KENNEWICK, Wash. – This past weekend, the first-ever PNW collector Convention took place at the Three Rivers Convention Center. Hundreds of collectors attended to view cards and sports memorabilia. A Super Bowl champion also attended to meet fans and sign autographs.
Cliff Avril, a member of the Seattle Seahawks‘ Super Bowl 48 championship team, said this isn’t the first time he’s visited the Tri-Cities.
Avril says he came to our area a year or two ago because his son plays AAU basketball. One of the parents on his son’s team held a basketball camp here. Avril said events like this are meaningful to him.
Playing in front of all the 12s is something you can’t describe. He says it gets so loud playing home games that he can almost feel the ground shake. Avril said visiting communities around the state is essential.
“To have people that support you and rooting for you and being able to meet those individuals, it’s huge,” Avril said. “I take pride in making sure I tell the 12’s how important they are for me, in particular for me, because, you know, third down when they get loud, and the stadium is going crazy. It gives me that split second to get after the quarterback. So they play a role in that too.”
Avril says that coming over from the Detroit Lions wasn’t an easy transition for him as a player, but the fans, his teammates, and former Head Coach Pete Carroll made it easier.
Avril made good on his promise to meet the 12s, sign autographs, and take pictures with those who came to meet him.
When asked about this year’s Seahawks team, which is the first time in 14 years without Pete Carroll on the sidelines, Avril says it will be different but expects the team to have a great season.
Avril said he’s excited about new head coach Mike McDonald, mainly because he comes from the defensive side of the ball.
Collectors from all over the state took part in showing off their collections, including Zion Lee from Yakima. The PNW Collector convention saw hundreds of people come through its doors at the Three Rivers Convention Center.
This convention had everything from Pikachu walking around, sports memorabilia, a Super Bowl champion, and tons of sports cards.
Lee said he started collecting sports related items four years ago during COVID.
According to Lee, that’s when cards started taking off again. He also has autographed baseballs he gets when he goes to the Seattle Mariners Spring Training every year.
Lee said his love of sports is how he got the collector’s bug and that you learn a lot from conventions like this.
“It’s cool to see the different types of collectors,” Lee said. “Like Pokémon, like Magic. The modern-day sports cards, the vintage sports cards. It’s cool, though.”
He said his favorite thing about meeting other collectors is building relationships and meeting everyone. When you come to see his collection, you can expect a good conversation and him sharing some of his knowledge.
Lee says he’s traveled to Redmond, Washington, for collectors’ conventions, which is the biggest one he’s been to. Being from Yakima, Lee said not having to travel far is a plus.
