question about the national sports collectors convention

[travrosty]

it looks like the national is scheduled for baltimore, cleveland, and chicago for the next several years and no where else.

it seems it only rotates between a few locations? why is that? what cities would you like to see it be held if it was up to you? Why can't it be in Las Vegas or Miami or Dallas? It seems heavy on the east coast and a few midwest locales like chicago or cleveland. When it's not held in these locales, is it a clunker and that's why it's only in three cities? I have heard of it being in Atlanta, and Atlantic city before but it seems like it's a three city monopoly now.

I went to the one in Anaheim in 1991. Does the heavy concentration of east coast dealers unwittingly influence it being mainly on the eastern half of the United States? I suppose they don't want to lug all their stuff clear across the country to go to the west coast.


Can someone list all the years and host cities since its inception?

[Leon]

I think the decisions on host cities are based mostly on economics and ease of working with the potential venues.

[perezfan]

It stinks!

They should hold it where you can easily get a direct flight. Cleveland + Baltimore require connections from many cities (mine included- Seattle). Chicago is a great hub that's central to all, but the other two are horrible for anyone living west of the Mississippi.

They have completely snubbed the West.... San Diego and Las Vegas would be two of the best locations possible. Both Convention Centers are state of the art, and they are fun locations to visit.

Las Vegas is just too obvious to waste time typing about, and San Diego has attractions like Sea World, the Zoo, Mission Bay, the Ocean, Tijuana, etc. It's great for families tying in a vacation. Plus, dozens of hotels are within 3 minutes of the Convention Center... not to mention the Gaslamp District (30 seconds away) with dozens of great restaurants, bars, etc.

Whoever organizes that convention must have blinders on. There's no reason they can't mix in a West Coast venue once every 3-4 years.

[travrosty]

Originally Posted by perezfan

It stinks!

They should hold it where you can easily get a direct flight. Cleveland + Baltimore require connections from many cities (mine included- Seattle). Chicago is a great hub that's central to all, but the other two are horrible for anyone living west of the Mississippi.

They have completely snubbed the West.... San Diego and Las Vegas would be two of the best locations possible. Both Convention Centers are state of the art, and they are fun locations to visit.

Las Vegas is just too obvious to waste time typing about, and San Diego has attractions like Sea World, the Zoo, Mission Bay, the Ocean, Tijuana, etc. It's great for families tying in a vacation. Plus, dozens of hotels are within 3 minutes of the Convention Center... not to mention the Gaslamp District (30 seconds away) with dozens of great restaurants, bars, etc.

Whoever organizes that convention must have blinders on. There's no reason they can't mix in a West Coast venue once every 3-4 years.

good points, i agree, they should mix it up a lilttle, i wonder who is in charge of setting up the locations?

Looks like baltimore, chicago, cleveland all locked up through 2018, with 2017 to be determined. no plans for even going back to anaheim as i guess they have problems getting commitments and assurances from the venue. but why not try other west coast venues like las vegas or san diego?

The national rifle association has a huge convention every year and they go all over, charlotte, pittsburgh, denver, st. louis, milwaukee, etc.

not knocking baltimore, cleveland and chicago but they should branch out. I guess it wasn't always this way?

[GrayGhost]

Back in the day when I had the funds. I went to four in about as diverse a locale as you can get. Chicago, St Louis, Atlanta and Atlantic city. My favorite one remains AC, as it was my first one, plus I loved the ocean/casino, etc. St Louis followed, then Chicago and Atlanta , which was the first time I ever flew..haha.

All from 1988-95 era. Id love to go this year, but besides Funds, I work in a baseball tourney at that time too, so prob no dice

[Scott Garner]

I suspect that the reason that Las Vegas is never an option is because the event may not draw a large enough crowd and Vegas may not be viewed as "family friendly" for kids. I attended a convention in Denver at the newly remodled convention center. It was spectacular, FWIW...

[Bilko G]

Id love to see it come out West once every 4 or 5 years at least. Los Angeles, San Diego Seattle etc.

[Leon]

I think the one short sentence of my reasoning above in this thread might have been the most succinct, correct and best answer I have ever given about a subject on this board. It pretty much summed it up.

I am with Adam a bit on the show etc.....As I have said a thousand times, it could be in a box in the desert. If there were air conditioning and any kind of paltry or even sub-standard food and beverage, for survival, that is all I need. I go to the show for one reason, the show.

Also, it's not completely set in stone, and you heard it here first, but if you want to ask Mike Berkus any questions about the National he is set to speak at the Net54baseball Dinner (at the National) again. I am lining up things now.....It will be on Friday again if all goes as planned.

[Rich Klein]

NET 54 DINNER ROCKS!~

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT

Rich

Excuse the caps, best news I read all day

[mjkm90]

I agree with Leon. I ONLY go to the National to see memorabilia and my Buds. I'm so damned tired from walking miles and miles that any bed feels good and I'm so hungry that a sack-o-burgers works for me. The less I spend on housing and food, the more memorabilia I come home with.

When I go on vacation I'll drop whatever it takes to have a good time and see the world, but not for a show.

I'm fine with the show owners making money. The less it costs the dealers, the more of them will show up and the less they will charge for merchandise. keep it inexpensive and spartan.

[Exhibitman]

How did everyone feel about the Olympics room at the CHI show last year? I thought it was interesting to see:

--European collectors [though the old German guy with the 1936 Hitler Olympics memorabilia did have a creepy Major Strasser vibe to him];
--Different athletes and memorabilia than the norm; and
--thin people and women at a card show.

I actually picked up one item for my collection in there, a 1936 ticket for the late, lamented Los Angeles Red Car system to the Olympic boxing trials venue.

[HexsHeroes]

Originally Posted by mjkm90

i agree with leon. I only go to the national to see memorabilia and my buds. I'm so damned tired from walking miles and miles that any bed feels good and i'm so hungry that a sack-o-burgers works for me. The less i spend on housing and food, the more memorabilia i come home with.

When i go on vacation i'll drop whatever it takes to have a good time and see the world, but not for a show.

I'm fine with the show owners making money. The less it costs the dealers, the more of them will show up and the less they will charge for merchandise. Keep it inexpensive and spartan.

.

+1

[UD]

Since i am and old fart and have been to most of these i will answer
the question.....about the history of the national.
1980.....la
1981.....detroit
1982.....st louis
1983....chicago.....(.my first)
1984 ....parsippany, nj
1985......anaheim
1986.....arlington, tx
1987.....sf
1988.....atlantic city, nj (good)
1989....chicago
1990....arlington
1991.... Anaheim (ofs)
1992 atlanta, ga
1993 chicago
1994 houston
1995 st. Louis
1996 anaheim
1997 atlanta, ga (ug)
1998 cleveland
1999 chicago
2000 anaheim
2001 cleveland
2002 chicago
2003 cleveland
2004 atlantic city
2005 anaheim
2007 cleveland
2008 chicago
2009 cleveland
2010 baltimore
2011 chicago
and looking fwd to balto this year.....the city was very receptive 2 years ago. Hope this helps to all history buffs like myself. Come by my booth and say hello.
Ud (uncle dick)

[ValKehl]

Can you add 2006 to your listing?

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by UD

Since i am and old fart and have been to most of these i will answer
the question.....about the history of the national.
1980.....la
1981.....detroit
1982.....st louis
1983....chicago.....(.my first)
1984 ....parsippany, nj
1985......anaheim
1986.....arlington, tx
1987.....sf
1988.....atlantic city, nj (good)
1989....chicago
1990....arlington
1991.... Anaheim (ofs)
1992 atlanta, ga
1993 chicago
1994 houston
1995 st. Louis
1996 anaheim
1997 atlanta, ga (ug)
1998 cleveland
1999 chicago
2000 anaheim
2001 cleveland
2002 chicago
2003 cleveland
2004 atlantic city
2005 anaheim
2007 cleveland
2008 chicago
2009 cleveland
2010 baltimore
2011 chicago
and looking fwd to balto this year.....the city was very receptive 2 years ago. Hope this helps to all history buffs like myself. Come by my booth and say hello.
Ud (uncle dick)

Uncle Dick,
Thanks!
I thought 1999 was in Atlanta? Maybe I'm misremembering (ala Clemens), but I recall that the Atlanda National ran in tandem with the 1999 HOF Induction. . I was there to attend Nolan Ryan's induction.

Atlanta edged out Houston for the venue in the vote in 1999...