While the market for NBA and NFL trading cards are soft right now, NHL trading cards are on fire. Twice a year hockey fans converge upon Toronto for one of the biggest shows of the year with the Sportscards & Memorabilia Expo. This year may be one of the biggest Expo shows ever given how much excitement there is around Upper Deck’s NHL Double Rookie Class and the fact 2013-14 NHL Upper Deck Series One is scheduled to release just a couple days before the start of the show. Upper Deck is preparing to make it one of the best NHL shows ever for the company by securing the largest booth we’ve had for the Expo in years and coming up with a variety of compelling programs for collectors.

The 2013 Fall Expo is shaping up to be the biggest event in years with 2013-14 NHL Upper Deck Series One releasing the same week as the show!

Here is everything you need to know about UD’s plans for the 2013 Sportscard & Memorabilia Expo in Toronto:

Priority Signings Promotion – Friday at 5:00 p.m., Saturday at 10:00 a.m. & again for Happy Hour at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
Purchase one (1) mini-box of 2013-14 NHL Trilogy or one (1) box of 2013-14 NHL Artifacts or 2013-14 NHL Upper Deck Series One purchased from a Certified Diamond Dealer at the show. Bring that product along with the voucher you receive from the vendor to the Upper Deck booth and receive a FREE 2013-14 NHL Upper Deck Priority Signings Autograph card at random OR a UDA Double Rookie Class memorabilia instant redemption after opening the product there. Priority Signings promotion will only be available during posted hours and while supplies last for each time period. One box per person, per day. Below is the checklist:

Priority Signings Case Breaker Promotion MVP Level – Open all day while supplies last

The first 25 fans looking to break a case of 2013-14 NHL Upper Deck Series One can score some sweet items!

Purchase one (1) sealed case of 2013-14 NHL Upper Deck Series One and receive two (2) FREE 2013-14 NHL Upper Deck Priority Signings Autograph card at random OR a UDA Double Rookie Class memorabilia instant redemption and a bonus instant redemption item from the MVP level. This will be limited to the first 25 collectors who choose to take advantage of this promotion. Participating collectors will also receive their choice of either a FREE Upper Deck Young Guns t-shirt or a FREE Upper Deck branded toque.

Promotion is open at any time and while supplies last. One per person, per show. Below are the items available:

Priority Signings Case Breaker Promotion Hall-of-Fame Level – Open all day while supplies last
Purchase one (1) sealed case of 2012-13 NHL Fleer Retro or 2013-14 NHL Trilogy and receive two (2) FREE 2013-14 NHL Upper Deck Priority Signings Autograph card at random OR a UDA Double Rookie Class memorabilia instant redemption and a bonus instant redemption item from the Hall-of-Fame level. Participating collectors will also receive a FREE Upper Deck Young Guns t-shirt and Upper Deck branded toque.

Promotion is open at any time and while supplies last. One per person, per show.

O-Pee-Chee NHL Promotion – Open all day while supplies last
Open two (2) boxes of 2013-14 NHL O-Pee-Chee at the UD booth at any time and get a FREE Upper Deck toque or Upper Deck Young Guns t-shirt! Product available while supplies last! One per person, per day.

Upper Deck NHL Spelling Bee – Friday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Step right up and test your skills on how well you know the last names of today’s NHL players. Kids, adults and seniors are all invited to participate in this fun program where they can win some great FREE prizes. And if you don’t want to participate in the program, you will want to turn out to watch as it should be great fun to see how well collectors really know the players.

Bubble Hockey Tournament – Friday at 8:30 p.m., Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
One of fans new favorite elements of Upper Deck at the Fall Expo is the FREE Bubble Hockey tournaments that fans can participate in throughout the weekend. Fans can even practice throughout the show. So stop by to challenge your friend or take on some of the best at the Expo to win FREE prizes from Upper Deck. Make sure to sign up prior to the events starting!

Everyone wants to get in the game with Upper Deck’s Bubble Hockey tournaments at the Expo!

FREE Raffle – Friday begins at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
What is better than FREE? Make sure to stop by the Upper Deck booth prior to these specified times to secure a free raffle ticket to score some exciting prizes that you won’t want to miss. No purchase necessary!

Upper Deck’s free raffles each day draw tons of fans looking to score great prizes!

Expired Redemption Raffle – Submit your expired modern-day UD redemption cards until Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Raffle will take place to 3:30 p.m.
Here is your chance to score some cool items for your expired redemption modern day redemption cards. Check out details on UD’s Expired Redemption Raffle!

Upper Deck always brings great prizes for the company’s expired redemption raffle programs!

Upper Deck Authenticated Show Specials – Open all day while supplies last
Ryan King from Upper Deck Authenticated will be on hand again sharing some of the most amazing memorabilia items the company has created for top spokesmen like LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Wayne Gretzky. Ryan will also have a variety of current NHL player product available that you will definitely want to add to your collection. Make sure to ask him about various show specials UDA is offering on these cool collectibles!

Upper Deck’s Ryan King talks to a reporter about different UDA items available at a previous Expo.

Upper Deck Fan Videos – Saturday from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Do you want to be famous? Well, at least an internet celebrity? Here is your chance! Upper Deck is looking to capture video with fans talking about their love of trading cards and collectibles. Stop by during these times on Saturday to be a part of this new series of collector themed videos!

Photo Opportunity – All day, every day!
Make sure to bring your cameras or camera phones as Upper Deck will have some really cool items on hand to grab a photo with. You can even poke your head through a cardboard cutout to become Wayne Gretzky, an exclusive Upper Deck spokesman!

Hockey Hall-of-Fame Inductions – Monday Night
Upper Deck will be taking several guests to the Hockey Hall-of-Fame inductions on Monday night where Chris Chelios, Scott Niedermayer, Brendan Shanahan, Geraldine Heaney and Fred Shero will all be enshrined. It is without a doubt one of the most exciting hockey events to take place in Toronto all year long where fans can rub elbows with dozens of hockey’s greatest players. Upper Deck has ONE EXTRA TICKET to the event and we want to take a great hockey fan and die-hard supporter of Upper Deck. Just let us know in 3 paragraphs or less why you feel you are Hall-worthy and you may earn an invitation to join us! If you will be in Toronto on Monday and would love to attend, email us today! We will reach out to the customer selected on Tuesday, November 5 to let them know.

UD is an exclusive sponsor of the Hockey Hall-of-Fame and we want to take YOU to the induction ceremonies!

Twitter/Instagram
If you are tweeting or posting images to Instagram from the 2013 Fall Sportscard & Memorabilia Expo use hashtag #FallExpo for the show and #UDDRC to share any cool UD Double Rookie Class items you received. On Twitter make sure you are following @UpperDeckHockey and @UpperDeckSports! On Instagram, watch for images from UD by following @upperdecksports!