Artwork
Gronk energizes hobby, shows value of The National and Fanatics Fest
At Fanatics Fest, Rob Gronkowski got dunked into a huge vat of Raising Cane’s chicken sauce.
By former teammate Tom Brady, no less.
He also took an ice bath on stage before signing autographs and posing for photos on the show floor. The NFL great even played a little basketball.
Related Content:
Two weeks later, Gronk was at The National, engaging with fans in a different way. On stage at eBay Live, he tossed footballs and swag to fans and auctioned off a pair of his own game-used gloves and cleats.
And he ripped some picks with collectors, pulling his own rookie card as well as a cardboard gem of his legendary QB, gunslinger and dunk-tank artist Tom Brady.
Gronk, who is quickly becoming a hobby star, had a blast at both shows.
“That was a lot of fun,” he said in an interview with SCD at The National. “I love doing activities. I love meeting fans. … It’s always cool just to run into a fan but when you are doing an activity with fans, it elevates it to a whole another level. That’s what makes it so special.”
Of all the legendary athletes at the two biggest shows of the year, no one had more fun than Gronk. And no one was a better ambassador for the hobby.
He energized a big crowd at eBay Live by enthusiastically interacting with fans and welcoming them into his world with stories and playful banter. He was as excited as a 10-year-old kid when he pulled his own rookie card and was proud to pull a six-figure Brady for a lucky collector.
His appearance at both events showcases the differences between the two shows and confirms that the hobby is now big enough to attract huge crowds to two big events just weeks apart.
In New York City, star athletes and celebrities entered the arena WWE-style, brandishing championship belts while costumed fans went wild, trading high-fives and recording the moment for all the world to see.
Fans watched Brady toss footballs to kids while David Ortiz played golf and CC Sabathia tried his hand at soccer. LeBron James and Fernando Mendoza posed for selfies, and the NBA champion New York Knicks marched through the crowd hoisting the championship trophy.
In Chicago, The National was a different scene as passionate collectors flooded the show-room floor, navigating hundreds of tables chasing their favorite cards and treasured gems. On the other side of the arena, collectors stood in long lines and paid big money for autographs, photos and a special moment with Hall of Fame athletes.
Across the hall, serious collectors braved long lines to get cards graded, toured special exhibits and chased corporate giveaways. Around the corner, lights flashed, music blared and the crowd roared as collectors ripped packs in the raucous breaking pavilion.
Then they packed up all their cards and cash and stood in line again for four more hours of Trade Night, where they hawked their wares and showed off their treasures.
Gronk was fascinated by the contrast in the two experiences.
“They are totally different. The National is a card show and Fanatics Fest is all about sports, sports fans going in there and watching their favorite player going through the ringer of playing other sports,” he said. “It’s two totally different experiences.
“If you are a sports fan, you go to Fanatics Fest. But if you are a card collector, you come here to The National, especially the eBay Live show when I was live ripping packs. If you are a dedicated card collector, you cannot miss that experience right there, which was super awesome.”
Fanatics fest is fun, the ultimate festival for sports fans looking to engage with their favorite athletes, and maybe check out a few cards along the way. It’s a celebration of sports and fandom and a great introduction to collecting.
The National is all business. It’s a five-day grind and an exhilarating adventure, with collectors and investors chasing coveted cards, and thousands of dealers and vendors looking to sell to them. Big money changes hands as every booth, every vendor, every activity and every moment is all about one thing—buying and selling cards and collectibles and enhancing this billion-dollar business.
But as Gronk showed, there is a place for both in this booming hobby.
Jeff Owens is editor of Sports Collectors Digest. You can reach him at jowens@aimmedia.com
Jeff Owens is the editor of SCD.
