Quote:
Originally Posted by isiahfan
I think most of the "chatter" about AC has been well documented...but I tend to agree with your Baltimore observations.
Of the dealers I talked to...I felt 3 of them were serious about skipping AC if that were the 2026 choice. I am under the same impression that you lose your place in line if you miss/skip a show...not positive.
I think almost every big city has the infrastructure to handle a large size convention...some better than others....I will make this pitch about San Diego..
Huge Convention Center (hosts comicon annually)
2 miles from the airport
public transport (trolley)
in the heart of downtown....TONS of stuff to do/places to eat
tons of hotels
incredibly safe area
INCREDIBLY pleasant area
weather...best in the country/world...never too hot
Biggest downside would be it's in the absolute corner of the country...get over it
|
Should the National rotate among 5-6 cities? Of course it should. Will it? Unlikely.
Here is my take and just a theory.
1) 80% of the US population lives to the east of the 100th degree of longitude.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=wwJABxjcvUc (interesting video).
The majority of collectors/dealers live east of this line. The National excluded, where are the other larger shows located? The CSA show in Chantilly. The Philly show in PA. JP's in NYC. The Fanatics show in IL. Cardboard promotions in MA. The GBSCC in MA. There is Tristar in Houston and another show now in Dallas. I can't think of any other major shows that are on my radar. Yes, in some locales there are smaller monthly shows. If you read Tony Gordon's blog, he seems to set-up at card shows just about every weekend. Some shows serve chili dogs made by the ladies of the local rotary.
The baseball hall of fame is in Cooperstown, NY. NFL, Canton OH, Basketball, Springfield MA, NHL, Toronto, Canada. These shrines lie east of the 100th meridian! Move east collector! Move east! The west coast are where shows go to die. This reminds me of the old Sam Kinison bit on world hunger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0q4o58pKwA
2) The Anaheim show in 1991 was the largest attended National. The National returned to Anaheim in 2006 and has never returned.
"But did he ever return?
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned (poor old Charlie)
He may ride forever
'Neath the streets of Boston
He's the man, who never returned"
Sorry, at times I breakout and sing Kingston Trio songs.
So, what drove the National to abandon the city with the largest attendance in the shows history? According to National historians "Anaheim has been removed for a reason, after the 1991 record attendance show, dealers have complained that sales were low compared to costs. Dealers rule at these shows, not attendees." As for Atlanta the 1999 show was the lowest attended show 20 years.
and the 2014 Cleveland show was the 3rd highest." The ROI argument would likely hold for Vegas as well.
In our data driven universe it boggles my mind that the National braintrust does not mine the collectors for data. Perhaps the braintrust just listens to the dealers. Perhaps the population data is enough. Promote shows where the majority is located seems simple enough. I question whether any data is used at all.
3) Cost. Given that 80% of the population lives east of the 100th, that means the cost of a flight and a hotel. The west locales are not in driving distance for 80% of the population.
Things do change. From the show recaps, the corporations dominate the floor space. Perhaps the corporations will have a bigger say as to where the National is held. The corporations could likely careless where the show is held. Chicago, Atlanta and Atlantic City are the three cities being considered to host the 2026 National. Perhaps the 2026 will return to Atlanta.