Latest news with #sportscards
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why We're Launching The Hobby Awards
This morning Mantel, with support from our friends at Yahoo Sports, announced the formation of The Hobby Awards, and I thought it would be helpful to answer two questions I know people will ask … Why, and Why Mantel? Like many of you reading this, collecting has been an important part of my life since I was a kid. I grew up with two brothers in a sports-obsessed household, and whenever we had a few extra bucks from doing chores, we'd head down the street to a pharmacy-like shop that also sold candy, soda and some cards and pool our money to maximize the haul. I'm reminded of the Andy Bernard quote, 'I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them,' though my version might be 'I wish there was a way to know you were in the junk wax era before spending all your cash on Upper Deck Behind the Glass.' (A PSA 8 MJ trades for less than $100 today.) We all have our collecting origin stories, and hopefully we all still feel at least a shred of that childhood joy when participating in this hobby. I know, I know … collecting is a BIG business. There's money at stake. Collectors are at the mercy of corporate decisions, market dynamics, IP deals and manufacturing inconsistencies. Plenty of people try to take advantage of other collectors to make a quick buck. It's not all perfect. But it's still net-positive to our lives, right? The anticipation before ripping a pack, or excitement at a great pull or dollar-box find or big trade is still there, right? ... Right? Look — this hobby could stand to do a bit more celebrating, don't you think? More focusing on the things we love about collecting, the people who make The Hobby more fun, the innovation and cool releases and HOLY S*** moments we all have following our passions. That's what Mantel is all about (...from Day 1 we billed our community and app as a celebration of the objects people are most passionate about and the relationships we build through our hobbies), and that's why we wanted to launch an awards program to highlight the best of our hobby each year. And we wanted to include this great community every step of the way. The categories are still being cemented, but we'll give out awards for things like: Best Auction House Best Hobby Shop Best Marketplace Best Collectible Show Digital Product of the Year Best Custom Art Card Artist Best Breaking Platform Best Live Stream Sellers Creator/Influencer of the Year Collectibles Exec of the Year Grading Company of the Year Innovation of the Year Best Sports Card Product Best Sold Memorabilia Item Best Non-Sports Card Product Best Media Platform (site, newsletter, podcast) The collecting community will be able to vote on all of the categories, with the collector vote making up 70% of the weighted vote total. The remaining 30% will come from votes from our judging panel, and I'm so excited by the crew that agreed to participate, including: Alexis Ohanian (founder, 776; co-founder, Reddit), Brent Montgomery (CEO, Wheelhouse; executive producer, King of Collectibles), Ryan Spoon (president, Yahoo Media Group), Gary Vaynerchuk (CEO/chairman, VaynerX; creator, VeeFriends), Josh Luber (founder, ghostwrite), Darren Rovell (founder, cllct), Scott 'DJ Skee' Keeney (founder, TheRealest), Geoff Wilson (founder, Sports Card Investor, CardsHQ), Michael Osacky (expert sports memorabilia appraiser), Morgan Jon Fox (award-winning director, The Hobby), Alex Giaimo (sports and collectibles host), Annemarie Farrell (journalist and @ Frank Hrelja (creator and co-founder, Trove), Mat Sposta (co-founder, and Trove), investor, creator and collector Buster Scher, Suzy Lulgjuraj (journalist and marketer), Jay Moslehi (founder, MojoSports LLC), Sarina Morales (senior media director, WeTheHobby) and more. The website is live, and we'll be sharing updates about final categories, nominations and the start of voting there, as well as on the Mantel app and on Yahoo Sports. We are ironing out plenty of details, but it was important for us to tell the community about The Hobby Awards before so many of us hit The National this week in Rosemont, so we could talk openly about our plans, solicit feedback, and rally support for the program. If you see me walking the halls at The National, stop me and let me know what you think. And if you aren't going to be there, drop us a line over on Mantel. We want the whole community to feel part of The Hobby Awards from Day 1.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
West Coast Card Show 2025: The Largest Sports Card Event in the Western United States
West Coast Card Show is Expected to Draw 40,000 Attendees, 1,200 Vendors, and Showcase Multi-Million Dollar Sports Card Collections ANAHEIM, Calif., July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The West Coast Card Show is back and bigger than ever, set to take place August 21-24, 2025, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. As the largest sports card show on the West Coast, this event promises to be the ultimate gathering for collectors, investors, and fans of all ages. This Year's Show is Bigger and BetterThis year's West Coast Card Show will bring together over 1,200 vendors, including international exhibitors, grading companies, and auction houses. With an anticipated attendance of 40,000 people, this show is expected to nearly double the turnout from last year. In addition to offering a comprehensive selection of sports cards, this event will feature exclusive VIP experiences, including Steph Curry licensed cards that will serve as badges for VIPs, making for a one-of-a-kind keepsake for collectors. "We aim to provide the best sports card show on the West Coast and cater not only to the US audience but collectors from around the world," said Ken Coscolluela, Marketing & Events Manager for the West Coast Card Show. "This is our biggest show to date, with an expected 40,000 attendees, 1,200 vendors, and 30 corporate sponsors." This year's event will feature new exhibitors such as Walmart Collectibles and Vee Friends, alongside established leaders in the industry. The show will also feature grading companies, live auction submissions, and rare collectibles including memorabilia, Pokemon, and non-sports cards, with some items reaching prices in the millions of dollars. At last year's show, a one-of-a-kind 2024 Topps Chrome Update Rookie Debut Paul Skenes Patch Autograph card was displayed. It later sold for $1.11 million at auction. Key Show Event Details: Show Dates: August 21-24, 2025 Location: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California VIP Night (Thursday, August 21): 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM General Admission (Friday, August 22): 12:00 PM - 7:00 PMVIP access at 11:00 AM General Admission (Saturday, August 23): 11:00 AM - 7:00 PMVIP access at 10:00 AM General Admission (Sunday, August 24): 10:00 AM - 4:00 PMVIP access at 9:00 AM Interactive Experiences for All AgesThe event isn't just for serious collectors - there will be something for everyone. From the Kids Cardathon, a fun and engaging activity for younger attendees, to networking opportunities and high-end investments for seasoned collectors, this show has been designed to be a fun and immersive experience for all. There will also be expanded floor space, better food options, and ample seating to accommodate the growing crowd. Security and SafetyThe event will be well-secured. In addition to private security, the Anaheim Police Department will be on-site to ensure safety for all exhibitors and guests, especially considering the valuable merchandise being showcased. Ticketing and VIP PackagesTickets are available for both general admission and VIP access. VIP packages offer exclusive early access, as well as special perks such as the limited-edition Steph Curry badge card. For more details, visit our ticketing page: West Coast Card Show VIP Tickets. The Growing Impact on the Local EconomyAs one of the largest sports card shows in the country, the West Coast Card Show continues to make a significant impact on the local economy. The influx of thousands of collectors, industry professionals, and tourists will contribute greatly to the local economy by driving foot traffic to Anaheim's hotels, restaurants, and businesses. "We expect great things from this event. It's a great opportunity for collectors to buy, sell, and trade, as well as an incredible platform for us to connect with sports card fans," said Ryan Jones, Director of Marketing and PR for Auction Monthly. Looking to the FutureThe West Coast Card Show's long-term vision is clear: to continue growing and solidifying its place as the premier sports card event in the Western United States. With a focus on expanding the exhibitor list and enhancing the attendee experience, the show looks forward to welcoming even more passionate collectors in the years to come. "Our goal is to make this an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Whether you are an industry veteran or a first-time visitor, we want to create lasting memories for everyone," said Ken Coscolluela. About West Coast Card ShowFounded in 2022, the West Coast Card Show has quickly grown to become the largest card show on the West Coast, catering to both sports and non-sports card enthusiasts. Committed to continuously enhancing the experience for collectors, the West Coast Card Show is the destination for all things sports cards. For updated information and tickets, visit: Website: Instagram: @westcoast_cardshow Media Contact: Ken Coscolluela Marketing & Events Manager ken@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE West Coast Sell Cards
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Replay Sports Cards Aims to Donate 1 Million Cards to 40,000+ Kids in Chicago Area
Nation's first national sports card shop franchise calls on attendees of 2025 National Sports Card Convention to support its "Replay Gives Back" campaign Donations to support local Chicagoland youth charitable organizations Attendees can also experience live sports card breaks at the Replay booth CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Replay Sports Cards ("Replay") – America's first national franchise dedicated exclusively to the hobby – is going all-out at the 2025 National Sports Card Convention (July 30-Aug. 3) at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., to spread the joy of collecting. Supporting Chicagoland Youth Throughout the convention, attendees can visit the Collectors Lounge to support the company's bold goal: collecting 1 million sports cards to donate to over 40,000 children, ensuring the magic of card collecting reaches those who may otherwise be left out. Replay will donate all cards collected to local youth-focused organizations, such as Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and Noah's Arc Foundation, among others. "The excitement of opening a pack of cards is timeless, and Replay Gives Back is our way of sharing that joy with kids who've never had the chance," said Brent Schepel, co-founder of Replay. "It's about inclusion, generosity, and building the future of the hobby, one card – and one child – at a time. We built Replay Sports Cards to be a place where collectors feel like family. At The National Sports Card Convention, we're excited to welcome everyone – from diehard collectors to curious first-timers – and leverage the opportunity with this incredible audience to help us do something meaningful." Spreading Joy Through Cards Founded with a mission to cultivate community and inclusion in the hobby, Replay's leadership sees the Gives Back initiative as more than a charity drive. "Sparking that sense of wonder in a kid opening their first pack – there's nothing like it," said Mike Martin, co-founder of Replay. "We're passionate about growing the hobby and making it more accessible. Too many children are priced out of collecting today, and we want to change that." Since launching the program in November 2024, Replay Sports Cards has taken in more than 1.5 million donated trading cards. The sports cards franchise sorts and packages all donations into 25-card packs, including 1-2 chase cards – making each pack brimming with the excitement that makes collecting sports cards so special. These card packs are then delivered to children nationwide through local and national community partnerships. Replay encourages all attendees, collectors, and industry partners to support the campaign by bringing extra or unwanted cards to the National and helping spread the word. The Replay Gives Back card packs include everything from legendary brands like Upper Deck, Leaf, Topps and Panini to Pokémon. Donations are also accepted year-round at any Replay Sports Cards shop or by mail. The Replay Experience In addition to helping reach the goal of donating 1 million cards to kids across the Chicagoland area, visitors will also get to experience live sports card breaks. "We're seeing a tidal wave of new interest in sports cards, and we built Replay to meet that wave with the infrastructure and innovation today's collectors expect," said Mike Weinberger, co-founder and president of franchising for Replay. "But none of it matters if we don't bring new generations into the hobby. At its core, Replay Gives Back is about expanding access – so that no kid has to just watch from the sidelines. This moment at The National is a chance for the whole industry to come together and make a bigger impact." For more information about Replay Gives Back, visit For those interested in making their mark in the growing trading card community, visit for more information. ABOUT REPLAY SPORTS CARDSReplay Sports Cards is the first-ever sports card shop franchise, offering a full-service experience that includes buying, selling, trading and grading. With three shops across the Southeastern U.S. and a strong presence at major card shows nationwide, Replay delivers an approachable, trustworthy environment for collectors of all ages and experience levels. The franchise is designed to make card collecting accessible, exciting, and meaningful, blending modern retail with a deep love for the hobby. Originally founded as One Stop Sports, Replay Sports Cards combines deep industry knowledge with a community-first mindset, both in-shop and through weekly livestreams on Whatnot (@ReplaySportsCards) and TikTok, (@ReplaySportsCards). To learn more, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Replay Sports Cards Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Repack SCAMS – How We're FIXING This Big Problem!
Geoff Wilson announces a big change to address repack scams in the sports card hobby, making collecting safer and better for everyone.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Forerunner leads $30 million round in collectibles marketplace Courtyard
I admit it, I have a soft spot for sports cards. Over the past year, an embarrassingly steady stream of small eBay packages have been arriving on my family's doorstep in New Jersey thanks to my 12-year-old's newfound love for basketball cards. As I think has become plainly apparent to my wife by now, I'm complicit in encouraging this passion—with more than a tinge of nostalgia driving my mind and heart back to my own baseball card obsession in the late '80s and early '90s. And I'm not alone. Trading cards like Pokémon and sports cards have exploded in popularity in recent years, fueled in part by nostalgic yearning during the early days of the pandemic and new digital gamification elements of the hobby that have turned collecting for some into an FOMO-induced, impulse-buying sport. Now, one of the fastest-growing startups in the space—New York City-based Courtyard—has raised a $30 million Series A to double down on growth. Forerunner Ventures is leading the round, joined by the company's existing investors NEA and Y Combinator. Founded in 2021 by Nicolas le Jeune, who previously worked at YouTube, and Paulin Andurand, a former Apple software engineer, Courtyard markets itself through its website as selling 'mystery packs' of cards and comic books via a digital vending machine. What that means in practice is that customers agree to pay either $25, $50, or even $100 for an unknown Pokemon or sports card—or $200 in the case of a comic book—and then an algorithm randomly assigns them a card or comic from the startup's massive inventory of collectibles stored in the company's secure vault. Before purchasing, customers can view the probability that they will 'pull,' in industry speak, a card of certain value. If you're disappointed by the card you receive, you have a few options. Courtyard will immediately purchase the card back for 90% of its fair market value. Customers can also choose to list the item for sale on Courtyard's marketplace, which doesn't charge any fees to sellers. That ability to quickly sell out of a purchase you aren't interested in, or disappointed by, is at the heart of Forerunner's attraction to the startup. 'Courtyard stands out as the first collectibles marketplace that's actually designed to be liquid,' Forerunner partner Nicole Johnson wrote in an email to Fortune. 'That might sound like a small thing, but it's a big unlock: it lowers the barrier to entry [for consumers] in a category that's historically been tough to navigate.' If the card's a keeper, customers can keep it secured for free in Courtyard's storage facility, and have it shipped to them. (Many customers don't realize, and don't really need to, that they are in reality purchasing an NFT, or digital token, that represents a specific physical card—or piece of merchandise.) The mystery packs have been a hit. In January of 2024, Courtyard was selling about $50,000 of merchandise a month. Today—just a year and a half later—le Jeune says the company is selling $50 million a month. And that's with the comic book category just recently launching and with all sales happening via a website; the startup is expected to release its first mobile app in the coming days. The startup makes money when it buys cards back from customers for 90% of its value and resells it to customers in a new mystery pack. The same card is sold an average of eight times a month on the platform, the company said. Courtyard also relies on a large network of collectibles dealers who source merchandise for the startup, helping make the startup the largest buyer of trading cards in the world right now, according to le Jeune. But clones are popping up and the CEO said he is willing to go into the red to step on the gas and expand the startup's lead, through a mix of hiring, paid marketing, and product category expansion. 'We want to make sure we double down on the growth and capture the market as fast as possible,' the CEO said. When I tried out the service recently, I purchased a $25 mystery basketball card. It turned out to be a rookie card for Jalen Green, a young NBA player drafted as the 2nd pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. Green was recently traded by the Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns and has not lived up to his initial promise. Courtyard offered me $9 for a card valued in the broader basketball card market at $10. I didn't accept, and have chosen to store the card with Courtyard for now, hoping that Green might play better this year and the value of the card might increase, making it worth it to keep or to add to my son's collection. For a first experience, though, it was a bit disappointing even if I knew logically that pulling a card of greater value was not at all guaranteed. I asked le Jeune about the risk that a first-time buyer experience like mine might dissuade a customer from sticking around and making another purchase. 'We could fake it and make you feel at the beginning like you get a good card every single time,' he said, 'but we would not be okay with that.' As the company gets bigger, he added, Courtyard will be able to offer more value to its customers for each transaction. 'We grew so fast but it's still the early days,' le Jeune said, 'and there's so much room to make it a much better experience.' See you tomorrow, Jason Del ReyX: @delreyEmail: a deal for the Term Sheet newsletter here. Joey Abrams curated the deals section of today's newsletter. Subscribe here. This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
