[photo credit: Visit Pasadena]
The two-day event reflects explosive growth in the collectibles market. Organizers reported a 375-table waiting list at a recent show, demonstrating strong vendor demand for space at established shows.
“Our last Pasadena show we had 300 tables, we had a 375 table waiting list,” said Dan Bliss, founder of Front Row Card Show. “With our successful shows we gain a little leverage so we can enforce that.”
The show caters to sports card collectors, trading card games including Pokémon and “Magic: The Gathering,” comic books, and memorabilia. Children 10 and under get free admission and can participate in a Hobby Hunt scavenger hunt. The first 200 attendees each day receive complimentary swag bags courtesy of Pristine Auction.
Professional grading services on-site include Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), Beckett Grading Services, and Comic Book Certification Service (CBCS). James Spence Authentication (JSA) provides same-day autograph authentication.
Bliss co-founded Front Row Card Show in February 2023 with his wife, Angela Bliss. The company has expanded to become one of the nation’s largest organizers of sports card and trading card conventions, with events scheduled across multiple cities in 2026.
The global collectible card games market was valued at $14.70 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $37.42 billion by 2034.
Front Row Card Show will run on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 793-2122 or visit https://www.visitpasadena.com/events/front-row-card-show/. Ticket prices: General admission $10 online or $15 at the door; VIP early entry $20 online or $25 at the door for one day; VIP early entry $25 online or $30 at the door for two days; free for children 10 and under.
