2028 National Headed to Detroit or Atlanta?
 

Looks like one of these two locations will host the 2028 National. Vote will be taken by booth holders at this year’s National.

Only two cities listed for consideration in dealer packet.

My wife has always wanted to visit Atlanta, so she'd come with me.

Hard no on Atlanta.

Wait, you are saying it will only be in one of those two cities?

If so, I am shocked.

Adam--what horrible news! Go Tigers!

LOL....

Either one is fine with me.

atlanta better have high quality AC

Something new and different . . . long overdue.

Alright Atl - it be my 1st big show
And be awesome to meet some n54 guys

Fingers crossed for the Dirty! I would DEFINITELY skip if in Atlanta

Atlanta would be awesome.

Guess you havent been to Detroit lately…..

My wife has always wanted to visit Atlanta, so she'd come with me.

Hard no on Atlanta.
__________________

Post of the year right there, sir!

Detroit is a dump ...
Oh, and you'll probably get shot there as well. :)

If Atlanta - Where would it be held at??
World congress center? Like they did last in 1999

If it is Atlanta, strong possibility it would be my first National ever.

Atlanta would be great. I'd expect a big turnout with a lot of first time attendees.

Detroit or Atlanta. Oh hell yeah !!! Attachment 661694Attachment 661694Attachment 661694

I'm just happy to see a new location.

In late July I'd choose Detroit over Atlanta every day. I've spent many summers in the South and I'm over baking like a potato.:)

Where in Detroit ? If it is the Huntington Convention Center I think it would be a great site.

Glad to also see a new location.

I think they should rotate around the country ideally.

So to me Atlanta over Detroit

Those are the only two listed sites to be voted on in the dealer package so I assume it is one or the other. Both will make presentations to the dealers at the show this year.

Detroit Huntington Place Convention Center
Atlanta Georgia World Congress Convention Center

Dates August 2-6 2028

Atlanta got votes the last time they voted.

I’d assume this would easily beat Detroit.

Detroit
 

I've never been to the National. Hopefully one year it will be in Detroit.

Would love ATL!

I’ll be there if it ends up there!

Atlanta has had a few chances in the past with limited success.

However, the market is much different than it was when the National was last in Atlanta.

The problem for dealers is you cannot drive into the venue to unload on Tuesday as you can at all of the previously used venues. Unloading outside in Atlanta in early August is not an inviting encounter. Maybe they will make an exception for the National in 2028 if it is held there but who knows.

I live 2.5 hours from there and 10.5 from Detroit so my choice is easy. However, if it was Atlanta versus Chicago I would opt to drive the 10 extra hours to Chicago. It is the best venue for the National for dealers hands down.

It's NOT a great venue for buyers. It is too small for the amount of attendees.

As I post in various threads like this
 

AI gave me a good title for this missive.

But as noted, this is for the dealers to vote on and as such, we can have our opinion but it is up to the voters.

Detroit has not hosted an NSCC since 1981 and that was during the baseball strike and Atlanta has not hosted an NSCC since 1999.

The real key for either location is to avoid the perils of Atlantic City from being difficult to get to and then being worried about leaving the facility to go anywhere.

For example, Chicago is well known for some rough areas but Rosemont, the suburb near O'Hare is reasonably safe for people coming in. Detroit is improving as a city but again how is the area NEAR the show. If it's a suburb, then you are probably in a good situation.

Downtown Atlanta can certainly hold enough people but again, how is the infrastructure for the dealers and the collectors.

Without knowing the details of the bids, we can only make some guesstimations but not an answer.

Regards
Rich

2028 National Headed to Detroit or Atlanta?
 

There’s a major modern YouTube influencer who’ll probably try to push for Atlanta. I’m hoping for Detroit, if for no other reason than the weather. One of the small joys for me is escaping the surface-of-the-sun heat, even if just for a few days.

That part of Atlanta is a pure nightmare for travel in and out.

Also, in case anyone is interested in the truly great aquarium located nearby that venue...I have no idea what setup they have with the fire marshal, but blowing through the building capacity limit to shove 100s more into the building than should be there is standard practice...so go when it first opens if that makes your plans.

I think the Huntington Convention Center is where the annual Detroit Auto Show is held, if I'm not mistaken (Cobo Hall). I don't care for the location. The Suburban Showcase Convention Center in Novi where the Detroit Sports Spectacular is held is a great venue, but probably too small for a National.

Detroit would be super cool. I'm down for it :-)

You know Geoff is going to be pushing hard for Atl and probably greasing some palms along the way.

Clarification, I have no first hand knowledge that drive ins are not allowed in Atlanta. It was based on info from regional shows held there in the past. Will be clarified at the presentation in Chicago but very well may be allowed so my assumption otherwise was just that!

Atlanta would be great I think!

my first was 1992 Atlanta and I've been to every one since. I'll go to either and in Louisville, I'm almost exactly evenly between those two cities around 5.5-6 hours either way. That said, I'd rather go to Atlanta although it'll be REALLY hot there. I spent a LOT of time in Detroit in the 1990's so that would be fine too.

I think it is great to have 2 new options, but I'm not sure Detroit can really handle the show without folks being disappointed. It feels to me like Detroit is just being used as a way to give the appearance of choice. From what I can tell, it looks like Detroit has about 10% less exhibition space than Rosemont and as I understand it, dealers were already having difficulty getting tables for this year. I'm sure they are not going to shrink the autograph area, breaker area, or corporate areas as those are the high profile, mass marketing areas. Whether vintage collectors want to admit or not, the bulk of collectors are into modern and those areas cater to the masses. So what's left to cut? The dealer area. If I was a dealer, I would not want to vote for someplace that I won't be able to set up. No one can predict what the hobby will be like in 3 years, but I just can't imagine the promotors intentionally planning to reduce the size of the show without some evidence that the card market is significantly shrinking.

Any idea why the choices were just these two cities?

Either would be a nice change from Chicago.

It's about time the organizers acknowledge the hobby exists and is thriving outside NY/NJ and the Midwest. ATL it is.

Obviously, I do not speak for any of the show managers but remember there are certain criteria which have to be met before a bid can be made for a NSCC venue. These places did meet that criteria and thus are eligible to host the event.

I know when the current NSCC management group took over, they did a long interview with Jeremy Lee (who is hosting on you tube a great series on the Road to the National) and as such he can probably be on with them and they can provide the needed information we wish to hear.

As big as the NSCC has gotten in recent years, I'd would not be surprised if there were less than 15 places in this country which have the capability of hosting the event and want to have us as well

Regards
Rich

As a New Yorker, Atlantic City was pretty much the only location that would make my attendance possible. I don't think AC was quite as bad as some have made it out to be, although I will acknowledge that your milage may have varied.;)

Having had a wonderful time at both Baltimore conventions, and noting that most people here seem to agree with me about the Baltimore shows, I continue to be frustrated by the inability of the powers that be to make another Baltimore convention possible. I've been told multiple times that the reason for the difficulty is that the Baltimore venue refuses to book three years in advance. That is an oddly arbitrary stance on their part. Surely SOME way around that problem should be possible! :confused:

Baltimore was barely size acceptable in 2010, It is certainly not big enough in today's world

And for Atlantic City, When I lived in New Jersey, I LOVED being at the AC NSCC as a dealer and drove there. Now flying in from Dallas is a freaking pain in the you know what. It truly reminds me of Planes and Trains.

Baltimore isnt even remotely close to being big enough.

+1.

However, the demographics just aren't in our favor. Too many collectors on the east coast, and too few of us out west.

Our only consolation is that we get to go to bed earlier on auction night.

There was a time ( early 70's) when Detroit was the hub of the baseball card world. From a historic perspective Detroit is a great choice. Maybe give those that collect early hobby stuff a chance to display it. And is much cooler that Atlanta first week of August. Jmho..

As long as the AC is working inside, I don’t care if it’s 100 degrees in the parking lot.

Has anyone heard where the National Pre-War Sports Collectors Convention will be held in 2028 (and in earlier years)?

Outside of preference for proximity to location...interesting on some of these takes...maybe some of you actually haven't been to the downtowns of either lately...just got back from a conference in ATL...on the way down IMO...whereas DET has the casinos, stadiums and lakefront...and much better weather that time of year. That being said....I would guess the show would be in the burbs if it is in DET...probably Novi....which is in arguably the nicest county in the country and has a nice center similar to that of CHI nearby....and the traffic isn't a complete shitshow like ATL.

Convention Centers by size

McCormick Place Chicago
Orange County Convention Center Orlando
Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas
Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York City
New Orleans Morial Convention Center New Orleans
America's Center St. Louis
San Diego Convention Center San Diego
Huntington Place Detroit
Walter E. Washington Convention Ctr. Washington
Sands Expo and Convention Center Las Vegas
International Exposition Center Cleveland
Colorado Convention Center Denver
Mandalay Bay Convention Center Las Vegas
Music City Center Nashville
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Ctr. Dallas
Pennsylvania Convention Center Philadelphia
Moscone Convention Center San Francisco

The Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont is way down below all of these.

I asked a couple long time National Badge Holder dealers which one they would rather prefer, each said Atlanta .

My bet is on Detroit. Dealers are creature of habit, and with many of them from the Midwest/Northeast, Detroit seems logical.

I would love Atlanta, I just don't think it is in the cards :D

Any update on the vote?

This discussion was also on a Facebook group. It was split roughly 50/50 between the cities.

The vote happens onsite at the National

A bit of an antiquated system of doing the tables etc.. but it has seemed to work. Kind of like this forum (most times)!

I stand by my take, I don't really care that much where it is. I don't go to Nationals for outside attractions. I know a lot of people do. Should be fun again this year. Mostly, it's seeing old friends.

Atlanta National possibility
 

the 1992 and 1999 Nationals in Atlanta were awesome, yes very hot but the convention center was first rate as I recall

Bruce Perry

202[emoji239[emoji239[emoji2392]]] National Headed to Detroit or Atlanta?
 

Orlando seems too obvious to me.

As DJ mentioned, the Detroit space is smaller than Chicago and half the size of Atlanta.

I can't imagine this vote is even close...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List..._United_States

https://www.nsccshow.com/site-locations

“2028 Site Location Choices
Presented by the NSCC Board of Directors & JBJ Management Team

The wait is over! We're excited to announce two incredible venue options for the 2028 National Sports Collectors Convention — Atlanta and Detroit.

Both cities feature state-of-the-art facilities designed with collectors and exhibitors in mind:

[emoji736] Large, Modern, Open-Layout Halls – No obstructive poles, full visibility, and easy booth setup
[emoji736] Next-Generation Wi-Fi – Seamless, high-speed connectivity throughout the venue
[emoji736] Convenient Load-In & Load-Out – Drive directly to your booth or use handcarts with ease
[emoji736] Connected & Nearby Hotels – Stay steps away from the action
[emoji736] Access to Major Airports – Simple, direct travel to both cities
[emoji736] Efficient Mass Transit – Navigate the city easily with public transportation
[emoji736] 100+ Restaurants Within Walking Distance – Endless dining options at your fingertips
[emoji736] Major League Sports Cities – Immerse yourself in rich sports history and culture

Whether you're drawn to the energy and innovation of Atlanta or the deep-rooted sports heritage of Detroit, you’ll experience the National like never before — with unmatched convenience, comfort, and excitement.

Explore your options and help shape the future of The National!”

Me too

I guess we have to keep in mind that three decades of aging may have affected a convention center by 2028, though. Then again, maybe there already is/will be a new one by that point. I'm not familiar with that situation in Atlanta.

Well, if that's the case, then the answer is seemingly clear. Not what I was hoping for. Would have been nice to be able to do a day trip to a National for the first time ever and end up back home in my own bed the same night. (Yes, I've sworn off Nationals, but I'd have mainly attended to get together with people if it was a two hour drive.)

fyi - The National will never be at the IX Expo Center in Cleveland again as it is being reconfigured for a data center. I don't think the National committee was keeping it in the rotation, but this guarantees it won't.

https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the...-a-data-center

It's a good thing I will be retired from all card shows by 2028. Good luck to all the dealers where ever the show ends up going to.

Rich: The union was a problem last time I did a show in Atlanta. They had to haul your merchandise and showcases, etc. in and when the show closed haul it out. I had problems getting them to help as they seemed to be waiting for a bribe to get them to help. That was in 2000 at the All Star Fanfest Show, not sure how that will fly now. I am sure that the collecting community is a lot stronger in the south now than it was then.

DETROIT. An absolutely fantastic downtown area. Detroit hosted the draft two years ago and it was incredible!

At the 1999 Atlanta NSCC you were able to load your inventory in and out of the show. I assume each show negotiates the level of union participation at some convention centers

I am sure dealers who attended the last National in Cleveland will be asking about union workers no matter where the show is headed, and the answer will be a resounding "No" if there's a union.

I have an image in my head of all these National Dealers Union busting in Atlanta :D

I had no union issues in Cleveland and hadn't heard of any.

Forgive me; am I confusing venues? Could have sworn it was the last time in Cleveland where they were refusing to let people take their own material in and out.

Re: 2028 National Headed to Detroit or Atlanta?
 

There were no issues last year. There were in years past.

Glad to see the Detroit site is downtown. Seriously, if you haven't been to Detroit in 5 years or more, it really, truly has transformed into an actual city. If the National was in November, I'd say go somewhere else. But in late July, I guarantee you'll enjoy it, especially if you rent a car to see some sites like the Motown museum and the art institute. Traffic here is non-existent compared to Atlanta. New bars and restaurants are everywhere. There's an amazing riverwalk, right outside the door of the convention center.

I grew up, went to school, and worked in Detroit, and every time I go downtown these days I can't believe it's the same city.

Huntington Place is 2,400,000-square-foot (220,000 m2) in size and has 723,000 square feet (67,200 m2) of exhibition space, with 623,000 square feet (57,900 m2) contiguous.[4] It previously featured an arena, Cobo Arena, which hosted various concerts, sporting events, and other events.[3] In 2015, the facility completed a renovation that repurposed the Cobo Arena space, adding additional meeting halls, a glass atrium with a view of the Detroit riverfront, and the 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) Grand Riverview Ballroom.[5][6]

It is served by the Detroit People Mover with its own station.[7] Huntington Place has several large, attached parking garages, as well as parking on the roof of the facility, and direct access to the Lodge Freeway.[8][9] The facility is located along the Detroit International Riverfront, and within walking distance of several downtown hotels.[10]

As a resident, the area downtown in and around Huntington could not be safer. Not only does the DPD patrol well, but Dan Gilbert owns so much down there the area in downtown has basically its own private police force. While the odd incidents still happen in the Greek town area around one of the casinos, I would say that downtown is now one of the safest major cities in the country around that area. Now if you leave the financial district…well good luck. Anyone with any logic would know better. The hotel situation is out of this world as you have enough to easily handle 100s of thousands in walking distance. Plenty of food in walking distances and ample food trucks allowed. Honestly, I can’t think of a better place for a National.

Huntington is union. However, the q&a lists all non union activities which would cover 99% of exhibitors. You can set up your own area and unload at the loading docks using carts.

https://www.huntingtonplacedetroit.c...urniture%20etc.

I made seven trips from my table to my trailer instead of 3 because the union would not allow us to break the two wheeler down and make it a four wheeler. That was pretty trash of them.

Very weird as I have a convertible hand truck too and nobody said a word to me.

Zero problems in Cleveland. Drove to booth and unloaded in 20 minutes. I always set up on Tuesday. It cost a $100 but you cannot drive in on Wednesday so it is worth the cost to set up early IMO.