Am vergangenen Samstag verwandelte sich das Sport-, Freizeit- und Begegnungszentrum Burkertsmatt in Widen in einen Treffpunkt für die Schweizer Sammlerszene, wo fast 2000 Tickets für die Premiere der CollectiblesUniverse verkauft wurden, wie der Bremgarter Bezirksanzeiger berichtete.
Premiere Event in Widen Draws 2,000 Visitors
- Nearly 2,000 tickets were sold for the premiere event in Widen, drawing vendors and attendees from across Switzerland, Germany, and Northern Italy.
- The convention was co-founded by collectors Gianluca Ruggiero and Cedric Von Rotz to bridge the gap between card trading and broader hobbyist items.
- Organizers confirmed that a follow-up event is planned following positive feedback from both merchants and attendees.
A New Swiss Hub for Rare Cards and Figures
The convention hall buzzed with active trading as visitors compared market valuations, opened sealed booster boxes, and traded physical items. While Pokémon and sports trading cards occupied a dominant position on the vendor tables, attendees exploring the venue also encountered comic books, action figures, Lego sets, and various pop culture gadgets.
Vendors and collectors traveled from across Switzerland for the single-day gathering, with some participants arriving from neighboring Germany and Northern Italy. The breadth of merchandise reflected an deliberate curation strategy by the event’s leadership team.
Origins and Concept of CollectiblesUniverse
The convention was established by Gianluca Ruggiero from Wollishofen and Cedric Von Rotz from Rudolfstetten. Ruggiero brings nearly three decades of collecting experience to the enterprise, having started with Pokémon, while Von Rotz has spent roughly four years deeply embedded in the hobby focusing on Pokémon, One Piece, and sports cards.
Ruggiero had harbored ambitions of organizing a dedicated fair for years. A chance meeting at a separate convention led to a partnership with Von Rotz, who subsequently secured the Burkertsmatt venue—a facility he was familiar with from his own athletic background.
| Event Detail | Statistic / Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Sport-, Freizeit- und Begegnungszentrum Burkertsmatt, Widen |
| Attendance | Nearly 2,000 tickets sold |
| Geographic Reach | Switzerland, Germany, and Northern Italy |
| Core Categories | Pokémon cards, sports cards, figures, comics, Lego, and gadgets |
Broader Horizons Beyond Valuation
Organizers sought to differentiate their convention from traditional card shows by incorporating a wide array of alternative collectibles. Ruggiero noted that classical card exhibitions frequently lack a comprehensive focus on the broader universe of tangible pop culture artifacts.
Addressing the financial aspect of the hobby, Ruggiero described cards as compact works of art rather than mere financial instruments, stating that potential resale value serves merely as an incidental aspect of the pursuit. Von Rotz echoed this sentiment, emphasizing personal aesthetic appreciation over financial speculation as the primary driver for participants.
Founders Plan Future Fairs at Burkertsmatt Facility
Beyond transactions, both founders emphasized the social dimensions of the gathering, highlighting multi-generational attendance and interaction between novices and veteran hobbyists. The harmonious atmosphere across diverse age groups showed that the format was socially viable.
Following favorable receptions from both participating merchants and the buying public during the inaugural run, Ruggiero and Von Rotz confirmed plans to stage future editions of the fair at the Burkertsmatt facility.
