and the production value high enough to make it a first-class event.
Here are three reasons why Fanatics Fest NYC was better than this year’s National when it comes to hockey fans and collectors:
1. More Dealers Selling Hockey Cards
Fanatics Fest NYC was held at the Javits Center in New York. [Photo by Clemente Lisi]Overall, the National’s hockey offerings were poor. The dealers in Cleveland had very little in the way of hockey cards. It should come as no surprise. Cleveland has no NHL team. Nonetheless, it was disappointing to see little to no hockey cardboard amid a sea of vintage baseball and modern football and basketball.
Fanatics Fest this past weekend had a “hobby hall” that made up about one-third of the showroom floor at the Jacob Javits Center, the same venue that hosts Comic Con New York. In fact, the whole point of Fanatics Fest was to make a sports version of the pop entertainment get-together that now takes place across the country.
The 250 dealers who set up at Fanatics Fest had some vintage baseball and lots of football and basketball too. What dealers also had was hockey cards. That was a refreshing departure from what I witnessed at the I-X Center. There’s nothing like Young Guns cards in a showcase and plenty of affordable singles in dollar boxes to keep the blood flowing and the excitement going.
2. Better Fan Experience at the NHL Area
Fans could be like a young Sidney Crosby and shoot pucks at a pair of dryers. [Photo by Clemente Lisi]The National doesn’t do experiences. They never have. Fanatics Fest, on the other hand, was all about giving families the chance to interact with their favorite athletes and sports leagues.
While all four major leagues had a presence at the three-day event, the NHL had one of the biggest corporate booths. Featuring a large logo, team jerseys from every team and even some memorabilia on display, fans streamed into that section for much of the time.
The most fun was the ability to channel your inner Sidney Crosby, albeit for a few minutes, and shoot pucks at two dryers stacked on each other. Crosby did that very thing growing up in Nova Scotia, Canada.
I say Topps teams up with Fanatics again and brings the interactive experience to the Sport Card Expo come the fall. It certainly would be an instant hit.
3. More Hockey Signers and Panelists
Tie Domi hosted a panel of current and former New York Rangers players. [Photo Credit: Fanatics]The National had one – one! – hockey signer in Hall of Fame goaltender Dominic Hasek. Fanatics Fest, on the other hand, had three in former New York Rangers goaltenders Mike Richter and Henrik Lundqvist and Toronto Maple Leafs star Austen Matthews. Both Lundqvist and Matthews have exclusive signing deals with Fanatics.
In addition, Fanatics Fest held a panel discussion on Sunday featuring Richter and Lundqvist. They were joined by rookie sensation Matt Rempe. The talk was moderated by former Rangers’ enforcer Tie Domi.
It made for a very fun hour. In addition to the goalies reminiscing about their playing days, the panel was also a chance for the veterans to give Rempe advice as he gets his career into gear.
While on the topic of advice, hockey fans would be prudent to consider attending a Fanatics Fest in the future, especially if the licensing company is serious about hosting this every year and smaller regional versions around the country in the coming years.
Overall Thoughts
Team jerseys on display at the NHL corporate booth. [Photo by Clemente Lisi]At times, it felt like Fanatics Fest NYC – arguably the most-hyped collectables event ever – was CEO Michael Rubin’s way of transmitting to the hobby that he and his company are a big deal and that he could get a star-studded lineup and VIPs to come to his show. As I noted above, however, there were many good things about this show as well.
As for the National, that show isn’t going anywhere. It remains the premier show focused on cards and memorabilia. In the years it is held in Chicago, hockey usually gets more attention. However, organizers and Tri-Star Productions, which runs the signers section, should be aware that more NHL players (both past and present) need to be a bigger part of the show going forward.
If either the National or Fanatics Fest isn’t your thing, then you should just attend the Expo. That show never disappoints, especially if you’re a hockey fan.
Clemente Lisi is a lifelong Rangers fan who first started collecting cards in 1986. He collects both vintage and modern with a focus on rookie cards. Follow him on X/Twitter @ClementeLisi.
Clemente Lisi is a lifelong Rangers fan who first started collecting cards in 1986. He collects both vintage and modern with a focus on rookie cards. Follow him on Twitter @ClementeLisi.
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