Poll: BUYERS preferred National Location
 

Lots of discussion about preferred National locations. Let's get some quick stats from a BUYERS (attendee) perspective. Even if you did not attend this year, where would your preferred venue be located? Second poll being created for sellers. Curious to see if the results align.

Jeff

Atlantic city is my preference. Simply because I live in the northeast and it is convenient and drive-able. Not a big fan of leaving the ground..

Purely because of where I live, Atlantic City. I live outside of Philly and it is only an hour and a half drive. When its somewhere else, I do not attend. Possibly in the future though when I retire I will travel more often.
Bob

Purely because of where I live, Atlantic City. I live outside of Philly and it is only an hour and a half drive. When its somewhere else, I do not attend. Possibly in the future though when I retire I will travel more often.
Bob

Anything in the South would be nice. Not that I'm holding my breath.

I wish they promoters would consider Indianapolis as a site. While there wouldn't be a whole lot to do there in the summer (though they do have an nice zoo and an excellent Children's Museum), most folks that come to the National are coming for the National anyway. Indy is a very accessible major city, by road and by air, with a nice convention center and many restaurants downtown (that now stay open well after 8 PM!!!). The convention center has air conditioning, and they have hosted Gen-Con there every year as well as the NFL Experience when the city hosted the Super Bowl.

The poll is just more of a poll of where people live and they will obviously going to choose WHERE one lives near. For example, Robert only wants Atlantic City because he lives near there. Right, Robert ? Attachment 582632

That is correct.
Now maybe when I retire, I will have more freedom to travel and might venture out to other locations.

Atlantic City. I like the convenience, my hotel room is always free or at a heavy discount, and you can't beat the selection restaurants (Both chain and small businesses). Its proximity to the rest of the Jersey Shore, as well as the chance that there might be a concert of someone interesting performing or a comedy show also gives it bonus points.

How is NYC as a location? Javits Center ?

Atlanta has everything the buyers and sellers need. It's a days drive from 80 percent of the US population

My vote is for the location where the Philly Show currently takes place. There is lots of space, contained within (four, I believe) separate halls. So, the cards, autographs, corporate booths, and breakers can have their own separate spaces.

Think about it.

Personally, I would love to just look at and buy/sell cards. No making my way around (or through) the massive lines for autographs, on-site grading, or corporate promotional thingies. And no breakers with their amped-up P.A. systems or friggin' cowbells.

Yeah, but it also takes a whole day to drive from one end of Atlanta to the other.

DETROIT! It's the Paris of the Midwest.

I was actually thinking about Detroit. Too bad Gibraltar in Mt. Clemens is a thing of the past; that building was huge and offered tons of parking. Unfortunately, not exactly ample lodging nearby from what I recall. Then again, it was too old, anyway. Just would have been enough square footage is all I was thinking.

I live in Philly and I am not sure how anyone can love the AC location. I used to hate driving to AC to play poker before it was legal in PA and its not that long of a drive. Having to fly to Philadelphia and then rent a car and drive 80 minutes both ways, meh.

Anyway, for a convention that is a "national" convention, the location should be in a place that is highly accessible via rail and air for at least 75% of the country. Having it in the suburbs or far away from a central travel hub seems not great. I'm an urbanist, so maybe I am biased.

Rosemont, given that it is right on top of O'Hare, makes sense, but it seems like the facility itself isn't great.

Vegas would be a pretty good location, though in a few years, you won't be able to be outside in July in Las Vegas without an extremely elevated risk of heat stroke.

Boston's airport is easy to access and services non-stop flights from all over the country, and it is very close to the center of the city, but I'm not sure they have an ideal space to host it. The Garden maybe? Also, Boston is too far from the west coast, which hits at my rule above about 75%

AC is a pit--I voted for Vegas

South
 

I’m biased as well, but I’m sure Dallas could put on a great show, and DFW has a lot of direct flights around the country…

I also like the idea of Atlanta. Weren’t there rumblings about a 2026 ATL show?

Why is the northeast and Midwest always pushed so hard? Tradition?

Las Vegas is the obvious answer. It checks all the boxes. Cheap direct flights from virtually every airport; great hotels; modern convention space; nice restaurants; & entertainment everywhere.

Agree the building was huge. Even the one in Taylor.
Cobo would be good.

+100

To be fair, I've never visited Atlantic City, but I'm surprised to see it declared the country's (world's?) top restaurant destination.

What happens in Vegas doesn't really have to stay in Vegas.

Let's get something west of the Mississippi into the rotation. Once every 4-5 years isn't asking a lot. :mad:

AC works for me only cause it is close by. Adding flights makes it more travel time, more expensive, and lets be honest, flights haven't been the most reliable lately. Vegas sounds fun on the surface, but the volume of dealers that would need to fly/extensively drive I think make it prohibitive. Below is what I posted last year on the topic with additional data from this year.

While moving the National around I think would be great, I can certainly understand why they stay in the Northeast corner and continue to rotate between the 4 current cities. Below is a break down of the dealers from this years national by name and booths. NY, NJ, PA combined are top 3 and make up 30%. Why not have it where dealers are? Also below is the US Census map from 2020. Again, population density looks to be in the northeast. Why not have it where most people are? To me it is only common sense to keep it in that area from a business standpoint.

2022 AC Dealer List by state
State Dealers Percent Booths Percent
NY 38 11.08% 64 10.63%
NJ 31 9.04% 61 10.13%
PA 30 8.75% 52 8.64%
FL 27 7.87% 56 9.30%
IL 27 7.87% 40 6.64%
TX 19 5.54% 37 6.15%
OH 15 4.37% 25 4.15%
VA 14 4.08% 24 3.99%
MI 14 4.08% 21 3.49%
CA 11 3.21% 22 3.65%
GA 10 2.92% 22 3.65%
MN 9 2.62% 11 1.83%
NC 8 2.33% 12 1.99%
TN 7 2.04% 10 1.66%
IN 7 2.04% 11 1.83%
MD 7 2.04% 13 2.16%
MO 6 1.75% 10 1.66%
WI 5 1.46% 8 1.33%
CT 5 1.46% 12 1.99%
AZ 4 1.17% 6 1.00%
WA 4 1.17% 9 1.50%
KY 4 1.17% 5 0.83%
IA 4 1.17% 7 1.16%
CO 4 1.17% 6 1.00%
AR 3 0.87% 4 0.66%
Canada 3 0.87% 4 0.66%
MA 3 0.87% 4 0.66%
ND 3 0.87% 7 1.16%
KS 2 0.58% 3 0.50%
ME 2 0.58% 2 0.33%
VT 2 0.58% 4 0.66%
SC 2 0.58% 3 0.50%
RI 2 0.58% 3 0.50%
NV 2 0.58% 6 1.00%
DE 2 0.58% 3 0.50%
OK 1 0.29% 1 0.17%
NH 1 0.29% 2 0.33%
NE 1 0.29% 4 0.66%
OR 1 0.29% 4 0.66%
WV 1 0.29% 1 0.17%
ID 1 0.29% 1 0.17%
HI 1 0.29% 2 0.33%
Grand Total 343 100.00% 602 100.00%

2023 Chicago Dealer List by State
State Dealers Percent Booths Percent
FL 29 8.26% 63 9.55%
NY 30 8.55% 57 8.64%
IL 32 9.12% 54 8.18%
NJ 25 7.12% 52 7.88%
PA 29 8.26% 51 7.73%
TX 16 4.56% 31 4.70%
OH 17 4.84% 29 4.39%
MI 16 4.56% 27 4.09%
CA 13 3.70% 26 3.94%
VA 14 3.99% 25 3.79%
GA 10 2.85% 21 3.18%
MD 8 2.28% 16 2.42%
WI 10 2.85% 16 2.42%
MN 8 2.28% 16 2.42%
MO 8 2.28% 15 2.27%
IN 9 2.56% 15 2.27%
NC 8 2.28% 14 2.12%
CT 5 1.42% 13 1.97%
TN 7 1.99% 12 1.82%
IA 6 1.71% 10 1.52%
WA 4 1.14% 10 1.52%
AZ 4 1.14% 8 1.21%
ND 3 0.85% 8 1.21%
NV 4 1.14% 8 1.21%
AR 4 1.14% 7 1.06%
NE 3 0.85% 7 1.06%
MA 4 1.14% 5 0.76%
CO 3 0.85% 5 0.76%
VT 2 0.57% 4 0.61%
KS 2 0.57% 4 0.61%
OR 1 0.28% 4 0.61%
RI 2 0.57% 4 0.61%
KY 2 0.57% 3 0.45%
WV 2 0.57% 3 0.45%
SC 2 0.57% 3 0.45%
ID 2 0.57% 3 0.45%
ME 2 0.57% 2 0.30%
DE 1 0.28% 2 0.30%
NH 1 0.28% 2 0.30%
HI 1 0.28% 2 0.30%
AL 1 0.28% 2 0.30%
OK 1 0.28% 1 0.15%
Grand Total 351 100.00% 660 100.00%

https://www.census.gov/library/visua...20popdist.jpeg

There are honestly some very good restaurants out there. They have a nice balance of places that got their starts in Manhattan and then expanded, and some local favorites that often go under the radar by tourists but are well known to most locals/regular shore visitors.

Prefer AC

Like to do these trips with my wife

Tons available hotel rooms within walking distance of convention center


Great Restaurants

Boardwalk

Great evening action between shows, Gambling etc

Would be nice if at least 20% of the "Nationals" were on the west coast. Especially since the first one was.

Sorry if I missed it if already posted somewhere within the dozens of National threads and all....but have they posted the results of the vote for the 2026 show?

I asked John Broggi (soon-to-be-former show organizer) this - how is it a "National" when the event can now only be held in 3 locations?

Mike Berkus once said Anaheim "didn't want us" after 2006 because it's a consumer show and they want, er, whatever the alternative is. Well, if you went to Rosemont in 2023, you know it's just barely a consumer show now.

Stop letting the dealers alone dictate where the show is held. There are fewer and fewer or them and they take bribes (looking at you, AC, with your payola).

Fanatics is going to save us all from these amateurs when they buy the thing and fix it. Maybe.

As far as I know, through the information that has been released, Fanatics seems to be setting up a show to "compete" with the National and not replace it. I certainly think there's enough room for two shows to operate. My hope is the fanatics show draws the interest of modern and breakers, and the National gets a little more back to its roots. I would not be devastated to see the nonsense of Whatnot leave the national. Breakers/breaking culture, is a plague on the Hobby IMO.

DC/Baltimore or Atlanta.

There's always a ballgame in the DC/Baltimore area as the O's and Nats switch off on who is home on any given day. Some large convention centers in those cities.

Vegas, baby!!!

I voted for Vegas because it checks all the boxes.

I understand a bit more after seeing some of the pics from the National this year why they keep it on the East Coast, seeing the sheer amount of stuff the dealers have to move is astounding. Do dealers drive everywhere with their product?
It would seem cost prohibitive to fly that stuff in.

This new National committee will need to figure out what they actually want the show to be going forward (ie more fan experience, more corporate, more dealers, trade nights, etc,...).

California or Vegas for me
I just dont go to east coast shows,
At least we have the burbank show now

+1,000. I live 20 minutes from Anaheim and wouldn’t mind that at all but as stated above, Vegas is the answer. It has everything.There is a reason tons of conventions are held there every year.

AtLanta would be nice

As of 8/2 @ 7:45pm pacific, Las Vegas is the favorite for BUYERS and a tied favorite for SELLERS.

Jeff

Vegas. As someone mentioned earlier, it checks all the boxes.

I have only been to Cleveland, Chicago and AC (all more than once). And though Cleveland is closest, my preference among the three is AC. I don't mind casinos, the hotel options are plentiful and the CC is very good. Never been to Vegas before, so I would not mind it as an alternative.

Boston has a huge convention center. It was paid for with state taxes. They will
only allow trade shows. But not a hobby type of convention. Because it was paid for with state taxes. The other problem is the unions that are used to set shows up have a lot of pull as to what happens with any show or convention there. Parking is a huge problem in downtown Boston.

I wonder if the taxpayers that funded that center would feel differently about what shows were allowed there. Pretty disgusting that working class folks paid for it but some knucklehead bureaucrat , who is also paid by the hard working middle class gets to decide who gets in.

Seattle!!!

a new suggestion
 

Why isnt Orlando ever considered? Fantastic convention center, tons of hotels, lots of stuff to do for the entire family while Dad goes 24-7 on the convention! Restaurants, International airport, you name it.....

Atlanta made a pitch for 2026, then AC said "we'll give the dealers $1,000 per table, plus you can have shuttles for attendees from parking lots". Guess where the show will wind up?

The wrong people are deciding where this show should be held. They're the same ones who'll take a free venue anywhere over one that they have to pay for. Vegas, Anaheim and other desirable places aren't giving it away for free.

Fanatics will destroy this show if they want to. They certainly don't seem to like competition.

One of the biggest knuckleheads in state government resigned a few years ago. The state hasn't changed much. :rolleyes:

I voted other as my favorite National was Baltimore. However, I think it would be only fair to have it on the west coast occasionally, probably Los Vegas or Aneheim

National
 

Forget NYC unless you are packing a firearm. New York City street crime is out of control. My wife and I live in Connecticut and would go down to the City 4/5 times a year on the weekends. No more. Mayors DeBlasio & Adams have turned it into a drug infested shooting gallery, and are more concerned with limiting plastic utensils than fighting crime!

I voted for Vegas because I think it checks all the boxes, but personally I would like that National to constantly be moving instead of jumping back and forth from one or two spots. Since it is like the Super Bowl of the hobby, I think it should be treated as one and hit all parts of the country over the years, such as the actual Super Bowl.

I agree, but the promoters have historically wanted the venue to be given to them for free. That drastically reduces options to the paltry few that some of us are truly tired of. Of course, Chicago's venue already hosts several other shows each year. Tiresome.

I prefer SW FLORIDA Because I live there & we know how to air condition our Buildings unlike any of the northern cities.:D. Lol

I voted for Vegas, but I'd be more likely to attend if it moved around to different parts of the country. Opportunity to see various cities and make a vacation out of it.

Plus, 10 minutes from RSW airport to Hertz arena where you could hold a card show.

Dallas or Houston.

Steve

I will drive/fly anywhere but would complain the most about Dallas, Vegas, etc.

Just keep it in Chicago if you can.

Love this idea! I imagine hotels and food would be cheaper as well.

I wish they would bump it around the country. I like Chicago as a city, but not a fan of the venue. I'd like to see Dallas, Seattle, Denver, Indy, Charlotte, Boston, etc...

East Coast somewhere.

Kansas City - Central Location, Has the venue, Hands down the best BBQ in the world.

I agree it should rotate around more for both the show and the experience.

In addition it would attract people that cannot always go to far distance shows.

Time to turn Fox News off and put the NY Post down.

You must be kidding me. A "shooting gallery."

NYC actually at near record LOW crime rates. In the 1980s there were more murders in the Port Authority building in a month than there is in all of NYC in a month currently.

But it is clear that, where murder is concerned, New York City remained one of the safest big cities in the country per capita in 2022, as an analysis from the conservative Illinois organization Wirepoints found. The city’s murder rate in 2022 – roughly 5 murders per 100,000 people – was the third-lowest among the country’s 10 most populous cities, beating Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio and Dallas – and better than dozens of cities outside the top 10 on the population list.

The list of US cities with higher murder rates than New York City in 2022 includes New Orleans, St. Louis, Baltimore, Detroit, Denver, Miami, Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Washington DC, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Memphis, Nashville, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Oakland, Sacramento, Albuquerque, Portland, Newark, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.


https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/17/polit...agg/index.html

I would love to go to New York, for nearly any reason at any time.

For purposes of this thread, though, I would like to see Las Vegas, or, if "other" is to be considered seriously, I would vote for Kansas City. Centrally located, great BBQ, great music and the Negro League Museum. A very underrated city IMO.

No, you are wrong. There has been a roughly 1/3 increase in the seven major felony offenses in NYC over the last 5 years, after a steady downward trajectory for many years: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/down...-2000-2022.pdf

If you only get your news from CNN or The NY Times you'll have a different view, so better to get objective data.

I think the numbers are correct in both cases, but I would feel (and would be) much safer in NYC where 433 out of 8,992,908 people were murdered last year than in, say, Dallas, where 248 out of 1,336,347 people were murdered last year.

James
 

James, Ty for an intelligent response backed with some real data.

I vote for Las Vegas. I think they could handle the complexities of hosting a large show.

National
 

As usual, you are beyond clueless! If you are so confident in the safety net of NYC, try taking a subway ride during late night off-peak hours. This has nothing to do with Fox News, but the FACT that crime is out of control in all big cities including New York because of no-bail policies. Wake up to reality!

But, but, big city with "woke" policies = SCARY!

Exactly. By all means stay away if you are frightened. No judgment here.

Like most any large cities, there are good parts and bad parts, good times and bad times when analyzing crime. I really wouldn't plan on being on a subway in the dead of night, and of course most other cities do not even have subways so as to compare.

Chicago has for decades been called the city where all the horrific shootings and gang activities take place. Yet every three years or so the National takes place on the other side of town during the day, and I really haven't heard anyone here complaining that they won't attend because of crime in the city.

Deer Valley

Thing is, it is not just about Chicago. It's also problems with getting through the airport/TSA, and airplane travel/dealing with other crazies on the plane. Put the three together (TSA, other plane passengers, destination city), and I'll skip it.

Give me a place where I feel safe, and that I can drive to, and I'm all in!

Steve

This is true. I'd like the National in San Diego. But San Diego would also be a great place for the National.

I love Vegas but know the convention center is way off the strip and not the easiest place to get to. Baltimore checked all my boxes and AC is fine. Chicago is a no. I didn’t like facility or the area and will not return.

I live on Long Island, work in the Bronx, oldest daughter just graduated FIT. I hear what you are saying, but the Javits Center host Comic Con every year (never been). I don’t think crime is the issue as much as the “expense” of hotels.

I might fly to Cleveland next year just to check this out.

Atlantic City, just for the convenience. Baltimore was my favorite, again convenience plus everything including stadium was walking distance.

I'd be out of my mind if it ever ended up in Denver or KC. Zero damn chance. It NEEDS to MOVE. Staying in select locations is strangling the life out of the hobby. Period.

I feel that most people will cast their vote on tradition, familiarity and not really look at other options in depth or with any objectivity.

of course, i vote Atlanta...but i wouldn't mind Alabama or Tennnesee or Florida.
as for Atlanta traffic, i work back n forth to atl everyday. Traffic is easy 3-6am in mornings, after that its congested.
As for afternoon, do it before 2pm...after that, ALL southbound or whatever is logged-jammed proabably till 6pm.
Luckily, i head North in the afternoons. And dont drive in the RAIN!!! Its not you, but the other drivers to watch out for!
Just dont do it!!!

It's interesting that Las Vegas received the second most votes. I'll bet that many of those who picked Anaheim would be thrilled if the National was in Vegas. At the very least, there should be a West Coast National every few years or so. The last one I went to was Anaheim about 20 years ago.

Last Anaheim show was 2006. That was a great one for me, not the least of which is for what I did not do (sell a few cards that have skyrocketed in value) as for what I got there. I haven't been back since but I decided to set up at the Labor Day weekend show down there this year. Should be interesting. I had to take a hotel room because it is just a bit too far (time-wise) to commute every day.

The problem there is that the area is ridiculously out of practically everyone else's way, yourself notwithstanding. ;) Why not host it in Anchorage? Perhaps not so bad for Midwesterners, but the vast majority live far, far away.

Incidentally, Vegas is, too, but there's far more traffic and various better deals to be had as a result. That said, I think Vegas to be more popular with customers than dealers. I'm on the fence.

In my memory, which is a long time, it has always been that way. The 1970s? Watch "The French Connection." The 1980s? Holy s**t! I guess Giuliani improved things by ignoring the Constitution, but I think the courts ruled you can't do that. Of course, now all the center cities are rotting from Covid flight. I wonder if things are getting any better in New York now that a long-time cop is mayor? The truth is, there have always been two of every big city in this country. I grew up and spent most of my life in Washington, D.C., and never had any trouble because I knew where to go and where not to. If you don't know your way around any city of any size, you have no business going there. It's a shame, but that's the way it's always been in my lifetime.