Almost since the dawn of modern man, people have collected things for fun. Those who remember being in the playground as an eight-year-old in the buildup to Italia ’90 will often reminisce about the Panini stickers that they collected, for example, gathering them together in the hope of completing their sticker book.
In the modern era, though, things have gone up a level. The fact that such trading cards can be sold for huge sums of money has ensured that people who might have considered themselves ‘above’ such a thing in the past are suddenly showing an interest. The good news is that Cardmania Guildford is heading to town.
Where Has the Collecting Boom Come From?
It would be entirely untrue to suggest that the launch of King of the Collectibles on Netflix has seen people willing to collect playing cards and other memorabilia go through the roof. Yet it is also the case that many people have now come to realise that something that they either ignored entirely in the past or else dismissed as being something for ‘kids’ could actually present a way of making some money, largely thanks to watching the Netflix show. The genre of Trading Card Games, also known as Collectible Card Games, was first introduced with the launch of Magic: The Gathering back in 1993.
These cards are created specifically to both be used within a game and also be collectible. Certain cards are significantly more rare than others, which obviously sees a price put on their head that the owners of such cards are keen to cash in on. There is as much chance of a rare card turning up in a pack available for sale in Guildford as anywhere else, which is why locals are keen to head along to Cardmania to see if there is any value in cards that they’ve got, or else to purchase cards that someone else has. Cards are denoted as either Fixed, Common, Uncommon or Rare, with varying degrees of value attached accordingly.
Cardmania Explained
Labelling itself as ‘The UK’s fastest growing card show’, Cardmania sees vendors of cards and collectors of the items put together in order to ensure that swapping and buying cards can all be done under one roof. Whether you’ve got a card that you want to get valued and possibly sell or you’re someone who intends to do the buying, this is the best place to go to get involved. It is an opportunity for people with a collection that is missing a card or two to find the ones they need, as well as for fans of every kind of trading card to get in touch with dozens of dedicated vendors so as to take part in a vibrant marketplace of cards and other items.
The fact that it is called ‘Cardmania’ lets you know that cards take centre stage, but this is an event about any and all types of collectibles. It is also a chance for people to find like-minded individuals, so don’t be surprised if there are some engaging in cosplay whilst they wander around the stalls looking for the card that they’re missing. It is fun for all ages, with Guildford coming alive with photo moments and plushies in amongst the collectible stalls and the areas aimed at delighting kids. In other words, you can take your family along, potentially getting some of them interested in something that they might have ignored before.
What’s On Offer
Whether it be graded cards that are worth huge sums of money or simply just everyday TCG offerings that offer nothing but the pleasure of owning them, there is plenty to enjoy at Cardmania. The Marketplace is the biggest part of the event, seeing visitors presented with a huge selection of different things to spend their money on. If you’re interested in vintage cards, they’ll be there. If you’re more about the latest releases, perhaps keeping an eye out for one that could be worth some money in the future, that’s covered too. There is a massive selection on offer for you to browse and even put your money down to buy if you want to.
Of course, the Marketplace isn’t all that is on offer at Cardmania. There are more than 40 traders in attendance, promising collectibles other than just trading cards if they aren’t really something that you know much about. The Trade Zone is where those of you that already have a bunch of cards will want to head to in order to see if there are some deals to be made, especially if you’ve got too many of one card and are missing another. This is all about both getting people into the collectibles game and ensuring that those who already take part are aware of just how much fun there is to be had by expanding their collection.
Where & When
If you want to take on the Spin the Wheel challenge, which offers a chance to win amazing prizes, or you simply want to see what all of the fuss is about, you will want to head along to Surrey Sports Park in Guildford on Saturday the 23rd of May. Things get underway at 10am, lasting for six hours before reaching their conclusion at 4pm, offering you plenty of time to take some photos, snap some bargains or sell some cards if that’s what you’re looking to do. Although you will purchase a ticket for a specific time slot, you can turn up any time as the slots are just in place to allow the organisers to manage the flow of people.
The likelihood is that your chosen vendor will accept either cash or card, but you should make sure that you’ve got both options available to you just in case. If you want to get along to this even then, you might be able to get a ticket on the door, but you would be best off booking in advance so as not to run the risk of being disappointed. How much you will pay for your ticket will depend on the likes of what time you want to enter as well as whether you want to go with your family or make use of the VIP experience. The latter are obviously the most expensive tickets, with those under five getting in for free.