Hobby Musings: NSCC Tips, Before the ShowHobby Musings: NSCC Tips, Before the ShowThe 2022 National Sports Collectors Convention is still a few months away, but the anticipation and excitement for the hobby’s biggest show is already building. For veteran show-goers and first-time attendees alike, the National can be a fun and daunting experience. Having been fortunate enough to attend the last nine of them, here’s some tips and things I’ve learned along the way.

1. Have a Plan
This may seem like an obvious one, but it can make all the difference. A motto of the NSCC is that if you don’t see an item there, it probably doesn’t exist. Whether it’s sealed boxes, singles, autographs or other types of memorabilia, there is a little bit of everything for virtually any hobby desire you may have. As such, If you don’t budget your time properly, you could find yourself missing out on something you wanted to do. Be sure to check out social media handles over the coming weeks. Companies will be posting their plans for the National, which can help you better plan out your time.

To that end, it can help to plan out ahead for what you want to do. Crowds for the show can be large. As big as the NSCC show floors are, the attendance over the last few years have put the space to the test at times. The floor in Atlantic City is fairly spacious and easy to navigate, but the last time the National was there was in 2016 before the hobby boomed to the levels we see today. Plan time in your days just for making your way through the crowds.

Want to look through boxes for singles to finish your set, find some graded slabs, get an autograph in the pavilion from your favorite athlete? All of those are great, but just understand that any of those take up varying degrees of time, which will go by quicker than you’d think over the course of a day. The autograph lines, especially if you go for the VIP signers, tend to run very long and can easily cost you well over an hour. Be sure to check out social media handles over the coming weeks. Companies and dealers will be posting their plans for the National, which can help you better plan out your time and/or potential purchases.

Also consider what you’ll potentially want to do for lunch or other meal breaks during the day. There are food and drink vendors inside the convention, but they may not have the kind of meal you’re looking for. The lines may also be very long given the amount of people looking to get something. Taking a break in the middle of the show doesn’t hurt, but especially if you go outside the convention center to get something, that can be a lot of time out of your day.

2. Set a Budget
I’ve had a longstanding policy that I set a firm budget for the National and only go over it for rare buying opportunities at a too-good-to-pass-up price. Thankfully for my wallet so far, I’ve only broken the policy twice. As expensive as the hobby has become in previous years, there are still plenty of great deals to be had in any budget range, and the National is no exception. While a number of dealers will be set up to accept credit cards, cash is still king, so carry it if you’re comfortable doing so.

3. Wear Comfortable Shoes
This always get a fair amount of chuckles and puzzled looks. However, this may be one of the most important pieces of advice I can impart. The show days at the National are long, and you do a lot of walking. Seating on the floor is available but can sometimes be at a premium depending on the crowd size, so you may not always have an easy opportunity to get off your feet. As such, make sure you have footwear that is up to the task.

Check back next week for tips for during the NSCC.


Kelsey’s ability to bring hobby coverage to the mainstream sports fan has been a true asset. GTS is happy to feature his thoughts on collecting in Hobby Musings. The opinions expressed are his and do not necessarily reflect those of GTS Distribution.
Kelsey Schroyer

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