Did Collectors Really Move $10 MILLION at The National Trade Nights?!

The National Sports Collectors Convention continues to evolve—and after spending an entire week on the show floor, one thing became clear: the hobby is changing faster than ever.

Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden, and Bella Shafer break down everything they experienced at this year’s National, from the explosive growth of live selling and corporate activations to the resurgence of vintage cards, Jordan’s continued dominance, and the new products that had collectors talking all week.

The conversation also goes behind the scenes of the Ludex VIP Lounge, trade nights, meeting collectors from around the world, and the biggest business lessons Ryan took away from one of the largest events the hobby has ever seen. If you couldn’t make it to The National—or even if you were there—this episode gives you an inside look at the trends, stories, and moments everyone will be talking about for the next year.

Topics Covered
• The biggest takeaways from The National
• Why the hobby is changing
• Live selling and breaking
• Trade nights behind the scenes
• The rise of corporate activations
• Jordan’s dominance in today’s market
• Bo Jackson Battle Arena
• The hottest products from the show
• Favorite pickups from the week
• What’s next for collectors

🔗 Links Mentioned in This EpisodeCollector Nation

• Website: thecollectornation.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/thecollectornation
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@thecollectornation
• YouTube: youtube.com/@thecollectornation

Collector Station

• Website: thecollectorstation.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/thecollectorstation

Ryan Alford

• Website: ryanalford.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/ryanalford

Brian Ludden / Ludex

• Website: ludex.com
• App: ludex.com/download
• Instagram: instagram.com/ludexapp

Top 10 Cards of the Week
Sports Card Highlights
youtube.com/@SportsCardHighlights

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What was YOUR biggest takeaway from The National?

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