The Short Answer
- 130,000+ attendees at the 2026 National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, Illinois.
- PSA suspended on-site Express grading on opening day due to overwhelming demand.
- Collectors paid hundreds per card for same-event turnaround but were told cards would be mailed.
- California lawsuit alleges bad-faith practices; proposed class action claims misleading marketing.
- PSA has not responded to media requests for comment on the convention backlash.
- AI pre-grading eliminates the need for on-site grading — get predicted grades at home for free.
What Happened at The National 2026
The 2026 National Sports Collectors Convention ran from July 29 through August 2 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The event drew an estimated 130,000 attendees — making it one of the largest in the convention's history and a testament to the explosive growth of the card collecting hobby.
PSA, as one of the world's largest and best-known card authentication and grading companies, operated an on-site booth offering Express grading with promised same-event turnaround. Collectors paid hundreds of dollars per card for the Express service, expecting to receive their graded cards back before the convention ended.
But by the end of the convention's opening day, overwhelming demand forced PSA to suspend its on-site Express submissions. Collectors whose submissions could not be completed at the convention were told their cards would be mailed back later — not returned at the event as promised.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, which broke the story: "Customers at the five-day convention paid hundreds of dollars per card to have their collectibles graded and returned before the event ended. PSA is one of the world's largest and best-known card authentication and grading companies. But by the end of the convention's opening day, overwhelming demand forced PSA to suspend its on-site Express submissions."
Collector Reaction: Frustration and Broken Trust
The reaction from collectors was swift and vocal. Many had traveled to Rosemont specifically for on-site PSA grading, paying premium Express fees with the expectation of same-event return. Being told their cards would be mailed — with no specific timeline — left collectors feeling misled.
The frustration was amplified by several factors:
- Cost — Express grading costs $149/card. Collectors submitting 5–10 cards paid $750–$1,500+ for a service that was not delivered as promised.
- Opportunity cost — Many collectors planned to sell graded cards at the convention. Without same-event turnaround, they missed the selling window.
- Trust erosion — This came on top of PSA's Value tier pause (June 2), a 12.4 million card backlog, and growing legal troubles.
- Lack of communication — Collectors reported that PSA staff did not proactively inform them of the suspension; many discovered it only when trying to submit.
Social media reaction was intense, with collectors sharing photos of PSA's booth and expressing frustration across Twitter, Reddit, and YouTube. The incident became one of the most discussed hobby stories of the week, alongside the Beckett grading pause announcement that came days later.
Legal Context: Lawsuits Piling Up Against PSA
The National convention backlash did not happen in a vacuum. PSA and parent company Collectors Holdings are facing multiple legal challenges that compound the trust crisis:
Funk v. Collectors (RICO Class Action)
Filed July 28, 2026 — just one day before The National opened — this 188-page federal lawsuit accuses PSA of fraudulent grading practices, subjective grading marketed as objective, and RICO violations through Collectors Holdings' vertical integration. The suit seeks $1 billion in damages, potentially $3 billion under RICO trebling. Read our full breakdown of the RICO lawsuit.
Rasmussen v. Collectors (Antitrust Class Action)
Filed April 2026 in California, this suit alleges Collectors Holdings' acquisitions of SGC and Beckett created an illegal monopoly controlling 80% of card grading. A hearing on Collectors' motion to dismiss is scheduled for September 11, 2026. The suit seeks forced divestiture of both SGC and Beckett.
Lichtman v. Collectors
Filed July 21, 2026 in Orange County Superior Court, high-end collector Steve Lichtman alleges PSA undergraded or refused to cross valuable cards to protect competing cards owned by Collectors insiders. The lawsuit claims PSA applied stricter standards to recent submissions while preserving older grades that Lichtman says were inflated.
California Fraud Allegations
Separate from the class actions, PSA faces a California lawsuit alleging bad-faith and fraudulent business practices. FOX 32 Chicago reported that PSA is also facing a proposed class-action lawsuit claiming misleading marketing and inconsistent grading practices.
PSA has not responded to FOX Chicago's requests for comment on the convention backlash or the legal proceedings.
PSA's Silence: No Response to Media or Collectors
As of August 10, 2026, PSA has not publicly addressed the on-site grading suspension at The National. The company has not responded to media requests from FOX 32 Chicago, has not issued a public apology to affected collectors, and has not announced any compensation or remediation plan.
PSA's social media channels have continued to post about grading results, population reports, and promotional content, but have not acknowledged the convention incident. This silence has further frustrated collectors who expected at minimum an explanation and timeline for their mailed-back cards.
The lack of response is notable given that PSA has been otherwise communicative about its backlog — publishing regular backlog tracker updates and posting about its $200 million infrastructure investment. The company's willingness to discuss operational challenges publicly makes its silence on the National convention incident more conspicuous.
On-Site Grading Alternatives at Future Shows
While PSA's on-site grading at The National was suspended, other grading companies are stepping into the gap at upcoming shows:
Beckett Show Circuit Drop-Offs
Beckett is offering limited Base and Standard drop-off capacity at:
- Front Row Card Show — August 15–16, Las Vegas, NV
- Dallas Card Show — September 10–13, Dallas, TX
Capacity is not guaranteed and submissions may close once volume caps are reached. Arrive early if you plan to use this option.
CGC at Shows
CGC regularly attends major card shows and has not paused any submission tiers. Check CGC's event calendar for on-site submission opportunities at upcoming conventions.
SGC at Shows
SGC also attends major shows and offers on-site submissions. With Standard pricing at $15/card and no pause in effect, SGC may be the most reliable on-site grading option for upcoming events.
Why AI Pre-Grading at Home Is Better Than On-Site Grading
The National 2026 incident highlights a fundamental problem with on-site grading: you pay a premium price and travel to a show, but there is no guarantee the service will be delivered as promised. AI pre-grading at home solves this problem entirely.
No Travel, No Lines, No Disappointment
With PreGradeCards AI grading, you photograph your cards at home and get instant predicted grades. No traveling to Rosemont. No waiting in line. No paying $149/card only to be told your cards will be mailed back. You get your results immediately, for free.
Objective, Consistent Results
The Funk RICO lawsuit alleges PSA grading is subjective and inconsistent. AI grading is the opposite — it measures centering, corners, edges, and surface using computer vision algorithms that produce the same result every time. No "eye appeal" override. No production pressure. No trainee graders.
Make Informed Decisions Before Spending Money
The real value of AI pre-grading is that it tells you which cards are worth submitting before you pay. If the AI says your card is a 9.5–10, send it to PSA, CGC, or SGC. If it says 8.5 or below, sell it raw and save your grading budget for better candidates.
Free Centering Check
Centering is the #1 reason cards miss PSA 10. Use our AI centering analysis to check your cards for free. If centering is worse than 60/40, a PSA 10 is impossible — don't waste money on grading fees.
Batch Grade Your Collection
Instead of picking a few cards for on-site grading at a show, AI-grade your entire collection at home. Sort by predicted grade. Then submit only your best candidates when budget tiers reopen or to CGC/SGC at current prices. This is how smart collectors are managing their grading workflow in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at PSA on-site grading at The National 2026?
How many people attended The National 2026?
Has PSA responded to the National convention backlash?
What legal issues is PSA facing in 2026?
Can I still get on-site grading at card shows?
Is AI pre-grading a good alternative to on-site grading?
Sources & Further Reading
- PSA Faces Collector Backlash After Grading Problems at National Convention — FOX 32 Chicago
- PSA On-Site Grading at The National 2026: What Changed — TheCollectorNation
- PSA, Collectors Face Growing Legal Challenges — Value Added Resource
- PSA Hit With Class Action Lawsuit — Dexerto
- Beckett Grading Availability — Beckett.com
Marcus Chen has evaluated over 50,000 sports cards and TCG cards across PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC standards. Before joining PreGradeCards, he worked as a submission specialist for a major grading company and trained collectors and dealers on condition assessment.
With submission floors rising, pre-screening is no longer optional. Use our AI Pre-Grade Calculator to score a card's PSA 10 odds before you pay, and the Submission Planner to pick the right tier.