Manama became the setting for a giant treasure hunt yesterday as hundreds of collectors, families and enthusiasts flocked to the inaugural Collect Me Expo, with fans queuing for hours before the doors opened.
The two-day event at the Crowne Plaza Manama brought together trading cards, comics, figures, toys, sneakers, gaming memorabilia, coins, watches, luxury collectibles and mystery boxes under one roof.
And the appetite was far greater than organisers expected.
Just 600 tickets had initially been made available, but more than 1,400 fans turned up within the first hour, according to Dallah managing partner Khalid Bukhari.
“We were a little afraid at the start because this was our first Collect Me Expo and we were doing it on this scale,” he said.
“But we said, why not? Let’s see where the market is. We opened tickets for only 600 people, and then we had more than 1,400 attendees in the first hour. It was crazy for us.”
The expo features 44 vendors across around 63 tables, offering everything from affordable collectibles to exceptionally rare pieces worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
And the biggest attraction is being saved for last.
A rare first-edition Charizard Pokémon card, currently valued at around $800,000, will go under the hammer at the end of the second and final day today. Bidding is expected to start at approximately $600,000.
The card is among a dazzling collection of rare Pokémon treasures on display, including a Pokémon card mounted on a chain, inspired by WWE’s Logan Paul’s famous collectible, with the chain itself estimated to be worth around $300,000.
A special Super Mario and Luigi collaboration Pokémon box is also among the standout pieces.
Vendors said the market offers something for almost every budget, with collectibles ranging from around $10 to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on rarity, condition and demand.
Among the most sought-after pieces are professionally graded cards, including rare Pokémon and Dragon Ball cards carrying top grades and coveted ‘black label’ ratings.
The response has also encouraged organisers to take Collect Me beyond Bahrain.
The name stands for Collect Middle East Expo, with plans to stage the event every two to three months in different countries.
“It’s not ‘me’ as myself - ME stands for Middle East,” Mr Khalid Bukhari explained.
“We want to take Collect Me around the Middle East,” he added.
Saudi Arabia is planned as the next destination, followed by Kuwait, with Qatar, Oman, Lebanon and other markets also being considered.
The success of Collect Me has also highlighted the growing demand for larger pop-culture events in Bahrain.
Last year’s Comic Con attracted around 40,000 ticketed visitors, with total attendance estimated at approximately 44,000 to 45,000 after including those who bought tickets at the door.
This year, organisers are already facing space pressures, with more than 20 companies on an exhibitor waiting list and around 42 artists seeking places at the event on November 6 and 7.
Mr Khalid Bukhari said organisers were therefore considering moving next year’s Comic Con from the Bahrain International Circuit to Exhibition World Bahrain, although he stressed that the plan had not yet been finalised.
“We need a bigger space,” he said.
For now, however, the spotlight remains firmly on Collect Me where the rarest treasure of all could be a Charizard waiting to change hands.
His brother and managing partner Salman Bukhari stressed that Collect Me is intended to build its own community rather than simply become an extension of Comic Con.
“Collect Me is its own thing. We want it to have its own community, its own fans and its own attendees,” he said.
“Of course, we promote Comic Con through it, but they are two completely different genres.”
“For now fans are so much interested in the $800,000 card that they are asking when it would be auctioned.”
The event has attracted collectors of all ages, proving that the hobby is about far more than eye-watering price tags.
Eight-year-old Maria Al Saati, a student at St Christopher’s School, arrived with a passion for Pokémon cards, art and Funko Pops.
Her 10-year-old brother Elias, who attends the same school, prefers graphic novels and the Harry Potter series while also competing with his sister over their collections.
Seven-year-old Dalia Al Sharaf, from Capital School, came with her aunt on the hunt for Pokémon cards.
“I want to build a strong collection,” she said.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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