MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — Trading card games like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering are hotter than ever, and a Mesa card show is betting big on the boom.
The Cactus TCG Show takes place Aug. 15 and 16 at the Phoenix Mesa Delta Marriott Hotel, located near University Drive and Center Street. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
Carlos Coe and Nate LeBlanc, organizers of the Cactus TCG Show, said trading card games draw huge crowds of players who battle each other.
“Pokémon people get together at stores. There’s big tournaments across the country and they play the game,” Coe said.
Sports cards, which they described as more traditional collectibles, are more tied to individual athletes and statistics.
Both types of cards can carry monetary value. Serialized and autographed cards, those with limited print runs, tend to attract collectors who seek professional grading and authentication.
The lifetime card collectors say that Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), a prominent grading company, has suspended new submissions due to a surge in cards sent in for grading, including Pokémon, Riftbound and One Piece.
“It’s really at an all-time high for collectability,” LeBlanc said.
The Cactus TCG Show launched roughly one year ago in Tempe with only 10 to 15 tables. They say community support and a free-admission model fueled its growth.
“We’ve exploded into Arizona’s largest monthly TCG show in just under a year,” Coe said.
Organizers said they anticipate a couple thousand attendees at the upcoming event.
Coe and LeBlanc said the show draws people across age groups, including adults reconnecting with the hobby and children attending for the first time.
“It’s a really cool place to be with people just from all walks of life,” LeBlanc said.
Both organizers said their interest in the hobby began around age five, with Pokémon video games on the original Game Boy.
Entry is free. Attendees can visit thecactustcgshow.com to register for free raffle tickets, with prizes including a Nintendo Switch 2 and sealed card boxes.
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