Why Arena Club is Leveraging Influencers to Showcase Collector Freedom

Arena Club wants to position itself at the intersection of collecting with its latest campaign. This time, instead of leveraging a high profile celebrity, the brand tapped influencers Jay Moslehi (@mojosportsllc) and Ben Krohn (@krohnscaptures) for its ad spots.

The creative showcases how collectors can buy, sell, and trade from anywhere, reflecting Arena Club’s mix of technology, community, and convenience. Both Moslehi and Krohn are dedicated card collectors, making them natural fits for the campaign. Coming only months after its Derek Jeter campaign, this work signals Arena Club’s pivot from star-driven storytelling to authentic, collector-led narratives designed to resonate with its core audience.

The financial agreement between the parties was not disclosed.

Arena Club’s Chief Marketing Officer, Jay Roberts, explained that the campaign was designed to highlight the company’s authentic connection to the hobby community by featuring several content creator partners who are both serious collectors and passionate hobbyists. Since Arena Club was founded by Brian Lee, a lifelong collector, Roberts added that it was important to communicate that the brand is not simply another company looking to capitalize on the hobby market. By showcasing partners who live and breathe collecting, the company aimed to make it clear that Arena Club was created by collectors for collectors.

“Beyond business, this is a personal endeavor by us which stems from Brian’s leadership,” said Roberts. “Our goal is to continue that messaging through actionable partnerships with collectors, and this campaign allowed us to highlight them.”

The campaign launched on August 21 in select U.S. markets, running on Fox Sports (FS1), FanDuel TV, YouTube, and other streaming platforms. Arena Club timed its marketing push to align with the start of the NFL season, beginning with targeted football Slab Pack™ promotions. The Modern Gems Slab Pack, a football-exclusive product, debuted on September 4 to coincide with the NFL kickoff, with additional promotions scheduled throughout the season.

The brand plans to work with content creators who specialize in football collecting and have strong ties to the community. This strategy is designed to capture the excitement of the season while partnering with trusted voices among NFL collectors.

Roberts explained that the team first reached out to several existing content partners to gauge their interest in participating in the campaign. They presented initial script concepts but then worked closely with each influencer to shape the final content so it reflected both their personality and voice while still aligning with the company’s objectives. The goal was to ensure the messaging felt authentic and natural to each creator’s audience, rather than forcing them into a script that did not suit their style. Roberts noted that this collaborative approach is evident in the unique settings the two influencers chose to feature in the campaign spots.

Jay Moslehi (@mojosportsllc), has around 2,100 Instagram followers, creates authentic hobby content including sports card unboxings, event recaps, and collector stories that resonate with passionate hobbyists. Ben Krohn (@krohnscaptures) has a little over 5,200 followers and focuses on visually engaging photography of sports, autographs, and collectibles that appeal to fans and collectors alike. Both creators have built trust within the collecting community by showcasing their passion and knowledge, giving them credibility among their audiences. 

Arena Club’s choice to work with them fits its message of being built by collectors for collectors, not outsiders looking to profit from the hobby. Their presence adds to Arena Club’s credibility and helps the brand connect with a passionate audience.

Roberts said influencer marketing is essential to Arena Club’s success in connecting with the hobby community as the brand works closely with its content creator partners to ensure authenticity and transparency in every communication. Since influencers have built their own personal brands and reputations, they are naturally selective about the companies they choose to work with, which in turn creates an accountability system that customers value. Roberts added that these partnerships are not only a way to amplify Arena Club’s messaging but also a means of ensuring the brand’s communications remain accurate and relevant to the hobby and its latest trends.

“In a way, too, it gives us a natural ‘well-received’ radar by the community when they respond to posts and interact with social content. Our partners serve as both advocates and advisors, helping us stay connected to what collectors actually want and need,” said Roberts.