The Donner's would be accustomed to better food than that which is usually available on-site at the National

Thanks Don
 

Thanks Don.

Hope to make it there this year.

Patrick

This is a great thread already very helpful. Not sure on what to bring to the sell/trade bait. What will you dealers be looking for?

Do you as dealers buy more on Thursday/Friday in hopes to turn it during the weekend?

Got my admission pass, and my hotel reservation through the conference website last week. I'll be staying at Bally's. It's not too far from the convention center. There was nothing available at the Sheraton. I'll probably take a casino bus in from NYC.

I missed last year's National in Chicago. I hope to be in Atlantic City.

I am in. A wagon train sounds about right. However, I am still on the fence about going. It definitely won't be the same without Mike Berkus (RIP)......He was always so helpful to the board and myself, I am eternally grateful. I am also glad we got him to speak at the last 5? Net54baseball dinners.

But AC doesn't sound like good logistics overall so we shall see...

Baltimore was great. I've had both my best and worst National Show in Cleveland. The last one was great. Chicago is usually fairly steady, and doing the March and November shows there means I know more collectors in that venue. I would love to see the show in St. Louis or Kansas City one time, but if that isn't to be keep it in Cleveland or Chicago.

I vote...
 

Chicago!!!! But I am biased as it is just 5 hours away for me

I've never been to a National before . . .the sneak peek preview for the public. . . . (think it may be Wednesday or Thursday night), can you buy then or is it just to look and plan your strategy?

The kids wanted to do NYC for a family vacation this year. So, we are doing NYC Sunday-Wednesday. Then, driving down to AC Wednesday night and staying at the courtyard. Walk the show Thursday and Friday during the day. Play cards at the Borgata Wednesday and Thursday night. Drive back home and make the 2 hour journey to Canton to see Marvin & Tony inducted on Saturday and then watch Colts & Packers battle in the HOF game Sunday night. I think I somehow won with this trip

Yes, that's winning my friend. Well done!

Atlantic City has seen better days no doubt, but there is a lot of history there and some cool spots to have dinner. And play cards.

Preview
 

We did the preview last year and it was great. Not so crowded and yes you can purchase. Many good deals to be had right away. Have fun!

For anyone going, have you booked your room and, if so, where?

DJ

I've told folks before, stay away from any place with Motel in the title. I wouldn't feel safe in many of them. Some real dicey places. Nice places:

Top of the line, best in class:
Borgata
Water Club
Golden Nugget

Perfectly nice:
Chelsea (no casino, boutique, half block from boardwalk)
Tropicana
Golden Nugget
Harrahs
Shereton (generic, nice, near nothing other that train station and I think walkable to National. But you will need a cab to anywhere. And not a casino hotel, which could be a plus or minus depending on your interests.)

OK:
Trump places
Marriot Courtyard
Caesars

Here's a thought, and something I've already done. Got a time-share exchange in Brigantine for a week from Sun-Sun for probably the cost of 1-2 nights at a hotel. We'll have a few days on the beach before the show and my better half can do her thing during the show days. Neither of us really gamble (though one could say she did on me), so it's wins all around.

Cleveland
 

I never need to go back to Cleveland again and will be skipping any future nationals in that town.

What about Bally"s?

Sorry, Ballys is fine. Never stayed but seems to be a very nice property. Right on Boardwalk. Solid choice.

in Clevelenad
 

if the train from downtown still goes directly to the IX Center, I think the best way to be in Cleveland is to stay downtown and commute to the show. That is as a collector

As a dealer, if you drive, any of the hotels nearby are fine since you can drive to the center OR drive to where you need to go. It's about 20 minutes to downtown from the IX Center.

As for AC -- its not impossible but just hard to get there from here. Spirit Airlines is fine if you can carry your stuff in a back pack and otherwise fly into Philly and figure out how to get to AC from there

And if coming into Philly -- I'd rent a car and stay in Absecon and commute in.

Now Chicago and Baltimore as a collector is easy. Fly in and take cabs

According to some earlier posts, they say it's easy from Philly to get to AC. Try to get there Rich !!! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...atdrink004.gif

I did the train from Philly to AC once or twice. My recollection is that when you are at the train station in Philly 30th Street Station they call out trains to AC pretty often. My guess is at least once every hour. I recall a lot of people in their dealer and server outfits heading to work, sleeping, looked wiped out. It's also not expensive and is a lot easier than dealing with a rental car, directions, traffic, a safe parking lot, etc.

If you go to Knife and Fork I highly recommend the Lobster Thermidor. I also recommend Girasole and in particular their carpaccio. the Sheraton is a nice, clean hotel and obviously well located for the convention center. The Tun Tavern there is a good spot for pub food and has great craft beers. The White House subs is fun but don't even bother to get a whole one. A bit outside the downtown area in Margate is a place called Tomatoes which is excellent.

.

+1 on the KC show. So much to do and places to stay in KC now. A great town for sure

How about a west coast national. Somewhere like San Diego or Long Beach. Great conference centers at each place and plenty to do outside the conference centers. Maybe catch a game at Petco or Anaheim

The biggest problem with an West Coast Nat
 

Is that the preponderance of dealers would be coming from east of the Mississippi and don't want to travel that far.

Now, I get it that the National should move (including to DFW) but there are so many limitations as to where the show will be held.

Rich

I was looking into booking flight, rental car and hotel and I decided it's not worth the expense. One reason, I'm 6'8" and 330 pounds. Airline seats aren't made for me unless I upgrade my upgraded upgrade. So being in 1500 if I eat and sleep cheap and near 2k if I eat princely and sleep on a bed of roses has turned me off.

Then I had an idea. Post on net54 and see if anyone that is driving and departing from Dallas/Fort Worth area, or near, or passing through and wants assistance driving. I would throw in a little gas too, 100 bucks or so. I know 100 is far less than half, that is why I'm seeking someone already going but needing driving help. I am a good long distance driver with a large bladder. Relatively witty, though my wit can't match frankmd judging by his posts. Anyway, if this interests anyone shoot me a pm and I will tell you more about me and see if the schedule will work.

Thanks,
Mark

6' 8'' 330!!! Holy shite. That's WWE potential. I'm 6 feet tall and 230 and people call me a big guy! LOL. Hope it works out man. Would love to see you in AC.

Lol. Never pursued wwe. Played defensive end at Kansas state until they felt my company would be better suited else where. I did mma in the alleys long before mma existed. Lol.

God bless man. If I see some huge guy in AC towering over me I'm saying hello and buying you a drink.

This made me laugh........and then think who the hell was dumb enough to head into that alley with you.

I'm guessing some Aggieville action. Spent a great deal of time there in the late 70's early 80's. And there was also quite a bit of action downtown at Cowboy Palace.

Aggieville was a blast. Brothers was a favorite. Good times...

Atlantic City
 

.

Philly to AC
 

Getting from Philly to AC might be the easiest ride you will have. Its more difficult to get out of the Philly airport, then once on the road getting to AC. Literally, going over the Walt Whitman bridge from Philly......you stay straight for 50+ miles straight to AC....LOL.

An easy commute for me, so I'll be there for sure.

Bob

I lived above Kites in Aggieville while attending Kstate 1980-84

I frequented Dark Horse, Rockin K and Cowboy Palace downtown after hours during those years.

Kites, Mother's Worry, Dark Horse

Agree.

Fun memories resurrected from the aggieville comments. Getting old isn't much fun.

AC National
 

AC to NYC is a relatively easy drive also. Its a rough commute to do every day of the con, but you have the advantage of one of the best city in the world at your disposal. Easy to fly into as well.

As was mentioned by another poster, I'll probably take Casino buses back and forth between AC and Brooklyn. For those that don't know, these are buses run by the Casinos to bring in NYC patrons. Super cheap, sometimes free and some will even give you like a $20 voucher for whatever casino is running the bus.

My show partner's primary client is actually in DFW that weekend to play the Rangers and there is a good possibility we will be dong a private signing/small card show that weekend. If so, that would be a blast for me and I'm ready for 2017 in Chicago.

That is understandable.
I am still not decided completely but am leaning towards going. It's the one show I really like to make. And without setting up or having a Dinner to tend to, it might even be enjoyable again.

Anyone have an opinion on the Tropicana as far as being a good middle ground for proximity to family type activities vs the show.

Taking the wife and kids but last time we all went wasn't very appealing to the to be at the show so much. She was thinking they could go to a beach or places on the boardwalk to entertain while I was at the show, then they could go to the show in smaller doses.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks :)


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I think the Trop is probably the single best hotel in AC to take a wife and kids who aren't into the show. There is a large indoor mall area ("The Quarter") that has some nice stores and great places to eat. There is an IMAX theater there kids are welcome at. And they are on the boardwalk/beach. As a footnote, also has a totally awesome fitness center if you are into working out. I'd totally recommend for families.

It's kind of an ebb and flow with me as to going or not :). Today I am not really "feeling" it. AC might be a good year to pass.....And with Mike Berkus's passing it won't be the same even if I do go. He was certainly a great hobbyist (to me) and did more for the hobby than most.

Wow, there were ones and ones of people there!

I spoke with Uncle Dick at the Robert Morris show on Friday. He said that this will be the first one that he misses in 33 years. He said that 2003 was the only one that he ever lost money at. He said that it was very light on Thursdsy Friday and they kept waiting for the traffic to pick up over the weekend but it never did - hotel rates doubled over the weekend and traffic getting out was a nightmare so folks stayed away. I'll be there so hopefully folks will be ready to deal to generate some volume.

I am not saying this to be dismissive or rude, but A.C. never really seems like much of a family destination, IMO. I am a huge fan of low limit poker, so I have probably been to Atlantic City 50-60 times in my life. Most of the shops on the boardwalk are very cheesy/tourist trap type of places and the city itself is a ghetto a few blocks off the boardwalk.

The Borgata is far, far and away the nicest casino in town, but it is in the marina district and not located on the boardwalk. Most of the casinos on the boardwalk have a tired, worn-out vibe to them.

Again, I am not trying to hate on the show. I hope it is hugely successful. But Atlantic City never really seems like much of a destination unless a person is going there to gamble or for a specific reason like a show or a concert. I say that just as a word of caution that your wife and kids may not enjoy A.C. as much as you hope they will. Atlantic City is a very grimy, adult-oriented city with many pawn shops, bars and adult themed venues.

On the whole, A.C. is dying. Four of the 12 casinos in town have closed since 2013 -- and more closings are expected. Legalized casino gaming in other states, especially Pennsylvania and Maryland, has just gutted A.C. in recent years. Personally, I have gone from going to A.C. 5-6 times a year to 1-2 times a year now that poker is legal in PA. As someone that has been going to Atlantic City only since the early 2000s, I can visibly see what a downturn the city has experienced just over the past five years.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/12/01/news...asinos-moodys/

http://www.politico.com/magazine/sto...s-dying-112057