Any Buzz on 2027 Location?

[MyckKabongo]

Anybody heard anything?

At one point last year there was talk that the new management was considering StL, Nashville, and Atlanta.

There does seem to be a vocal crowd that thinks it should be in Chicago every year. I spoke to one prominent dealer recently that is strongly opposed to the idea.

[nabzy28]

After seeing the attendance this year, they better be looking for larger venues - first of all. Or, if the other side of the IX Center really is just leased ... when is that lease up, would be a great question. Haven't heard anything or seen anything mentioned in any videos I've watched, so far, regarding even rumors from the dealers' meeting(s).

[cj828282]

They just need to keep it in Chicago or try to venture to the West a bit.

[DR Murph]

I talked to a couple dealers today that said the show is back in Chicago for 25, 26, and 27.

[bub838]

Why has the show never been to Vegas?
Also surprised to learn it had been in Detroit before.

[hammerva]

I would be fine with Chicago being more regular as long as they get change the layout of the actual National to be more like Cleveland. Sure Chicago is bigger and in a better location but it is like walking in a mouse trap at times.

[KhalDrogo]

I’m sure it will be at another undersized, sub-optimally accessible location. The good news is that by then the National will be the second largest card show each year.

[byronscott4ever]

Originally Posted by bub838

Why has the show never been to Vegas?
Also surprised to learn it had been in Detroit before.

Money lost to gambling? I think that’s the best west coast possibility

[AwesomeBrian]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

I’m sure it will be at another undersized, sub-optimally accessible location. The good news is that by then the National will be the second largest card show each year.

2nd largest to what? Michael Rubin's circle jerk isn't gonna be a card show

[AwesomeBrian]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

Money lost to gambling? I think that’s the best west coast possibility

Exactly, you want show money staying at the show

[MyckKabongo]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

I’m sure it will be at another undersized, sub-optimally accessible location. The good news is that by then the National will be the second largest card show each year.

Fanatics Fest is in a different lane from what I'm seeing so far. It's much more focused on activations, panels, etc. They're saying 350 booths in the collectibles dealing space which I'd guesstimate is somewhere between Chantilly and Dallas card show size. Not really close to National type scale.

Very curious to see how it goes and will probably check it out next year if they stay in NYC.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by AwesomeBrian

Exactly, you want show money staying at the show

The Hermes, LV, and Rolex shops sure do have a difficult time doing business at the Bellagio.

Originally Posted by MyckKabongo

Fanatics Fest is in a different lane from what I'm seeing so far. It's much more focused on activations, panels, etc. They're saying 350 booths in the collectibles dealing space which I'd guesstimate is somewhere between Chantilly and Dallas card show size. Not really close to National type scale.

Very curious to see how it goes and will probably check it out next year if they stay in NYC.

It’s their first year. I wouldn’t expect it to be bigger than the National right out of the gate. As inept as I find Fanatics, the people running the National are ten times worse. They will crush the National if they want to.

[messier2]

I’ll be going to Fanatics Fest and can let you guys know how it goes!

[tyrith]

Originally Posted by bub838

Why has the show never been to Vegas?
Also surprised to learn it had been in Detroit before.

Vegas spaces of sufficient size to host the National might be some of the most expensive conference space on Earth. The city hosts a ton of high end conventions - none of them are known for being cheap. Plus, most of the existing vendor/dealer base does not want to go that far west due to inventory shipping issues.

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by bub838

Why has the show never been to Vegas?
Also surprised to learn it had been in Detroit before.

vegas is already enough of a cesspool

[asujbl]

As stated above…

I’ve heard (I’m not one) that dealers have no interest in going that far West

Vegas is made for company “trade shows” and entertaining potential large clients. I’ve been many time for construction conferences. It’s just to suck up to corporate folks to buy your stuff in bulk

I wouldn’t call the National a trade show. It’s a collectors convention. The big dogs could still go set up but I doubt you’d get the dealers… you’d get corporate, breakers, etc… but random dealer from Nebraska? Might pass

So might be what you want to get out of it

[whiplash101]

Might be a good opportunity to change up the vendors, so it's not the same recycled stuff every year. Not like they're gonna have a hard time selling every single table.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by whiplash101

Might be a good opportunity to change up the vendors, so it's not the same recycled stuff every year. Not like they're gonna have a hard time selling every single table.

Based on the VIP lounge and the “traders/sellers” they might need to worry about selling tables

The VIP guys were killing it this weekend with no overhead

[tyrith]

Originally Posted by whiplash101

Might be a good opportunity to change up the vendors, so it's not the same recycled stuff every year. Not like they're gonna have a hard time selling every single table.

What's the financial incentive to the organizers to flush out a bunch of dealers that have been paying them for decades in favor of a bunch of newer people that don't have the same history in the hobby? Which is more likely to keep paying them in a downturn?

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by asujbl

As stated above…

I’ve heard (I’m not one) that dealers have no interest in going that far West

Vegas is made for company “trade shows” and entertaining potential large clients. I’ve been many time for construction conferences. It’s just to suck up to corporate folks to buy your stuff in bulk

I wouldn’t call the National a trade show. It’s a collectors convention. The big dogs could still go set up but I doubt you’d get the dealers… you’d get corporate, breakers, etc… but random dealer from Nebraska? Might pass

So might be what you want to get out of it

The “dealers” you speak of have lost their relevance in the space thanks to Fanatics. They don’t have the leverage over the hobby the way they did in the past.

Vegas would bring the big boys and their money out.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

The “dealers” you speak of have lost their relevance in the space thanks to Fanatics. They don’t have the leverage over the hobby the way they did in the past.

Vegas would bring the big boys and their money out.

Works for me. I spent $0.00 at the show. I can buy all my PC cheaper online

I went for my son. He had a blast

Whatever works

[solt0131]

The next 3 years are confirmed to all be in Chicago. The only question right now is 2028. This was straight from the dealer booth lottery meeting this morning.

[Brobocop]

Originally Posted by asujbl

Works for me. I spent $0.00 at the show. I can buy all my PC cheaper online

I went for my son. He had a blast

Whatever works

This. The show is fun to go to and walk around but most everything felt overpriced, from wax to singles. First National I left spending $0.00 after spending over $1k at the last two in Cleveland (I'm not a big spender so $1k is a lot for me). If it comes to Cleveland again, I'll surely go but if this is the last one, I'm not sure I'll be all that broken up about it.

[hammerva]

Originally Posted by whiplash101

Might be a good opportunity to change up the vendors, so it's not the same recycled stuff every year. Not like they're gonna have a hard time selling every single table.

Well I thought that was the purpose of the "After Hours" show at The Aviator this weekend and from all accounts it was kind of a huge miss. Granted running head to head with trade nights seems pretty stupid

[mfw13]

The problem is that the location decisions is made by dealers, for the convenience of dealers.

What collectors/attendees might want isn't even considered.

There are many better convention centers than Chicago & Cleveland that the dealers won't even consider due to cost/inconvenience.....they just want cheap....