DALLAS — For the second year in a row, sneaker lovers will flock to Dallas Market Hall to witness Sneaker Con — the “greatest sneaker show on Earth.” Last year’s event brought thousands out for two days’ worth of all things shoe-related.
More than 400 vendors will set up shop in the hopes of buying, selling and trading some of the most coveted kicks in the sneaker industry. The global traveling event confirmed on its social media platform that rapper Soulja Boy and pro-wrestler Ric Flair will appear as celebrity guests.
Last year, Spectrum News 1 reported on the return of Sneaker Con to Dallas after it was postponed the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, officials couldn’t provide a tally of those in attendance. Still, they estimated 20,000 people walked through the doors of Dallas Market Hall during the weekend-long event.
In addition to trying to snag some of their favorite shoes, attendees can expect authenticators from eBay to verify any shoe as part of the company’s Authenticity Guarantee program. Sneaker influencers will engage in panel discussions about the current state of the culture, along with trends in the businesses.
“eBay has always been a vibrant community of enthusiasts, with deeply knowledgeable buyers, sellers and employees,” said Jordan Sweetnam, SVP and General Manager of eBay North America when eBay acquired Sneaker Con’s Authentication Business. “We partnered with Sneaker Con to launch sneaker authentication on eBay last year because the team shared our passion for the category — with best-in-class capabilities to deliver what our customers want most. The response to our authentication offering has been overwhelming, and this acquisition allows us to continue to transform eBay and bring a higher level of trust and confidence to every transaction.”
The business of buying and selling sneakers has emerged as a top contender for many, especially during the pandemic. Back in 2019, Cowen Equity Research estimated the U.S. sneaker market sat at $21.2 billion while the global market neared $100 billion. The value of the U.S. resell market stood at $2 billion, with the global market worth at $6 billion.
“We propose the idea that sneakers are now an emerging alternative asset class,” Cowen analysts wrote.
