Long Island Trading Card Game Show returns to Nassau Coliseum

Growing up, Rebecca Seepersad, of Farmingdale, was obsessed with Pokémon. She religiously watched the TV show, played the video games and collected the trading cards.

“When I was in elementary school my morning alarm used to go off at 7 a.m. to the 'Pokémon' theme song,” she says. “I was very drawn to the Pokémon cards because I loved the designs and all the different characters.”

Today, this 35-year-old chemistry teacher from the Baldwin school district runs the biggest trading card event in Nassau and Suffolk, the Long Island Trading Card Game (TCG) Show, which comes to Nassau Coliseum May 2-3 for its second year.

“Rebecca hosts the best shows on the East Coast. She has built a great community of collectors,” says vendor Dave D’Amelio of Lake Grove, who goes by the Instagram handle “Poke_Dave.LI.” “I’ve gone to many other shows, including Collect-a-Cons, but this show tops them all. This is the one I look forward to all year-round.”

Held in the Expo Hall, the two-day convention features 400 vendor tables, Q&A panels with special guests, games, tournaments, live performances and a cosplay contest.

“Right now, the trading card industry is at an all-time high,” says Seepersad, who also runs smaller monthly shows at Hilton Long Island/Huntington in Melville. “The majority of interest is in Pokémon with a sprinkling of other TCGs like Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! and One Piece. We like to see a variety of people selling low-end cards from $1 to $5 as well as a good amount of high-end cards that sell into the high thousands.”

CARD SHOPPING

Jessica Sholl, of Lindenhurst, has been participating in LITCG Shows since 2023. At the Coliseum, she will have three tables, under her company name, ShollPoké, selling Pokémon cards that are collectively valued at more than $200,000.

“I carry cards that are $1 up to $100,000 sets,” she says. “I try to adhere to every customer and tax bracket. I always want someone to be able to shop at my booth and walk away with a smile on their face.”

One of her crown jewels is a 2000 Pokemon Topps Chrome Series 2 Sparkle foil variant complete Dragonite evolution line (No.147 — Dratini, No.148 — Dragonair andNo.149 — Dragonite).

“They are grade certified PSA 10,” Sholl says. “I will be asking $100,000.”

Over at the Poke_Dave.LI booth, D’Amelio is planning to sell single Pokémon cards with a little bit of One Piece and some anime figures (Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!) mixed in.

“I look to give people deals because I’m a collector at heart,” he says. “I try to be fair and show them that I care about the hobby.”

D’Amelio’s top card for sale will be a Pokémon Zapdos ex from the FireRed and LeafGreen set (2004), graded PSA 10 and worth about $4,500.

“Some of the single cards can go for up to $2,000 even if they’re not graded, but still vintage, they could fetch a pretty penny,” he says. “For example, I will have a nongraded Registeel Gold Star Legend Maker for $1,500.”

Additionally, AGS (Automated Grading Services) will be professionally grading cards, determining their condition, on-site for $40 per card and all customers can get their cards back within a few hours the same day.

VOICE ACTORS IN THE FLESH

Meet and greet the voices behind the characters with actors like Dan Green (Yugi Muto/Yami Yugi from "Yu-Gi-Oh!"), Eric Stuart (Charizard/James/Brock/Pokédex in "Pokémon"), John Swasey (All for One in "My Hero Academia"), Eric Vale (Sanji in "One Piece"), Justin Cook (Dende/Super Buu from "Dragon Ball Z"), Sonny Strait (Usopp in "One Piece"), Ted Lewis (Giovanni in "Pokémon") and Amy Birnbaum (Max/Neesha/Melody/Molly Hale in "Pokémon").

“What strikes me the most about these gatherings is how everyone is truly excited to celebrate their fandom,” Birnbaum says. “There’s an entire room filled with people who share the same passion and they are all giddy. It’s fun to be a part of that energy.”

ACTIVITIES GALORE

Take part in a special two-day Pokémon tournament on Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at noon. The Game Show Goombas deliver “The Game Show Super Show” on Saturday at noon on the Main Stage. As a bonus, voice actor Stuart Zagnit, who plays Professor Oak in “Pokémon,” will be on hand for a Q&A panel on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. on the Main Stage. Don’t miss the One Piece panel, hosted by Pokémon content creator Powdr, featuring Vale, Strait, Cook and Swasey on Saturday at 3 p.m. on the Main Stage. Suit up as your favorite character for the cosplay contest, which begins on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.

A Yu-Gi-Oh! panel, hosted by content creator Sparkman, is happening on Sunday at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage with Green, Stuart, Lewis and Birnbaum. Test out your knowledge at Pokémon Trivia, hosted by Pokémon Professor Brittany, on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.

Live performances include magician Robin Channing on Sunday at noon and Jason Paige performing the "Pokémon" theme song and participating in a Q&A panel on Sunday at 2 p.m., both on the Main Stage.