💡 Get Philly smart 💡
with BP’s free daily newsletter

Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes — not that we’re counting.

The day before the Super Bowl, Philadelphia was sneakerhead central.

Sneaker Con made its Philly debut Saturday at the Pa. Convention Center, with more than 300 vendors and over 9,000 people expected to attend.

Founded over a decade ago by Alan Vinogradov, Barris Vinogradov and Yu-Ming Wu in NYC, the annual pop-up sneaker showcase and trading floor has gone global. Considered North America’s largest event of its kind, it’s traveled to various states across the country, while also launching global events in cities like Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, and Sydney.

Philly’s first taste of the fest drew sneaker culture fans of all ages, coming together to buy, sell, and trade some of the most sought-after kicks on the market.

Some were there to gaze upon shoes they dreamed of owning one day, others whipped out their wallets to make it a reality. Scroll down for pics of the goods and more details about what was on offer and who came to play.

Several pairs of Nike SB Dunks paid tribute to the Philadelphia Phillies. Released in July 2022 for $115, they currently resell for $300 or more. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)
A man stands in line to attempt to win a prize while wearing custom sneakers around his neck. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)
A man wheels a cart of sneakers around the convention. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)
A man wears the “Big Red Boots” by art collective MSCHF. Designed to represent cartoon boots, they’re set to release on Feb. 16 for $350 retail. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)
Chase Nagle assists a shopper. At just 13 years old, he’s already making moves in the sneaker industry as a reseller. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)
A shopper checks out a pair of “Grape” Retro Jordan 5s marked at $450. The shoes released in 2013. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)
A shopper at the convention organizes his sneakers by the exit, while wearing a pair of “Bred” Retro Jordan 11s. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)
A crowd cheers for a chance to be brought up on stage for an opportunity to win a prize. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)
A cart of stacked sneakers is wheeled across the intersection of 11th and Arch streets. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)