Get the NSCC out of the Donald J. Stephens Convention Center. Please.

[GreatAlbert]

Originally Posted by Mrhenrychan

The old Chicago/Cleveland rotation was the best...

In terms of convention center, the Donald is the best venue to hold this event. Rosemont is safe, many hotels around and close to the airport.

I understand Las Vegas has one of the best convention centers in the US but no national dealer will drive out there...

Right now the card market is hot. I’m shocked TriStar and GTSM are not doing more shows...I’m sure they can easily get tables and dealers since you know the collectors will come. I enjoy going to the OC dugout shows...

I definitely did like Cleveland. Sad it won’t be back there. Although the complaint there from everyone was the WiFi and in today’s day and age, nobody knows what cards are actually worth off the top of their heads so it causes chaos. Chicago is great and the most ideal spot for the show.

[jab72]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Tristar hasn't been doing any shows outside of Houston for several years.....but that's on TriStar, not anybody else.

You're telling me that you couldn't get some of the big "East Coast" names to do a "Winter National" show in Vegas on Super Bowl weekend, for example?

Or to do a show in nice sunny LA when it's freezing cold everywhere else?

People need to think outside of the box.....

I think I saw similar posts 2 years ago after the prior successful National… the hobby blew up even bigger the last 2 years and still nothing much to speak of on the west coast. The hobby is full of pretty darn good businesspeople…. For nobody to put a large scale show on on the west coast I think that speaks to the perceived ROI, because at the end of the day promoters are in the business to make money not just to put on a show and hope collectors come.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SupermanBrandon]

If there was actually that much demand for a West Coast "big boy" show...there would be a West Coast "big boy" show. But there's not. The demand is not actually there. Card shows are a business. The business model for a West Coast isn't there.

[armyatc22]

I personally would love for it to go to the West Coast or even Middle of the country Like St. Louis, Indy, or even in Texas somewhere because I live on the East Coast and love to travel and I add seeing the "sites" to my trips to the National.

However, the big distributors for wax like Blowout pretty much are dictating it staying on the East Coast due to the volume of Wax they bring to the National. Of course one of the biggest things collectors love during the National are the Panini packs and that wax is the only way you can get them.

The only way it would ever move away from the current rotation would be those distributors agreeing to it since they make up a huge part of the show.

[notoriousrmb]

Let's look at the obvious.

Chicago had record crowds. Venue offers a great price for the show hosts.

For what reason would they want to do something different?

"To get new people" doesn't matter when everything sold out. Just like how people say the card companies need to do X or Y...when it all sells out and record profits are made, there is no incentive to change.

Chicago was a huge success. The location was a huge success.

Let's revisit after AC in 2022.

[byronscott4ever]

Originally Posted by notoriousrmb

Let's look at the obvious.

Chicago had record crowds. Venue offers a great price for the show hosts.

For what reason would they want to do something different?

"To get new people" doesn't matter when everything sold out. Just like how people say the card companies need to do X or Y...when it all sells out and record profits are made, there is no incentive to change.

Chicago was a huge success. The location was a huge success.

Let's revisit after AC in 2022.

It’s too bad that attendance numbers aren’t known—I’m waiting for someone to say numbers are down in 2022 compared to this year without knowing if it’s an improvement over the last AC totals

[Grid]

The National does not belong in Atlantic City. BUT, the money/perks that the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) gave to the promoters to bring the show there 5 years ago, cant be touched by any other venue.

The CRDA skims money off the casinos, and uses that to do stuff like lore major conventions in town, to help stimulate their local economy with trickle down, like booking 5,000 rooms during the show or spending $10MIL into the local economy.

The AC convention center is actually really nice, it is just such a pain to get to and from there. It is central to nothing outside of Philly and New York. And the fact that hardly any commercial flights go into their airport ACY, its just a tough long haul for both dealers and shoppers.

Plus, you do nt want to be walking back from the convention center to your hotel, with thousands of dollars worth of cards on you. AC is NOT that user friendly for conventioneers

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

If there was actually that much demand for a West Coast "big boy" show...there would be a West Coast "big boy" show. But there's not. The demand is not actually there. Card shows are a business. The business model for a West Coast isn't there.

What do you think about the idea of a multi-city consecutive weekend "tour"....for example, SF Bay Area weekend 1, LA area weekend 2, Vegas weekend 3.

Do you think that might attract some east coast dealers, especially if it was during the winter?

Given that you can pack enough material for a good table in a couple of suitcases these days, the whole "travel costs to the West Coast" are too high argument doesn't seem to hold much water.

[Chicosbailbonds]

The best spot out west would be Vegas, perhaps the week after the Super Bowl. Unless there is another major convention, that is a slow weekend for them. Now the biggest problem for the dealers is weather when flying in from the midwest and east.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by mfw13

What do you think about the idea of a multi-city consecutive weekend "tour"....for example, SF Bay Area weekend 1, LA area weekend 2, Vegas weekend 3.

Do you think that might attract some east coast dealers, especially if it was during the winter?

Given that you can pack enough material for a good table in a couple of suitcases these days, the whole "travel costs to the West Coast" are too high argument doesn't seem to hold much water.

Nope.

The majority of National dealers can’t fit their booth in a passenger car/suv and need to rent vans. The 4 guys who split a booth and have a showcase a piece might be able to fit their stuff in a suitcase or two…but the mass majority don’t.

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Tristar hasn't been doing any shows outside of Houston for several years.....but that's on TriStar, not anybody else.

You're telling me that you couldn't get some of the big "East Coast" names to do a "Winter National" show in Vegas on Super Bowl weekend, for example?

Or to do a show in nice sunny LA when it's freezing cold everywhere else?

People need to think outside of the box.....

It has nothing to do with thinking outside the box and everything to do with profitability. For the large east coast dealers like BO and all of the rest of them, it takes an incredible amount of money to rent trucks and drive all of that inventory. With gas prices up this year, I'm sure the cost was even more expensive. Add in the booth expense, hotel expenses, food expenses and the profitability just isn't there; hence the reason they prefer Chicago or further east.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

No question. Hell, for me it's an easy 1 hour drive and I don't even have to come close to actual Chicago. That's a win.

I'd rather have it in Indianapolis or any other large Midwest city that could fit it. The National takes up ~350,000 sq feet (Halls A-D). Plenty of convention centers can fit that these days.

I’m sure the worst neighborhood in Chicago is better than whatever hick town you hail from.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by Chicosbailbonds

The best spot out west would be Vegas, perhaps the week after the Super Bowl. Unless there is another major convention, that is a slow weekend for them. Now the biggest problem for the dealers is weather when flying in from the midwest and east.

Those guys would need to drive their inventory. The cost and time would be too prohibitive even before you factor in the Midwestern weather they wound have to drive in.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by Foo3112

I would love for this to be in Chicago EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

As someone who lives in the area, I agree. And I bet the village of rosemont would agree too.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by epatmythes

I love the Donald Stephens CC. The convenience and accessibility is great. The main floor cafeteria is trash. I would venture a guess, that if you polled 100 people at the National and asked if they knew it existed, 90-95 would say NO.

When you go to the Sports Spectacular shows, usually hosted in the Hall space upstairs, the in-hall dining (while, still poor) has a more robust menu. There is more sitting space/options. There are plenty of drinking fountains.

It's almost as if the main floor Hall(s) they use for the National want you to have to use the dumpster cafeteria, or step out into the lobby to buy overpriced coffee/soda/snacks.

I've been going there for Nationals and Sun-Times/Sportsfest/Spectacular shows since 2004. I go to the Donald for the show. I go to eat at Gibson's, Maria's, or the District.

Is what it is... for a card show, the Donald is great!

Yeah, the con food is a joke among attendees of pretty much every show that goes to rosemont. It’s a place to have a bad hot dog.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

1. Show me a venue big enough to hold it that has amazing lighting, meets the demands of travel, hotels, location, the biggest dealers, etc.
2. Wed the air sucked. Agree. The doors were open all day for dealers loading in. Thurs-Saturday I was very comfortable. If you anyone got hot and sweaty on those days...they may need to look into a mirror (naked) and take an evaluation.
3. The National isnt a restaurant. Its a place to shop, sell, buy and trade cards. You want to eat food...go somewhere else.
4. Bring your own food. See #3.
5. Bring your own drinks. See #3.
6. Bring your own food and drinks. See #3.

Anything else you need to me to update the group on?

"Better" shows is an opinion. But nobody is putting on a bigger show...anytime soon.

In Chicago, the only spots big enough for a show like this are the rosemont convention center and McCormick place. But McCormick gets more bookings than rosemont, and I bet it’ll cost more as it’s in the city and load in and out is handled by the unions.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by auctionjmm

I suppose I should state the obvious. There is a restaurant IN the DJSC which may explain why the concession area doesn't have as many seats. There are tons of seats in the restaurant and every time I walked through, even at peak hours, there were tables available. Plenty of food, drink, places to sit, and the restaurant is mostly glass so PLENTY of sunlight to brighten your mood if you need that.

There’s a restaurant? (I haven’t been in there for a few years so this is news to me)

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by fulltritty

When was the last time you have been to Indy? It has been trash for a long time with homeless and drug addicts everywhere on the streets, especially at night, and it smells like pee everywhere. I'm there again right now for FDIC International, which is usually in April. And like every city right now, there has been an incredible uptick in crime. There's no way I would risk walking down the streets of this city with thousands in cash, cards, or memorabilia.

But the “move to Indy” guy on Facebook says that Chicago and Illinois suck?!

[imbluestreak23]

Big show in Vegas October 22nd. Supposed to be 300-400 tables so that will be a good gauge of how the west coast can do things.

In terms of promos and getting signers, I'm sure lots of athletes wouldn't mind spending the weekend in Vegas, getting lit, gambling away their earnings and signing autographs

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by notoriousrmb

Agreed.

Love the venue, love the location, wish it went here EVERY year!

If you are worried about food prices, you must never go to concerts, sporting events...or anywhere out in public in general. I've been going to Chicago shows since 2013 (not just the NSCC but other conventions at the Donald) and never once bought food from the show floor.

Dude, that dry piece of Connie’s pizza is TO DIE FOR!

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by imbluestreak23

Big show in Vegas October 22nd. Supposed to be 300-400 tables so that will be a good gauge of how the west coast can do things.

In terms of promos and getting signers, I'm sure lots of athletes wouldn't mind spending the weekend in Vegas, getting lit, gambling away their earnings and signing autographs

When in October? Because you won’t get many current guys as all four sports are either in season, post season, or preseason

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by PoPCulture

Keep it in Chicago but by all means move it to McCormick Place. I went to a Convention there a couple years ago. There was so much more to do in that area since it’s closer to the City. It’s newer, larger, cleaner and has a few large hotels connected. Very easy to get to without a car as well.

McCormick place does have a Cta stop nearby, but it’s more of a car friendly venue.

And it can be expensive to book for the organizers.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by Cards and 401K

Yes, schedule the Nationals at the new Texas Ranger enclosed stadium in 2025...

The cowboy stadium is much bigger.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by fulltritty

I've been to work conventions in downtown Chicago. Rosemont is much preferred. It was a nightmare driving down there. I can only imagine what it would be like for the companies with rental trucks. And I took the L to a White Sox game and got off a stop or two prior to where I needed to on the way back and it was a very sketchy part of town. Walked over two blocks and was back in a better neighborhood.

The red Line stations north of Sox park are all in gentrified areas Or in actual downtown. Parts of the loop do get weird at night, but not from people that actually live there.

[DajuanWagner]

Personally, I like Rosemont and wish it were there every year........