The Tampa Sports Collectors Expo is the largest sports card and memorabilia event on the Tampa Bay calendar, and the fall edition takes over the Florida State Fairgrounds at 4800 US Highway 301, Tampa, FL 33610 for three full days, Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20, 2026. With more than 250 vendor tables, this is a different animal from the hotel-ballroom shows that fill the rest of the year — it is a genuine convention-scale event that pulls dealers and collectors from across Florida and well beyond.
Hours run Friday from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Daily admission is $5 with children 8 and under free, and parking at the fairgrounds is $10 per day. Budget for both when you plan the trip, and note that a multi-day visit is genuinely worth considering here — 250-plus tables is more than most people can properly work in a single session.
The inventory depth is what sets this show apart. Sports cards span everything from pre-war tobacco and post-war Topps and Bowman through the junk-wax era and into current-year rookies, parallels, and numbered inserts. Baseball, football, basketball, and hockey all have serious representation, with soccer, UFC, boxing, and racing appearing at specialist tables. Graded material is everywhere — PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC slabs by the case — and the show attracts the kind of high-end consignment inventory that does not show up at smaller local events. Alongside cards you will find substantial sports memorabilia: signed jerseys, balls, bats, helmets, photos, game-used pieces, ticket stubs, and program collections. Pokemon and other trading card games have a growing footprint here too, along with comics and general pop-culture collectibles.
Special guest athletes and personalities are a regular fixture of this expo, with autograph signings scheduled across the weekend. Guest lineups and signing prices are announced closer to the event, so check the fairgrounds event page or the show's social channels before you commit to a specific day if a signing is your priority.
The Florida State Fairgrounds is easy to reach — it sits directly off I-4 at exit 7, with enormous on-site parking and clear signage. The exhibit space is climate controlled with wide aisles designed for convention traffic, and there is concession service on site, which matters when you are planning a six-hour day on concrete.
Strategy matters at a show this size. Friday's 2:00 PM open draws the sharpest buyers because fresh material hits the floor first; if you are hunting rather than browsing, Friday is your day. Saturday is the biggest crowd and the fullest floor. Sunday is shorter, quieter, and traditionally the best day to negotiate as dealers weigh packing versus selling. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a phone charger, and do a full reconnaissance lap before spending anything.
Come with cash for the smaller tables and cards or digital payment for the bigger ones. Bring a want list organized by set and card number, a price reference for recent comparable sales, and enough supplies to protect what you buy. Establish a meeting point if you come with a group. For families, the free admission for kids 8 and under and the sheer visual scale of the room make it a memorable introduction to the hobby.
