The hobby as a whole has stayed in the dark ages.
Grading/Slabbing has elevated hobbies like sportscards, comics, coins, etc. to new levels. Why?, it brings in investor money. The hobby resists slabbing and continues to ignore the financial aspects, while hyper-focusing on the "social" aspects of collecting. The younger generation does not care about the social side, they are content to stare at their phone to satisfy their needs.
Older collectors are dying off, but the future could be very bright. New sports books, poker rooms, and casinos seem to be opening on a weekly basis, exposing many to gambling. All those young people who where caught up in the huge poker fad of 2003-2010 will be approaching their 40's, and are prime candidates to enter the hobby. The proliferation of gambling in asian markets, coupled with the baccarat craze of the 2000's, could lead to a huge influx of collectors.
A much larger social media presence is needed to attract the younger generation. Magazines are going the way of the dinosaur.
We need new money, investor money....that is the future of the "hobby" and the key to elevating prices.
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