One of the most fascinating things about the modern sports card era is observing the cycles of supply and demand relative to the schedule of a season. When I first returned to the hobby, I got plenty of advice from my local sports card shop owner, but one that stuck out to me was to be smart about when I buy cards for particular sports.
The idea is simple: during the off-season, without much media coverage, you can typically buy cards for less money. Whether it’s a PC (Personal Collection) item or a stash to flip and fund bigger cards, those of us who are disciplined usually yield the most benefits.
Football is a particularly fun sport to follow these cycles because it’s the most-watched sport in the United States. The first round of the 2021 NFL draft brought in over 12 million viewers and 40 million people play Fantasy Football. There’s no shortage of excitement, media coverage and content as the season draws closer.
Out of the three major sports–basketball, baseball and football–the latter has the longest off-season (March - July) and it opens the door to more buying opportunities for those looking to get ahead of the cycles.
We’ll dive into what’s been happening in the football market, when we should expect it to ramp up again, and we’ll cap off why football is still one of the most exciting niches in the hobby for collectors and the risks that come with it.
Note: I am not a Financial Advisor and this is not intended to be financial advice.