Catching flights and Pikachus: Inside the trading card takeover at IAH

At IAH Terminal D, vending machines aren’t just for snacks; they’re a nostalgic portal to Pokémon, the NBA and a new kind of airport retail therapy.

Jul 1, 2025

Somewhere between the Mother’s Room and the iShoppes duty-free store, a traveler in camo shorts and Converse sneakers taps a screen, stares intently and makes a decision that has nothing to do with boarding zones or seat assignments.

He’s choosing a Pokémon booster pack.

Welcome to The Fan Stand, a vending-machine-meets-time-machine installed at the newly expanded Terminal D at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). With walls splashed in Topps’ signature reds and oranges, and vending slots filled with trading cards spanning everything from baseball legends to anime champions, it’s a bold departure from your average airport impulse buy.

And it’s exactly the point.

“We’re always looking for new ways to surprise and delight travelers,” said Libby Hurley, director of concessions for Houston Airports. “The Fan Stand taps into nostalgia and culture in a way that feels both familiar and unexpected. Whether you’re a die-hard collector or just need a quick gift, it’s a fun stop that makes the terminal experience a little more memorable.”

Positioned steps away from international gates, the vending machines are stocked with Pokémon cards—including rare Japanese imports—alongside NBA, NFL, UFC and Star Wars collectibles. The crisp digital interface invites users to scroll through options like they’re choosing a playlist, not a pack of foil-sealed adrenaline.

The machines offer a convenient way for collectors to purchase cards, including single packs, blasters and mega boxes. Designed with an elevator system for gentle product retrieval and well-lit displays that border on theatrical, the setup caters to the casually curious and the cardboard-devout alike.

It’s a savvy move for Houston Airports at a time when collectibles are booming, and travelers—especially Gen Z and millennial fans—are craving connection, not just convenience.

“Airport retail is evolving,” said Hurley. “People want more than coffee and souvenirs. They want moments. They want stories. And sometimes, they want to rip open a pack of cards while they wait for their flight.”

The Fan Stand is only one act in the Houston Airport System’s larger vending renaissance. Over the last three years, Houston Airports has transformed what vending means in a terminal. Think Sprinkles cupcake ATMs, Kylie Cosmetics kiosks, LEGO machines and Parents on the Go setups stocked with baby wipes and diapers. At Hobby Airport, there’s even a library vending machine, BOOKLink, run by the Houston Public Library.

And right next to The Fan Stand? A vending machine stocked floor-to-ceiling with Polly Pocket.

This is not the Houston airport retail of five years ago. This is curated, connected, culturally relevant commerce. It’s vending with personality, strategy and selfie lighting.

As travelers move through the bright, modern Terminal D—fresh off a multimillion-dollar expansion—it’s hard to miss the buzz around the vending zone. People point. Kids tug on sleeves. Grown adults hover a beat too long before making a purchase and walking away smiling.

It’s retail theater, in a vending machine.

And for a few bucks and a little luck, you just might pull a holographic Charizard before your flight to Frankfurt.