The National's 34-Signer Autograph Lineup: Montana, Ripken, Iverson, and How to Plan Your Week in Rosemont
The 46th National Sports Collectors Convention opens July 29 with 34 star signers, from Joe Montana and Jerry Rice to Cal Ripken Jr., Allen Iverson, Mike Tyson, and Ric Flair. Here is the lineup, what tickets remain, and how to work an autograph pavilion this deep.
The Autograph Pavilion Is Loaded This Year
The 46th National Sports Collectors Convention opens Wednesday, July 29 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, and the show has now confirmed its headline attraction beyond the trading floor: an autograph lineup of 34 star signers spanning football, baseball, basketball, and beyond.
The football contingent alone reads like a Canton roll call: Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Kurt Warner, Earl Campbell, and Brian Bosworth are all scheduled. Baseball answers with Cal Ripken Jr., Mariano Rivera, Ozzie Smith, and Robin Yount. Add Allen Iverson for the basketball crowd, plus crossover legends Mike Tyson and Ric Flair, and there is a signature worth standing in line for no matter what you collect.
Ticket Reality Check
Demand has already outrun supply at the top: All-Access VIP passes sold out in record time. As of this week, here is what remains:
- Basic VIP 5-Day passes — these include free autographs from 12 selected VIP signers, which is the best remaining value if you plan to chase ink.
- 5-Day Early Entry passes — floor access before general admission each day, no autograph package.
- Single-day General Admission — fine for a targeted one-day strike, especially midweek.
How to Work an Autograph Lineup This Deep
Veteran National attendees will tell you the autograph pavilion rewards planning over enthusiasm. A few rules of thumb:
- Buy autograph tickets in advance for your must-haves. Popular signers like Montana and Ripken can sell through allocations before the show even opens.
- Bring the right item. Premiums for jerseys, helmets, and oversized photos vary by signer, and inscriptions usually cost extra. Price the full ticket before you commit.
- Schedule around the floor, not against it. Signing windows are fixed; the 600-plus dealer tables are not going anywhere. Do your autographs early in the day, then shop.
- Grading lines stack up fast. If you plan to submit at PSA, SGC, or CGC booths, remember that on-site submissions and autograph lines compete for the same hours.
The National runs July 29 through August 2. If the past few weeks — Fanatics Fest, a record Topps Chrome launch, and two Wagners in the headlines — are any indication, Rosemont is about to host the biggest hobby gathering of the year at the peak of a booming market.