The 46th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention is set to take over the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, outside Chicago, and the numbers tell the story: 500,000 square feet of continuous floor space, more than 600 sports dealers, and an organizer’s claim that this year’s show will be the biggest in the event’s 46-year history.
For collectors from Kentucky, the autograph pavilion brings a little extra flavor. The lineup includes familiar names tied to the Bluegrass State, along with a few figures who are sure to stir up old emotions in Lexington and beyond.
Phil Simms is one of the headline Kentucky connections. He will sign July 30 at 11:30 am. Born in Springfield and a graduate of Southern High School in Louisville, Simms also starred at Morehead State University before turning that local foundation into a long NFL career that ended with him as a Super Bowl MVP for the New York Giants.
The show also features several names Kentucky fans know for very different reasons.
Otis Wilson will sign August 1 at 2:00 pm. Long remembered as a linebacker on the 1985 Chicago Bears, Wilson also spent time at the University of Louisville, where he was a three-year letter winner, a team captain, and a first-team All-American in 1979.
Christian Laettner is on the schedule too, with a signing set for August 1 at 11:15 am. In Lexington, his name still carries weight because of the 1992 NCAA East Regional Final, when he hit “the shot.”
Bernard King will appear July 31 at 2:00 pm. The Tennessee Volunteers basketball legend was part of the “Ernie and Bernie” duo that went head-to-head with the Cats.
Other SEC ties on the autograph list include Jay Cutler, who signs July 31 at 1:30 pm, and Sterling Sharpe, who signs July 31 at 3:45 pm.
The floor itself is built for collectors chasing just about everything. Old singles, Bowman, Topps, and Upper Deck vintage cards will be there, along with modern chase pieces like Prizms, Superfractors, and 1/1 on-card autographs. Vendors will also be handling box and card grading, autograph authentication, and consignment services throughout the show.
With more than 600 dealers looking to buy, bringing cards of your own is a smart move. The convention often turns into a place where people unload childhood collections, whether they want to trade or sell.
The show runs from Wednesday, July 29, through Sunday, August 2, 2026, with daily hours varying. General admission is $30.
VIP ticket holders are already sold out, but they do get early access and can enter the show floor one hour before everyone else each day. Kids under 12 are also included in the ticket information.
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