In a New Jersey warehouse, rows of carefully preserved game-worn jerseys, equipment, and one-of-a-kind stadium memorabilia capture moments from sports history — each item authenticated, cataloged, and ready for its next chapter.

For MeiGray, those artifacts represent nearly three decades of building relationships with leagues, teams, and athletes to place authentic memorabilia directly into the hands of collectors around the world.

Founded in 1997 by Barry Meisel and Bob Gray, MeiGray began with a simple idea rooted in a shared passion: create a reliable, transparent way for collectors to own genuine game-used memorabilia. Nearly 30 years later, that idea has evolved into a business that defines the category, with exclusive team partnerships across the NFL, NHL, NBA, and WNBA.

With demand for authenticated collectibles accelerating over the years, MeiGray entered a period of rapid growth — and they needed a financial partner that could keep pace. 

Growing Pains

With increasing transaction volume and larger opportunities requiring significant upfront capital, MeiGray began to outgrow its existing financial structure.

Credit constraints limited the company’s ability to move quickly on new opportunities, while a personal guarantee reduced financial flexibility for the owners. At the same time, managing a growing inventory of high-value assets added complexity to its operations.

“We were really starting to hit a ceiling,” said Meisel. “The business was growing, but our banking structure wasn’t allowing us to take advantage of that growth,” said Meisel. 

A Collaborative Approach

In exploring a new banking relationship, MeiGray was looking for a provider that understood how the business operates — not just how it’s financed.

From the outset, PNC brought together a dedicated, cross-disciplinary team spanning relationship management, credit, treasury, and technology. This early collaboration allowed them to identify key constraints and operational challenges, and present a unified, client-centered strategy.

“Credit is just one piece of the puzzle — but understanding how a client operates day-to-day is where you build long-term real value,” said Matt Kanarick, Sr. Commercial Relationship Manager at PNC.  

Tailored Solutions 

PNC designed a solution that aligned with MeiGray’s growth ambitions and operational realities.

Key elements included a more flexible line of credit to support inventory acquisition, removal of the personal guarantee, and a modern digital platform (PINACLE®) to provide real-time visibility, reporting, and streamlined treasury operations.

The transition also included hands-on onboarding and support to confirm the tools were fully integrated into MeiGray’s operations.

“PNC didn’t just come in with a solution — they listened to what wasn’t working and built something around how we actually run our business,” Meisel said. 

PNC didn’t just come in with a solution — they listened to what wasn’t working and built something around how we actually run our business.

— Barry Meisel, President and CEO of MeiGray Group

Expanding the Relationship

Since onboarding, the relationship has expanded beyond core lending and treasury services.

Today, MeiGray’s relationship with PNC extends across credit, treasury, wealth management, and private banking.

“No matter the need, they know exactly where to go,” Kanarick said. “That one-PNC approach has been important as the relationship has grown.”  

Positioned for What’s Next

MeiGray’s journey — from a passion project to an industry leader — continues to evolve.

With a more flexible and scalable financial strategy in place, the company is well positioned to continue expanding relationships, pursuing new opportunities, and preserving pieces of sports history.

And for PNC, the relationship reflects the value of understanding how each business operates and building the right support around it from the start.