By james art 
The Tidewater area of South Virginia has a rich history as a collectible asylum for sports cards and memorials. Virginia Beach is just a stone throwing from one of the largest naval bases in the country that attracts military collectors – what I wrote before – along with a dense population in a small area.
After Covid, longtime collector Russell Savage, owner of 757 Carda, decided it was time to create a reliable and enjoyable chain for a card show in the region. Previous promoters have tried, and some are still trying, but because of their shortcomings, they have been fighting to successfully host a quality card show. However, led by his passion for the hobby and community commitment, Russell admitted exactly what to do.
“To play show is a work of love. I just hope that once my time is over, people will say that we are putting some quality shows that people enjoy ” – Russell Savage, 757 Cardshows owner
The growth of 757 cardanings is remarkable, developing from a small event with 40 tables in a monthly show with 95 tables and a quarterly show of Fieldhouse, including over 300 tables. To start the year, they are always hosting their leading table 300+, a two -day event at Virginia Beach Fieldhouse. This year, 160 suppliers from six different states brought everything from sports cards to coins and comics for 2500+ collectors, eager to buy, sell and trade.
As I mentioned in the previous rounds of Raleigh, NC and White Plains, NY, the first big show of the year in each area tends to attract some of the best crowds. Whether due to a cabal fever or the desire to spend these holiday money, the collectors in Virginia Beach have emerged with full force.
The community of suppliers in this region has been working deeply, with many creating the same shows for years. Seeing old and new friends next to each other, discussing the most hobby trends and speculation about the upcoming Super Bowl is always a great view. It really reflects the essence of the community and what we need more in the hobby.
An excellent feature of this show, compared to others I attended, is the abundance of useful boxes. Some of the boxes of the best value we need to dig in, you can find in this area, and collectors will spend hours searching through them, often without even doing it in other tables. When you find these “Holes of Honey”, you just want to continue digging – I know because I did it myself.
Another trend I noticed in this show was the growing number of online sellers who were walking in search of inventory. With platforms like what else they do not allow people to buy and sell, these shows provide the perfect opportunity to stock up on cards and then, only hours later, transfer them to collectors around the world.
When I talked to the show organizers, I asked what distinguished them from other shows trying to put on the market in the Virginia Beach area. They emphasized their goal of providing unique experiences that those present may have not seen before. For example, they partnered with the most local local card store in the area, B&B Sports Cards to host a trade evening before the show. While most events have commercial nights after the show is in full swing, Russell and his team decided to mix things. With free food and drink, hundreds of collectors gathered at Fieldhouse the night before the two-day show, wheels and dealing late at night, so late, in fact, that employees had to ultimately tell people that it was time to leave.
757 CardShows also brings former athletes and special guests for fans to meet and interact. This show was fortunate to participate in the actress of Pokémon Voice Laurie Hymes, who expressed Lily in the 2014 animated series. In addition, Marvel Comics artist Reed Titel is present, showing his work on titles like Black panther., Lunar knight., Werewolfand X-menS Although these guests may not be the main attractions for Avid Sports Card collectors, they were a huge hit with TCG enthusiasts and comics.
In general, this is one of these shows that if you have the chance to attend, you should absolutely. From the specialized promoters of 757 cardanings to the welcoming atmosphere of the community, this event is incomparable in the Tidewater area. 757 CardShows is on all social media platforms for the latest updates in the Virginia Beach area.