Cards
The National goes global with debut of International Collectors Pavilion
ROSEMONT, Ill.—Maybe they should call it “The International.”
One of the most popular sections at this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention was an area that featured dealers from around the globe under a blue banner that read “International Collectors Pavillion.”
The section—located upstairs from the main showroom floor in Hall G at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center—brought together dealers from nearly a dozen countries, including the UK, Germany, Italy and Hong Kong, into a dedicated wing as part of an expanded 150-dealer section.
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The initiative, the first time it has been tried at the National, allowed American collectors to see and buy trading cards—particularly soccer and Formula 1—that aren’t always available in North America.
“We are really excited about doing the show,” said Kevin Hawthorne, a UK-based dealer. “It’s been an absolute honor and privilege to be here.”
Hawthorne, who sells vintage soccer cards, said he had been to the 2022 National in Atlantic City, N.J. as an attendee, but was excited to set up a table in Chicago this year, especially on the heels of the FIFA World Cup.
“A lot of people in the United States want vintage soccer, especially after the World Cup,” he said. “We have been selling everything—old Panini sticker backs dating back to 1970 and the GOATs like Pele and [Diego] Maradona.”
Fellow UK dealer Marc Holden said coming to Chicago was a chance to sell cards and learn about how shows are run.
“The hobby in the UK is still growing and I’m here to learn what works and how to do this at shows back home,” said Holden, who buys and sells F1 cards. “It’s my first time [at The National]. It’s mind-blowing.”
Formula 1 cards have become one of the hobby’s fastest-growing categories over the past six years. Since the groundbreaking release of 2020 Topps Chrome F1, collectors from both Europe and the U.S. have had more cards to chase. As a result, Holden said tables featuring F1 were crowded “three and four people deep” for the entire five-day show.
“It has been fantastic,” he added. “It was non-stop with no time for breaks.”
Holden said the F1 card community is “growing” around the world.
“It’s a very niche sport within the hobby,” he said. “The U.S. collectors had been looking forward to meeting ones from the UK”
JBJ Corporation, which manages the NSCC, said the new space was important because the hobby “isn’t just growing in the United States— it’s witnessing a global boom.” The International Collectors Pavillion was set up for the very first time in response to burgeoning interest, the group said.
Hawthorne, who operates Uncle Fora Sports Cards in Brighton, England, said setting up at the show was also his chance to help the soccer hobby grow in the U.S.
“I’m used to educating young kids in the UK about vintage because many just collect modern cards,” he said. “I’m used to doing it so I have no problem doing it here.”
Daniel Reynolds, a collector, said he’s been buying vintage soccer since 2017.
“I've spent years buying vintage soccer cards online because you just couldn’t find this material at U.S. shows,” he said. “Being able to see these cards in person and talk to dealers who really know the history and stories behind them was worth the trip by itself.”
Collector Luke Bennett said there is little soccer at the National, but this year’s pavilion was exciting to see.
“The soccer booths were packed, the vintage interest was stronger than ever and you could feel how much the [soccer] hobby has grown,” he said.
There’s been so few soccer cards and collectibles at The National in the past that another show, called the SoCo Expo, was held at the same time as the National about 20 miles away in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg. The three-day show, featuring 500 tables with dealers from 40 countries, was dedicated exclusively to soccer cards and collectables.
Hawthorne said he had come to The National with “low expectations,” but left surprised.
“It’s just great to be here, but the show has been phenomenal,” he said. “I didn’t expect that.”
Clemente Lisi
