2025 National

[Dacubs2]

Originally Posted by hammerva

The other thing I saw and I assume it isnt fake but whilevl there are more ATM then I remember, the service charge was like $25.. Man the ATM at the liquor store near my hotel is not even half that

The general admission set up this year was strange. You had to go upstairs to get wrist bands. But the entrance was the regular entrance. So I think you are stuck in the top floor until it opens. Getting your wrist early isnt a great option I think

So if you have a general admission ticket, you have to get a wristband??? It's not like previous years where they just scan your ticket?

[Dacubs2]

Originally Posted by K111

I imagine the dealers will get exhausted if they have to stand on their feet for 6-7 straight days and probably won't care for that

If they are making money, they won't care

[hammerva]

I need a report on the trade night because I was planning on going but when I saw the line outside the convention center just to apparently get a another wristband I kind of hit "I am too old for this #@#@#@#@" mode. Try again tomorrow but at a later time to see if it is better

[bub838]

Originally Posted by hammerva

I need a report on the trade night because I was planning on going but when I saw the line outside the convention center just to apparently get a another wristband I kind of hit "I am too old for this #@#@#@#@" mode. Try again tomorrow but at a later time to see if it is better

It’s packed. Come up before 6pm and grab a wristband. That’s what we did.

[hammerva]

So you can get a wristband at the trade night room while the regular show is going on but can't get one while the show is actually happening? Or are you VIP

[jmarascojr]

I walked the entire show about 1.5-2x and decided to finally go upstairs to see what all the hub bub was about...

I will tell you this, an absolute disaster is an understatement and whoever planned that layout should be fired. What a waste a poor use of space...

I tried getting down two "aisles" and both times I got about 10 steps and turned around and left...

If I leave The National with the flu or COVID or some sort of unknown airborne STD, it'll be because of the 2nd floor...

EDIT - Also 98% sure I saw Fred Savage walk in with the common folk this afternoon, which was pretty cool for an 80s kid such as myself... Also heard Money Manziel was walking the floor for a bit, but did not see it first hand...

[Imnottheonly]

Originally Posted by hammerva

So you can get a wristband at the trade night room while the regular show is going on but can't get one while the show is actually happening? Or are you VIP

Correct you can get a guaranteed entry wristband, they start distributing them at 1pm upstairs by the VIP area. Lines started forming for the bands around 11 today and was still reasonable length around noon.

[messier2]

Originally Posted by Imnottheonly

Correct you can get a guaranteed entry wristband, they start distributing them at 1pm upstairs by the VIP area. Lines started forming for the bands around 11 today and was still reasonable length around noon.

Geez, 11 am! That's insane!

[hammerva]

The good thing about going for 3 days (well 2 and half days) is that by the last day of your run you have no desire or need to get in as early as possible.

[yoyosh]

Is there valet parking this year? Typically the Stephens Con Center has it

[mrb842]

Originally Posted by crpalmi

Looking for help as a first time attendee. I’m flying in Friday morning with the goal to hit the PSA booth right away as I expect lines. If I buy a 1 day general admission ticket online, upon arrival do I have to go to the 2nd floor for a wristband and then back down as I assume PSA is on the 1st floor? Thanks for any help!

you line up outside the stephens center, at 10 they let you into the center, you take the escalator up to buy a wristband then you take it down to the main lobby and can enter the show, psa is staring you in the face as you enter off the esclator to your right. Just a heads up they were wildly understaffed there and even at 7 when I left people were still waiting for pickups so expect major delays.

[hammerva]

If you are non VIP, a little trick is if you get your wristband waiting in line then go to one of the connecting hotels like Hyatt. Then you can get inside the convention center before others. Then when 10 comes you can be first to go through side entrance. I think the one near the Starbucks is the closest to PSA but could be wrong. Hell maybe even early depending how much of a crap the security gives

[panda13]

Originally Posted by hammerva

If you are non VIP, a little trick is if you get your wristband waiting in line then go to one of the connecting hotels like Hyatt. Then you can get inside the convention center before others. Then when 10 comes you can be first to go through side entrance. I think the one near the Starbucks is the closest to PSA but could be wrong. Hell maybe even early depending how much of a crap the security gives

If you already have a GA ticket, they'll give you your wristband if you're in line?

[hammerva]

They did today. Around 8:45. Now maybe they only did it for people inside the center area. I can't remember how far they went

That is one huge negative about the National. The rules for handling GA changes every day. It wouldn't shock me if rules changed on Friday

[JPSportshack]

Originally Posted by HoggieHunches

Hall G is such a headache with the narrow rows. What were they thinking? Nearly impossible to get down each row. I'd make it down one or two booths and just abort and turn around. Doesn't help that people are just standing around chatting in aisles or they have their big Zion cases blocking a third of the aisle.

I wanted to visit with the Aussies. We took one look and said no way. If they weren't going to do it right they shouldn't have done it at all.

I suspect the reason for the narrow aisle up there is the same for why it's a Wed-Sun schedule. Anything larger means more rent. Today wasn't horrible downstairs but I am not looking forward to Saturday.

[yoyosh]

So,if you buy a ticket online for Fri, sat, or sun are you saving any time over buying it in person?

[jmarascojr]

Had reservations at 6pm last night at Gibson's and the line for the trade night was pretty wild, you woulda thought they were giving away free stuff or something...

They did let everyone in to the show about 15 minutes earlier than supposed to yesterday, not sure if that'll be par for the course the rest of the weekend.

[bub838]

Originally Posted by hammerva

If you are non VIP, a little trick is if you get your wristband waiting in line then go to one of the connecting hotels like Hyatt. Then you can get inside the convention center before others. Then when 10 comes you can be first to go through side entrance. I think the one near the Starbucks is the closest to PSA but could be wrong. Hell maybe even early depending how much of a crap the security gives

Yup. We parked in the garage today, went through the pedestrian bridge, through the VIP lounge into the main lobby. They were allowing GA in early, we got into a short line and were inside in under ten minutes, got in at 9:30. We bypassed the huge line outside.

[K111]

Did they move the tables at all in the upper level so there is more room or is it still the same thing

[hammerva]

It is kind of chaos at line of trade night. Here at 11:30 and most dont know what is going on. We are upstairs near the trade night just waiting until 1. I am mixed with VIP and no idea if VIP and GA have separate rules

And like I wondered the rules for general admission changed for the 3rd day in a row

[HoggieHunches]

Paid $150 for early entry thinking I'd get a full hour without the GA crowds. GA let in at 9:45 on Thursday and on 9:30 today. Kind of annoying.

Also, what is Brian Gray cooking up? Repacks? He has had his buying booth paying "85%-95%" all weekend. Super long lines and waits even during early admission / VIP period. Two huge vaults behind him full of cards and just stacks of cash. Other "corporate" buying booths. Dave and Adams, Cards HQ, etc have long lines too. Find it easier to just shop your cards around to smaller vendors and someone will pay your asking.

[sonnyday]

Photo of the 2nd floor at the national

[asujbl]

Twitter is saying the NSCC absolutely stinks. I know it’s now viral so probably aggressive… but people still don’t wear deodorant?

Gross

[scotthenrichs]

Originally Posted by asujbl

Twitter is saying the NSCC absolutely stinks. I know it’s now viral so probably aggressive… but people still don’t wear deodorant?

Gross

Last year in Cleveland it was the opposite one day, dude looking at dollar boxes next to me smelled like he just got done bathing in Old Spice, lol.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by scotthenrichs

Last year in Cleveland it was the opposite one day, dude looking at dollar boxes next to me smelled like he just got done bathing in Old Spice, lol.

Cleveland was definitely up and down. It was pretty good

It wasn’t devoid of stank though

X is just lighting Chicago up. Need to throw some deodorant in with the GA tickets