Panini America On Location: The Curtain Closes on the 2011 National Convention
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Sundays at the National Sports Collectors Convention are historically light on foot traffic and heavy on exhibitors packing up in advance of an early exit. But in a fitting finale to the 32nd edition, the Panini America booth remained jam-packed until the exhilarating end, filled with loyal collectors and crazy excitement until the doors closed at 5 p.m. local time. (more…)
Panini America On Location: A Quick Video Diary from the 2011 National Convention
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJEwBKBGco&w=585&h=363] ROSEMONT, Ill. -- For most card collectors, the 32nd Annual National Sports Collectors Convention will likely be remembered most for the constant hum of excitement and energy inside the Panini America booth. The company's cavernous confines inside the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center created a must-see attraction for show-goers and provided the exclamation point on a wild, wacky whirlwind week in…
Panini Unwrapped On Location: Putting the ‘National’ in National Treasures Basketball
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUR3u6IK5ro&w=585&h=363] ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Chicago-area collector Dan Piehl was just stopping by the Panini America booth on Friday at the 2011 National Sports Collectors Convention to say "hello" and to meet some of the folks behind the company's products. Seconds later, the basketball-geared hobbyist who focuses on Karl Malone, was center stage between Panini America's Tracy Hackler and Scott Prusha for…
Panini America On Location: Scenes from a Wild Saturday at the 2011 National
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Saturday at any National Sports Collectors Convention traditionally ranks as the busiest day of the show. Form certainly held true for the 2011 edition -- especially inside the Panini America booth. Easily the 32nd National's most popular daily manufacturer attraction, the Panini America booth attracted its biggest crowds of the show on Saturday, as collectors lined up early to participate…
Can’t Make It to The National? Then Panini America is Bringing The National to You.
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Look, we here at Panini America realize that not everyone can make it to the 32nd Annual National Sports Collectors Convention. We understand that and we sympathize with those loyal collectors who would love to be here but simply can't be. So we're bringing a little bit of The National to you. (more…)
Panini America On Location: The Sights and Sounds from Day 3 at the 2011 National
Chicago-based freelance writer Dan Campana contributed to this report and will file updates and images to The Knight’s Lance throughout the week. ROSEMONT, Ill. -- It shouldn’t be this simple. But for one lucky Panini America collector late Friday morning, it was. Chicago-area hobbyist Dan Piehl walked up to Panini America's Tracy Hackler innocently enough. He just wanted to say hello, shake…
A Rapt Wrapper Redemption Highlights Panini America’s Thursday at the National
Chicago-based freelance writer Dan Campana contributed to this report and will file updates and images to The Knight’s Lance throughout the week. ROSEMONT, Ill. -- If, by chance, you've inexplicably been unable to find the Panini America booth at the 32nd Annual National Sports Collectors Convention, just follow the trail of foil wrappers. Those shiny remnants will lead you to redemption heaven,…
Panini America On Location: A Frenzied First Day at the 2011 National Convention
Chicago-based freelance writer Dan Campana contributed to this report and will file updates and images to The Knight's Lance throughout the week. ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Panini America team landed in Chicago early Wednesday morning and hit the ground running for the "sneak peek" of the 32nd Annual National Sports Collectors Convention. Mere seconds after the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center…
Details are Sketchy: Panini America Unveils One More Surprise for the 2011 National
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The hits keep coming for Panini America wrapper redeemers at the 2011 National Sports Collectors Convention. And in this case, the hits are hand-drawn works of art from some of the top rookies in the NFL. And while we could talk all day about the small number of original 2011 NFL Rookie Sketch Cards randomly inserted inside the company's wrapper-redemption program, we…
Breaking News: Panini America to Preview Pro Football HOF Autos at 2011 National
Just when collectors thought Panini America's plans for this week's National Sports Collectors Convention couldn't get any better, the exclusive trading card manufacturer of the Pro Football Hall of Fame saved perhaps its most exciting surprise for last. On Tuesday afternoon the company announced that it has included special 2011 Timeless Treasures Football Class of 2011 Hall of Fame Preview autograph cards into its wrapper-redemption…