2025 National

[shawnkrebs]

Im excited.

Cleveland, AC and even Baltimore have their positives, but Chicago, for me, is by far the best location to have held a National Ive attended.


mmmmm....Gibson sliders.....mmmmmm

[JPSportshack]

Of the layouts I've seen, Cleveland's straight aisles are the best. The layout in Chicago two years ago was not good. I found a whole pocket of booths after I had finished spending all but $20 of my budget. Even worse... They were booths selling things that interested me. The only areas that have great intersections are the aisles to the northwest/left and to the southwest/right (next to the Tristar area) of the lobby. (I'm glad to see Kardsarkz is on the southwest area.)

I started building my budget spreadsheet last winter. These next 8 weeks can't go by fast enough!

[jmarascojr]

The layout in Chicago last year definitely felt thrown together at the last minute.

You had the new section with the breakers and then additional dealers on the other side of them, before you got to the autograph pavilion.

My Dad was so confused by the break pavilion (he doesn't understand why people pay other people to open their packs) he never even saw all the booths on the other side...

It sounds like with the additional floor, hopefully they've organized things a bit better this year...

[byronscott4ever]

Cleveland is out as it’s becoming a data center according to Sports Collectors Daily

[crazy4kinsler]

I've never been. And we're booked for this year. Got hotel booked, flights booked, Cubs-Orioles game tickets bought. Just have go buy tickets to the show at some point. Unfortunately, I have to take my wife. So I will either get Wednesday night or Thursday for the show as she's not into collecting (and I don't want her running around Rosemont/Chicago by herself, so I have no choice). Either way, I'm excited.

[hammerva]

The biggest headache with Chicago besides that it was 95 degrees outside and they thought the best strategy was to not turn on the air conditioning and leave the doors first day or so to let dealer put their stuff in was the maze trying to find things

Remember the first day I thought (I will start at 100 and work my way). After about 20 minutes of reaching the 200-400 section and trying to figure out where the hell the 100 section was I gave up. Also for anyone on first time trip, if you are at a table on one day and want to visit it again another day write down the table number. Trying to remember the location by looks and feels was awful.

[crazy4kinsler]

I've heard horror stories of the no AC thing. Hopefully that's not the case this year. If my wife walks in with no AC, she will turn right around and leave. Thus I will have to turn right around and leave, and that will be the end of my 2025 National experience. So hopefully they have the AC running.

And I agree about the table thing. I face that in Dallas, and there's only like 700 tables. I can't remember what I saw at what table. But there's no numbers on their tables. Glad the tables will have numbers in Chicago.

Originally Posted by hammerva

The biggest headache with Chicago besides that it was 95 degrees outside and they thought the best strategy was to not turn on the air conditioning and leave the doors first day or so to let dealer put their stuff in was the maze trying to find things

Remember the first day I thought (I will start at 100 and work my way). After about 20 minutes of reaching the 200-400 section and trying to figure out where the hell the 100 section was I gave up. Also for anyone on first time trip, if you are at a table on one day and want to visit it again another day write down the table number. Trying to remember the location by looks and feels was awful.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by crazy4kinsler

I've heard horror stories of the no AC thing. Hopefully that's not the case this year. If my wife walks in with no AC, she will turn right around and leave. Thus I will have to turn right around and leave, and that will be the end of my 2025 National experience. So hopefully they have the AC running.

And I agree about the table thing. I face that in Dallas, and there's only like 700 tables. I can't remember what I saw at what table. But there's no numbers on their tables. Glad the tables will have numbers in Chicago.

Your wife is smart

I’d rather burn my entire collection today than go to the National and not have AC

The stink is coming through my phone right now

[Dacubs2]

Originally Posted by crazy4kinsler

I've never been. And we're booked for this year. Got hotel booked, flights booked, Cubs-Orioles game tickets bought. Just have go buy tickets to the show at some point. Unfortunately, I have to take my wife. So I will either get Wednesday night or Thursday for the show as she's not into collecting (and I don't want her running around Rosemont/Chicago by herself, so I have no choice). Either way, I'm excited.

Rosemont isn't so bad. Fashion outlets is close by...just drop her off there with the credit card

[Hockey24xx]

Originally Posted by crazy4kinsler

I've heard horror stories of the no AC thing. Hopefully that's not the case this year. If my wife walks in with no AC, she will turn right around and leave. Thus I will have to turn right around and leave, and that will be the end of my 2025 National experience. So hopefully they have the AC running.

And I agree about the table thing. I face that in Dallas, and there's only like 700 tables. I can't remember what I saw at what table. But there's no numbers on their tables. Glad the tables will have numbers in Chicago.

They have had 2 years to correct the AC issues, hopefully they have. There were certain parts of the building (the corporate area) that were borderline swamp level. Seeing as a lot of money comes from the corporate sponsors I would image that was demand from the NSCC board to get fixed before this 3 year run.

[JPSportshack]

Originally Posted by jmarascojr

You had the new section with the breakers and then additional dealers on the other side of them, before you got to the autograph pavilion.

My Dad was so confused by the break pavilion (he doesn't understand why people pay other people to open their packs) he never even saw all the booths on the other side...

This reminded me of backtracking from the lobby to one of the halls to use the bathrooms as people were leaving for the day. I passed a dealer near that area and made a mental note to go back for some good deals I saw. I never got back and didn't realize where they were until I was looking at the layout a week later.

Another tip... Download the floor plan and print it at about 200%. I pieced it together and used it every night to mark off what I remember seeing. The format of the dealer list this year is not printer friendly. I wish they would list exhibitors by what they primary category.

[tmoore_25]

Originally Posted by JPSportshack

This reminded me of backtracking from the lobby to one of the halls to use the bathrooms as people were leaving for the day. I passed a dealer near that area and made a mental note to go back for some good deals I saw. I never got back and didn't realize where they were until I was looking at the layout a week later.

Another tip... Download the floor plan and print it at about 200%. I pieced it together and used it every night to mark off what I remember seeing. The format of the dealer list this year is not printer friendly. I wish they would list exhibitors by what they primary category.

if I'm not mistaken, don't they print the floor map along with dealer names in the magazine that is available for free when you enter the show? I unfortunately will not be going this year, but I'm pretty sure they did that for the past couple shows at least.

[hammerva]

I don't know if the dealer names are on the map itself or it is just a list of dealer names with the table number next to it on the program

[shawnkrebs]

Dealer names are not on the map from NSCC - only booth numbers. There is an alphabetical dealer list with booth numbers available.

I'd also keep a look out for an app or two offering to filter dealers based on selection....vintage, hoops, TCG, memorabilia, etc. Its been tried with limited success in the past.

Originally Posted by hammerva

I don't know if the dealer names are on the map itself or it is just a list of dealer names with the table number next to it on the program

[notfast]

LOL @ Baltimore.

It was barely enough space 15 years ago.

[packman80]

Originally Posted by jmarascojr

The layout in Chicago last year definitely felt thrown together at the last minute.

You had the new section with the breakers and then additional dealers on the other side of them, before you got to the autograph pavilion.

My Dad was so confused by the break pavilion (he doesn't understand why people pay other people to open their packs) he never even saw all the booths on the other side...

It sounds like with the additional floor, hopefully they've organized things a bit better this year...

Agree with your dad. Never saw the hype of breakers opening cards for you. Has that not always been the thrill of the hunt and opening your own cards?

Just like I find it strange people who watch other people play video games online.

[Dacubs2]

Originally Posted by packman80

Agree with your dad. Never saw the hype of breakers opening cards for you. Has that not always been the thrill of the hunt and opening your own cards?

Just like I find it strange people who watch other people play video games online.

Just for my 2 cents, I will still buy items and have them shipped to me to open, but I also buy into group breaks or have the occasional box broken live for me...

1) Group breaks - take a gamble that I can get a hit for a lower cost...box prices are insane

2) Broken live - Have an itch and wants to see what I got or there's a giveaway that I could possibly win with a random at the end.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by Dacubs2

Just for my 2 cents, I will still buy items and have them shipped to me to open, but I also buy into group breaks or have the occasional box broken live for me...

1) Group breaks - take a gamble that I can get a hit for a lower cost...box prices are insane

2) Broken live - Have an itch and wants to see what I got or there's a giveaway that I could possibly win with a random at the end.

This is why box prices are insane

[hammerva]

So looking at the map of the National this year, it seems like it is much better and "straighter" for lack of a better term than 2 years ago. You might be able to avoid the breaker part instead of having no choice and deciding whether you are supposed to go up, down, left, or right to get to a bunch of tables.

And it is a good thing to try to avoid the breakers because to the surprise of nobody Backyard Breaks will be there and be there big with 4 tables.

[vintg]

i'm from chicago, 20 minutes from the venue !!! awesome !!!

BUT......

went 5 straight days, felt like i was in a gigantic mousetrap.

i've been there before (nationals and sports spectaculars), but

this was a little insane. i couldn't hardly remember where and which way

certain dealers were that i had previously visited. beyond that, about the

3rd day i "discovered" a huge room i didn't even know existed. one particular

"passageway" about 5 persons wide, had literally hundreds trying to go in

"both" directions. it was a cluster#@#@#@#@. i love cards and cardshows, so i just

made the best of it.

[scotthenrichs]

Saw this on Facebook and it made me think of the National…

[JPSportshack]

Originally Posted by scotthenrichs

Saw this on Facebook and it made me think of the National…

I was there Wednesday to Friday two years ago. Is it really that bad on the weekend?

[shorne07]

Was there when the AC was out in Chicago on that Thursday. It got stinky and sticky at times

[hammerva]

Looking at the interactive map and I am curious how they are going to handle that over 10000 section of tables that was added. Are they at the very end of everything and you still have to hit the regular admission to get to it? Are they in a separate part of the convention center

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by hammerva

Looking at the interactive map and I am curious how they are going to handle that over 10000 section of tables that was added. Are they at the very end of everything and you still have to hit the regular admission to get to it? Are they in a separate part of the convention center

Right up the elevator 2nd level.