BACKMaster Plan: Panini America Unveils Complete Details Surrounding 2021 National Sports Collectors Convention Presence
Collectors across North America (and all of us inside Panini America) rejoiced upon hearing the recent news that, after a year away, the National Sports Collectors Convention is back. And later this month in Chicago, Panini America will once again put its best foot forward with a flurry of activities from the time the doors open on Wednesday afternoon (July 28) to the time they close on Sunday afternoon (August 1).
While there will be some things that are slightly different this year from an execution perspective inside the massive, main attraction that is the Panini America booth, one thing remains unchanged: Panini America plans to steal the show once again. Here are just some of the ways we’ll do it:
National VIP Party
For many National-goers, the annual Panini VIP Party is the reason to attend the show. But this year, due to tight timelines and the broad uncertainty surrounding whether the NSCC would even take place, Panini America officials have made the tough decision to move the party. The good news: The Panini VIP Party will happen this year, it’ll just happen at a later date. Stay tuned.
Silver Packs
Yes, Panini America is conducting the perennially popular Silver Packs Wrapper-Redemption promotion this year. The eligible-product list is short and the number of Silver Packs per box redeemed, for any number of reasons, is fewer than in years past. Show-goers can expect limited Silver Pack redemptions each day of the show while daily supplies last. Only boxes purchased at the show from three Panini Authorized Show Dealers (Dave & Adam’s, Blowout Cards and Steel City Collectibles) are eligible for the Silver Pack redemptions. There will be a maximum of three boxes per person per transaction and full-case redemptions will not be allowed. Here’s the product breakdown for this year:
| PRODUCT | Silver Packs/Box |
| 2020-21 Prizm Premier League Soccer Mega Box | 1 |
| 2020-21 Court Kings Basketball International Blaster | 1 |
| 2021 Absolute Baseball Hobby Box | 1 |
| 2021 UFC Prizm Retail Box | 2 |
| 2020 Chronicles Football Mega Box | 1 |
Box Wars
Panini America Box Wars are back — and the prizes are bigger than ever. Some of the prizes that will be randomly awarded this year include 2021 Panini Black Boxes, 2020 Immaculate Football, 2020 Panini One Football, 2019-20 Panini One Basketball, 2020-21 Impeccable Basketball, 2020 Optic Football, 2019-20 Prizm Choice Basketball, 2021 UFC Prizm and more. Collectors who wish to participate in Box Wars can purchase their boxes anywhere on the show floor; but boxes must be brought to the Panini America booth sealed. The Box Wars schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, July 28
| 4:30 PM | 2021 Luminance Football |
| 6:00 PM | 2020-21 Court Kings Basketball |
| 7:30 PM | 2021 Absolute Baseball |
Thursday, July 29
| 10:30 AM | 2021 Contenders Draft Picks Football |
| 11:45 AM | 2021 Mosaic Euro Soccer |
| 2:30 PM | 2021 Legacy Football |
| 3:45 PM | 2021 Chronicles Draft Picks Football |
| 5:00 PM | 2021 Select Baseball |
Friday, July 30
| 10:30 AM | 2021 Chronicles Draft Picks Football |
| 11:45 AM | 2020-21 Clearly Donruss Basketball |
| 2:30 PM | 2021 Luminance Football |
| 3:45 PM | 2021 Chronicles NASCAR Racing |
| 5:00 PM | 2021 Prizm Draft Picks Football |
Saturday, July 31
| 10:30 AM | 2021 Elite Football |
| 11:45 AM | 2021 UFC Select |
| 2:30 PM | 2021 Contenders Draft Picks Football |
| 3:45 PM | 2021 Chronicles Soccer H2 |
| 5:00 PM | 2020-21 Contenders Basketball |
Sunday, August 1
| 10:30 AM | 2020-21 Revolution Basketball Chinese New Year |
| 11:45 AM | 2021 Score Football |
| 1:00 PM | 2021 Diamond Kings Baseball |
| 2:00 PM | 2021 Prizm Draft Picks Football H2 |
Kids Free Case Breaks
The wildly popular — and absolutely free — Panini America Kids Case Breaks return in 2021, once again spearheaded by Ultimate Box Breaks’ Bryan Gavin. Beginning Thursday, Panini America will host two Free Kids Case Breaks per day that are open to kids 12 and under. Kids who want to participate must get in line at the Panini America booth each morning at 10 a.m. CST to register and receive badges (while supplies last). Here’s the tentative Free Kids Case Breaks schedule:
Thursday, July 29
| 2:00pm – 3:00pm | 2021 Absolute Baseball |
| 4:00pm – 5:00pm | 2019 Majestic Football |
Friday, July 30
| 2:00pm – 3:00pm | 2020-21 Contender Basketball |
| 4:00pm – 5:00pm | 2019 Plates & Patches Football |
Saturday, July 31
| 1:00pm – 2:00pm | 2021 Luminance Football |
| 3:00pm – 4:00pm | 2020-21 Absolute Basketball |
Kids Crate
Panini America’s highly anticipated Kids Crate program is being finalized as you read this, but just know complete details are forthcoming (in a matter of days) and you might just see Series 1 and the 2021 National Sports Collectors Convention.
Live Redemption Trade-Up Program
Yes, this major attraction is back again, too. As in years past, Panini America Customer Service officials will be onsite in Chicago to operate the company’s popular Live Redemption Trade-Up Program. Back by popular demand, the unique initiative will afford those collectors in attendance holding multiple outstanding redemption cards FOUR MONTHS OLD OR OLDER AND ALREADY PENDING IN THE PANINI AMERICA REDEMPTION SYSTEM the opportunity to trade them in for a card or cards of higher value (while supplies last).
In addition to cards, Panini America officials also will be offering Rewards points cards in trade-out as well as a small number of the highly coveted Panini Black Boxes.
In order to help expedite the process, collectors participating in the Panini America Redemption Trade-Up program are encouraged to bring with them printouts from the Panini America Website of the outstanding redemptions they want to have replaced at the National. A Customer Service team member onsite will verify the outstanding redemptions as well as their values before completing the replacement process.
Here’s the tentative Live Redemption Trade-Up Program schedule:
