Sports
Fun at The National
The National Sports Collectors Convention was a five day spectacular for sports fans!
For sports collectors and fans, nothing tops The National Sports Collectors Convention. In its 45th year, The National was held in Rosemont, Illinois.
The largest annual sports memorabilia trade show in the United States, The National drew an estimated 75,000 attendees over the five days. At one point, the line to get in stretched several blocks along River Road hours before the doors opened.
The National featured more than 100 legendary professional athletes appearing for photo and autograph opportunities and much more, including more than 600 vendors, licensing agents, collectors and other fun booths.
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Our first stop was the Certified Guaranty Company's booth to see Marketing Director Susan "Sooz" Lulgjuraj. An industry expert and ambassador, Sooz even has her own Topps card, a dream for any collector. I hadn't seen Sooz in several years, but I enjoy following her on social media for news, tips and other fun.
Our next stop was artist Steven Walden's booth. From the St. Louis area, Walden specializes in creating art to honor the Gateway City, including Blues, Cardinals and non-sports objects, too. A longtime fan of his work, I introduced him to Tony, who instantly became a fan of Steven's work. He is not limited to just St. Louis stuff though. All of Steven's art is amazing, but Ryne Sandberg pieces drew extra attention, given the recent passing of the Cubs Hall of Famer.
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Of all the athletes, former WNBA Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi was our favorite. A true great, Taurasi greeted every fan and made it feel as special as could be within the time constraints.
We spent most of our time wandering around the vendor tables. Tony icked up a large amount of Chicago Cubs and Seattle Seahawks cards. I went with no particular target, but I left with a bag full of various collectibles.
This was the second consecutive year for The National in Rosemont, which is a rarity. The best news is The National returns to Rosemont in 2026, for an unprecedented third straight year. Although the dates haven't been officially announced, I am ready to start the countdown. I can't wait!
