For the past thirty years the multi-billion sports collectibles industry has looked upon The National Sports Collectors Convention, referred to as "The National", as their crown jewel event. A place where collectors and dealers can meet annually to buy, trade and discuss collecting memorabilia, trading cards, autographs, game-used equipment and other sports related collectibles.
 
This is a once in a lifetime experience will not only excite collectors and fans, the City of Baltimore including retailers, downtown restaurants, hotels, rent-a-car companies, etc. will financially benefit based on the event's draw.  The following is a brief snapshot of what hosting this event will mean for Baltimore;

• Approximately 35,000 - 40,000 expected to attend the five (5) day event staying multiple nights
• Over 600 collectible exhibitor booths and 100 corporate booths set-up
• Above translates to approximately 3,000 exhibitor personnel in the city for 6 - 7 nights
• Exhibitors and Fans collectively expected to purchase over 4,500 room nights, per night with approximately 20,000 plus restaurant customers added
• Children under twelve (12) will be admitted free to make it a family destination
• Fans and collectors have opportunity to receive free Baltimore Orioles game ticket for Wednesday night game when they purchase a National admission ticket for Wednesday.  Fans and collectors who purchased Orioles game tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday can show those game tickets at the National entrance after 3pm and get in free.
• 80 plus athletes will generate local and national media attention

Scheduled to sign autographs at the National, are Baseball Hall of Famer's and Orioles greats: Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray and Earl Weaver and also includes newly elected Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees Andre Dawson and Whitey Herzog. They will be joined, in Baltimore, by other legends including, Willie Mays, Joe Montana, Rod Carew, Bart Starr, Wade Boggs, Gordie Howe, Bo Jackson and future Hall of Famer, Randy Johnson, to name just a few. In all, approximately eighty (80) Hall of Fame and current athletes from every sport will be signing at the Tri-Star Autograph Pavilion within The National during the five (5) day event.

"We are extremely excited that The National Sports Collectors Convention will be held in Baltimore for the very first time," said Mike Berkus, NSCC Founder. "Baltimore has an exceptionally strong sports tradition and the city is easily accessible from up and down the Northeast corridor."

The East Coast hasn't experienced a collectibles show of this magnitude since 2003 when The National was hosted by Atlantic City. The event that launched The National was the 1991 Anaheim event when 101,000 attended the inaugural convention.

Although Baltimore won't reach the 101,000 attendance mark set in 1991 many, including myself, feel the 2010 event could exceed the projected 35,000-40,000 attendees which will be great for the hobby and Baltimore. The rest of the country will be watching, waiting to see how Baltimore delivers!

For more information on how you can purchase admission tickets please visit www.nsccshow.com, www.tristarproductions.com.  Admission tickets for the 2010 National Sports Collectors Convention are on-sale via the website.
 
When will I be able to buy tickets for the National?  You can purchase and print your own tickets online beginning in March for both VIP week-long passes with an exclusive gift and autograph package as well as single day General Admission Tickets.

Can I use a Single-Day General Admission Ticket to get into the Sneak Peek on Wednesday? Yes, a General Admission Ticket will admit you to any one day of the National including the Sneak Peek on Wednesday evening.

Where can I park near the Convention Center? - The Center is located within walking distance of most of the major downtown hotels. There are also several public parking lots located near the Convention Center. Click here for a map of these parking facilities.