Fanatics Lands in Manchester: Is the Sleeping Giant of the Hobby About to Awaken?

Is the sleeping giant of the trading card hobby about to awaken?

Over the past few years, we've seen a huge emergence of card shows across the North. From the Yorkshire Show to the Manchester Card Con, these events have well and truly made themselves a staple on the hobby calendar.

The weather might be grim up north, but the sporting history certainly isn't, one side you have the Merseyside giants of Liverpool and Everton, and the other you've got Yorkshire, steeped in Cricket and rugby league history, as well as the historic clubs of Leeds, Sheffield united & Wednesday. And Nestled in-between,  Manchester arguably has the richest history. From the red side of Manchester United, with Rooney and Ronaldo lighting up the Champions League of our childhood, to the recent success of Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. Not to mention the cricketing battles at Old Trafford cricket ground. 

Whether you're a Red or a Blue, one thing about the North is that the passion runs deep, and this translates perfectly to the area's card shows. They are packed from open to close, with attendees looking to take in every minute of the limited shows they have. We see it in our own store, with people travelling from a 2-3 hour radius regularly just to get their hobby fix. It seems Fanatics has felt the friendly warmth of the Northern powerhouse, as they are now opening a pop-up shop at the Arndale Centre, Manchester on October 17th following the success of their flagship store in London.

What This Means for Northern Collectors

This is a big deal for the Northern hobby. The Fanatics pop-up, running until January 2026, is going to be a new, high-profile physical destination for people to get their hands on a huge range of products. We’re talking the latest Premier League cards, the new Match Attax 2025/26 collection, and even club-specific tins celebrating Manchester United and Manchester City.

For years, the North has been underserved by big names in the hobby. This pop-up is a clear sign that major brands are starting to recognise the passion that has always been here. It brings the eyes of the hobby and visibility to the collecting of the north of the UK which can only mean getting more people into the hobby, and inevitably more growth up here.