The Twin Cities Sports Collectors Club brings its long-running Bloomington Armory show back on Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is one of the oldest continuously operating card shows in Minnesota, run by a collectors club rather than a promotional company, and that difference shows in everything from the pricing to the atmosphere. The people behind the tables are hobbyists first, and they run the show the way collectors actually want a show run.
The emphasis is sports cards and sports collectibles. Baseball dominates, with vintage Topps and Bowman going back decades, junk wax era boxes, star rookies, complete sets and a deep well of Minnesota Twins material that reflects generations of local collecting. Football tables carry Vikings history alongside modern NFL rookies and inserts. Hockey is exceptionally strong for a show of this size, with Wild, North Stars, vintage O-Pee-Chee and Minnesota high school and college hockey material that rarely surfaces outside this state. Basketball, boxing, racing and Olympic material fill out the room. Graded slabs, unopened wax, autographed baseballs and photos, pennants, programs, yearbooks and hobby supplies are all part of the mix.
Hours are a single Saturday block, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Entry is free, which has been the club's approach for years, and there are roughly sixty tables on the floor. There is no VIP tier and no advance ticket. Parking is free in the armory lot. For questions about tables or the schedule, longtime organizer Dave Bonde can be reached at 651-338-1539.
The Bloomington Armory is at 3300 West 98th Street in Bloomington, close to Interstate 494 and Highway 100 and only a few minutes from the Mall of America. That location makes it one of the most accessible shows in the metro for anyone in the southern and western suburbs, and it is a straightforward drive from downtown Minneapolis. The armory drill floor is a big open room with high ceilings, good lighting and level concrete, which makes it easy to navigate with a stroller or wheelchair. Restrooms are on site and there is no shortage of dining within a five-minute drive along the 494 strip.
This show is best suited to collectors who want to dig. Because the tables are staffed by club members and longtime local dealers rather than traveling operations, the material tends to be regional, deep and priced for collectors rather than investors. Set builders, vintage hunters, player collectors and anyone chasing Minnesota sports history should make this a priority. It is also a good show for kids, since free admission and a room full of affordable boxes make it low risk to bring young collectors.
Arrive at nine if you can. Sixty tables get worked over quickly and the best vintage typically moves in the first hour. Bring cash, which is strongly preferred here and often discounted. Bring a want list, team checklists and set checklists. Bring penny sleeves and top loaders. Talk to the dealers, ask what is not on the table, and get on their list for future dates, because at a club show the regulars genuinely get first look at fresh material.
The series continues on roughly monthly Saturdays through the winter and into 2027. Check the Trading Card Database Minnesota listing for the next confirmed date.
