The national.hot as hell. Call it like you see it.
 

I see a lot of folks complain about the ac national with valid reasons. That said I enjoy all the nationals wherever they are. AC my favorite because it’s a home game for me. That said most members love the Chicago national the best.

Well it’s been hot as fuck the last 3 times the national has been there. It’s a disgrace millions of dollars changing hands, but they can’t get the AC to work properly..

End rant

That venue is a dump. Never understood the love for it.

after all that smack talk last summer, turns out they need AC

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It was definitely hot as two rats #uckin’ in a wool sock. While everyone seemed to smell like microwaved excrement, the dealers have been wonderfully personable this year and even a bit flexible with pricing. I’m sure that was the case for a number of you depending on what you were buying, but the mid 50s Dodger cards were quite affordable.

I was set up near the bay doors in 2021. Thursday was unbearably hot -- but I can attest to it being from the doors being open. When I would walk to the other side of the room it was noticeably cooler. Friday through Sunday the AC had no issue.

That's one thing Vegas knows how to do, convention space, AC, parking, off site entertainment and food, plenty of good inexpensive rooms, what's not to like?

My last National setup was in Chicago in 21. I did about 20 Nationals, but I never noticed any of them being hot. I did more in Chicago and Cleveland, but a couple in Baltimore and one in Atlantic City. I can tell you from a dealer's standpoint that Chicago is the best of all of them, but all of them were quite lucrative.

I had a few dealers tell me the air conditioning did not get turned on until 2 pm Wednesday. It was off while the bay doors were open. It is stupid hot outside and the system can’t seem to catch up. The lobby area and the hallway where the one VIP is set up are comfortable to cool

Nice. The usual bad body odor smells x 4.

The floor is definitely hot. doesn't help that the turnout has been amazing. even the wednesday preview was crazy busy.

Cell service worked for me, at least, on Wednesday. Thursday, nada.

$120 per extra chair is reasonable also, especially when other people steal them constantly. Transaction, trading, and buying side has been great. But would be great anywhere.

It's really too bad that the venue in Schaumberg where shows have been held in the past isn't apparently up to par for National standards. A much nicer venue, more interesting area with better options for things to do once show is over.

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center was a hovel even 15+ years ago. My absolute least favorite of any show setting. Time to move this event.

The problem is the facility is getting old (built in 1975) and has never really been renovated.

Actually, if they want to keep it in Chicago then move it to McCormick Place.

Vegas.

+ 10,000

I heard that at least two patrons passed out this week from the heat. Be careful out there.

Thank goodness I missed the National. I was going to go leaving where I do yesterday, but I have a friend who lives below me who was sick and the idea of a severe thunderstorm around 5:00 p.m. today Chicago time with either sleet or hale (forgot which) deterred me. Poor air conditioning in the joint would have been unacceptable.

It is widely joked/talked about how hobbyists are known to be hygiene challenged. Add to that a packed floor and insufficient AC and now I am certain I am not missing anything. Nothing I cannot live without if I have to endure that.

And kudos to the National committee who just phones it in year after year. If it ain't broke (for them) then why fix it? The industry deserves better. New venues and proof of daily showers and deodorant to those in attendance would be nice changes.

Will be interesting to see the production difference in a Fanatics show.

I think I attended a National there once. Was it 30 years ago?

Put some Right Guard in the VIP bag, with an instruction card.

i attended the chicago national in 1983. wasn't at the rosemont.

My daughter in Evanston said it's going to be in the 70s tomorrow and Sunday. So there is relief on the way.

This assumes all of us read and can read. Better option is have some bikini clad women apply it to attendees. For some it might be the first time being that close to a woman. I kid...

1993
 

Yes, it was in 1993. I was there. The show was huge.

Yes ridiculously hot
And busy
With allnew grading companies
Nowaythisfitsin Atlantic city or cleveland

Super crowded and congested. And the heat was indeed oppressive. I can see how people were passing out. It’s the first National where I’ve actually left the show just to enjoy hotel air conditioning and a comfy bed. The afternoon nap ranked higher than buying stuff.

Even though it had it's negative moments between the crappy a/c, poor organization for entry, and the strange PSA setup with their 'ticket booth' windows & extremely slow turn around time for my 'super express' order (what a joke).......I'm 100% glad I went. I found some good cards, talked to some good folks, made a trade for a '52 Topps Mantle, and experienced (again) the late night trade spectacle in the Loew's hotel lobby which had quite a bit of vintage cards.....we left at midnight and there were still collectors with boxes and briefcases pouring in.

Just curious Instagram seems 90% modern for the National Recaps and live streams and stuff

Just curious what is the mix of vintage vs Modern?
What is the mix of Baseball vs everything else?

The new rooms that they added is probably 80% modern, some vintage dealers that got relocated when they expanded the corporate area in the usual room.

In the room that has been used in the past, I would say 90% or more of the tables in the first four aisles and everything to the left of the corporate area was vintage of some kind (pre-1980). The carpeted area at the far end of the original room is probably 80% new.

Definitely plenty of vintage in the show. Definitely most of the added space is modern or corporate.

While there was lot of vintage at the show, the majority of the vintage dealers have slabbed vintage cards in showcases. The were many dealers with boxes or binders of singles - but not nearly as many as I would have liked.

The vintage dealers who have binders or boxes of vintage commons are part of their business do well. But I get that selling high end items helps cover the expenses a lot more than selling 1956 commons.

I agree