Setting up at Chantilly this weekend?

[Huck]

Today, I headed out to Chantilly, to purchase admission and other tickets for Sunday. I thought the place would be a cricket fest but when I pulled up the parking lot was jammed. The line to get in was out the door! I almost turned around to head back to work. I parked the car and decided if I should just come back on Sunday. I noticed the entry line had died down, so I decided to head in. The joint was popping. I was shocked to see that many people in there on a Friday afternoon. I purchased my autographs tickets and perused the floor for a bit, stopped to purchase admission for Sunday and then headed out. With the amount of enthusiasm witnessed today, the hobby looks to get in good shape, even with the markets in turmoil the past two days.

[t206blogcom]

Heading there today (Saturday) with my son after lunch.

[Belfast1933]

Very “Jelly” as my kids say… wish I could go too. Enjoy and good luck for your card hunt.

[Jewish-collector]

Every show nowadays is packed.

[ValKehl]

I have been going to the Chantilly Show forever. When I arrived shortly after noon today, the parking lots were fuller than I have ever seen them before! Enjoyed chatting with several Board members.

[brunswickreeves]

My brother and his son were there and said it was absolutely packed. They’re into modern basketball, which maybe somewhat represents the demographic of that aspect of the hobby. They spent quite a bit of money on several boxes and ripped the packs open together to create a great memory and try to discover a Cooper Flagg auto. Same perhaps for modern baseball, lots of younger collectors accompanied by their patent(s), or their parents getting back into the hobby and introducing their kids to it with today’s superstars.

I’m curious if the continued and lasting strength of this collecting hobby is mostly driven by the total demographics…many young parents with kids (or modern collectors sans kids) decades away from retirement and no material impact on their current living expenses from a downturn in the stock market (their money of which is more likely tied up in 401ks, than active stock market investment).

[parkplace33]

My take.., the stock market hasn’t hit the card show market. Shows are packed.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

I have been going to the Chantilly Show forever. When I arrived shortly after noon today, the parking lots were fuller than I have ever seen them before! Enjoyed chatting with several Board members.

Glad to hear this, but I would like to see a show this size without the autograph guests--not that I have anything against them--to gauge the strength of the card and memorabilia markets. It does seem that there is a new generation of younger collectors of what we used to somewhat derisively call "shiny stuff" coming to and setting up at shows, but Chantilly has for decades been mostly an autograph show with the dealers as window dressing, and I wonder if that's changed much. In any case, packed is packed and that's great.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Glad to hear this, but I would like to see a show this size without the autograph guests--not that I have anything against them--to gauge the strength of the card and memorabilia markets. It does seem that there is a new generation of younger collectors of what we used to somewhat derisively call "shiny stuff" coming to and setting up at shows, but Chantilly has for decades been mostly an autograph show with the dealers as window dressing, and I wonder if that's changed much. In any case, packed is packed and that's great.

Hank, traffic in the aisles was heavy as was traffic at the tables of dealers with the "shiny stuff." The traffic at the tables of vintage dealers seemed good, and I hope these dealers did well.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

I have been going to the Chantilly Show forever. When I arrived shortly after noon today, the parking lots were fuller than I have ever seen them before! Enjoyed chatting with several Board members.

+1

I stopped in today on the way home from western VA and the place was busier than I have ever seen before.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I stopped in today on the way home from western VA and the place was busier than I have ever seen before.

Huh? Ryan, I thought your home these days is your "gentleman's farm" in western VA. Hope all is going well for you and yours.