Allen Iverson, Jonathon Brooks, Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Vernon Maxwell will make appearances at the Collector’s Jam
By Cameron Lee
May 26, 2026
The sports card and TCG (trading card game) industry is continuing its boom, as a recent research study indicates that the market size has increased by $5 billion since 2021. As shopping platforms like Whatnot, TikTok, Fanatics Live, and eBay Live continue to grow — and younger, entrepreneurial-minded collectors continue to invest in the hobby as an alternative asset — the industry is becoming more of a mainstream market.
In the Charlotte area, James Ferree, owner and operator of Sports Wax Promotions, has been organizing card shows since 2021, and he’s seen that growth firsthand. He says there have been multiple factors driving it, including the continued popularity of anime, the resurgence of Topps, and the rise of online shopping platforms.
James Ferree, founder of Sports Wax Promotions, has organized over 30 sports card and collectibles shows since starting in 2021.
“One Piece has really boomed in the TCG world. Case hits are still moving, you know, with Topps getting the licensing for football and having the licensing for basketball as well… products are just zooming off the shelves,” Ferree said. “There’s been a lot of new drops lately, so there’s a lot of activity with people looking for some of that newer product.”
Another major attraction to the industry, as cards are being traded at record levels, is celebrity guest appearances at card shows and conventions. In Concord at Cabarrus Arena on June 6, Sports Wax Promotions and Wilder Side of Sports are bringing NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson to their Collector’s Jam, which takes place June 5-7. The event will also feature Panthers players Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jonathon Brooks, along with former NBA legend and now podcaster Vernon Maxwell, and new Duke quarterback Walker Eget.
Although Allen Iverson lives in Charlotte, this will be his first autograph signing at a sports card convention in the area — a rare appearance for the 11-time NBA All-Star and member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Sports Wax Promotions’ Collector’s Jam will feature more than 600 tables of sports cards, memorabilia, TCG, Pokémon, anime toys, collectibles, and video games in Concord from June 5-7.
There will be over 600 tables at the event, with about half the room dedicated to sports cards and memorabilia and the other half to TCG, Pokémon, anime toys, collectibles, and video games. Voice actors from Pokémon, Matthew Sussman (Meowth) and Haven Burton Paschall (Serena), will also be at the event to take photos and discuss the popular anime throughout the weekend.
Ferree, who has now organized well over 30 shows over the past five years in North and South Carolina under Sports Wax Promotions, has seen his brand and conventions grow alongside the market, and he’s also watched many of his vendors expand their own businesses.
“That’s something I take pride in — helping some of these guys build their businesses and seeing where they started to where some of them are now,” Ferree said. “I know guys who have gone from card shows to streaming online and now also opening card shops.”
A recent study by Grand View Research reported that the market size of the sports card and TCG (trading card game) industry has increased by $5 billion since 2021.
Ferree says a growing trend is young collectors buying and trading at events specifically to sell on Whatnot, the live-stream shopping platform where influencers and personalities in the hobby run real-time auctions.
“Whatnot’s not for everybody, but it can be entertaining for people, so you have that element to it,” he said. “But I think it’s good for the hobby because it keeps cards moving.”
Online live auction platforms have helped fuel the industry and in-person card shows like those hosted by Sports Wax Promotions.
The interactive element of these auctions appeals to online audiences who enjoy watching live box breaks in real time with a community of collectors, especially as rare pulls — known as “case hits” — emerge, referring to autographed cards or special color editions.
But for Ferree and Sports Wax Promotions, it’s all about the live, in-person experience. As the online marketplace expands, the prices, inventory, and expertise at live shows remain unmatched. Ferree and his team are always finding new ways to make events more streamlined and engaging, including implementing a “pick-up cam” that allows attendees to share their finds and trades on a live video stream.
PSA, the third-party grading and authentication company, will be taking submissions for those looking to have their cards and collectibles evaluated.
Pristine Auction will be on site accepting submissions and running live auctions, while a PSA-authorized dealer will also be present for those seeking professional evaluations of their cards and collectibles, as well as submissions for grading.
The Sports Wax Promotions Collector’s Jam will take place June 5-7 at Cabarrus Arena, with appearances by Allen Iverson, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Jonathon Brooks, Vernon Maxwell, and Walker Eget on Saturday, June 6. General admission is $13, with weekend and VIP passes also available. Autographs and photos are sold separately, ranging from $30 to $160.
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