Planning on traveling to shows in 2020?

[1954 topps]

I thought this would be interesting to see based on where people are from, what shows and how far they are willing to travel to find vintage cards for their collections. Which shows are you planning to attend in 2020 and how far away are they? Do you have a favorite show?

Other than the National in AC this year, I feel the Philly shows are typically the most consistently impressive shows in the Northeast.

In 2020 I'm planning on attending the following shows:
Philly - 6 hours
Strongsville - 13 hours
Wilmington - 1 hour
Atlantic City - 7 hours
White Plains - 3 hours

[Eric72]

The Philly Show is less than an hour drive for me. So I’ll definitely be there.

[mq711]

The three shows at the Chantilly/Dulles Expo Center, an hour away in Northern Va.

[mq711]

The three shows at the Chantilly/Dulles Expo Center, an hour away in Northern Va.

[Bigdaddy]

I'll probably hit one of the Chantilly shows (3 hours) and am planning on at trip to AC (6.5 hours) this summer for the National.

Really, the entire southeast part of the US is generally skipped over as far as shows. Nothing from Chantilly to Florida (except for an occasional show in Raleigh) and heading west, you'd have to go to Cleveland or Cincinnati for a decent show.

[quitcrab]

Wilmington show ??? Is that any good. Is it in NC ? Not Delaware.

[buymycards]

I travel to shows in Dubuque and LaCrosse, which are 90 minutes one way. Madison and Davenport 2 hours. Eau Claire and Milwaukee 3 hours. I doubt that I will attend shows in Chicago or Minneapolis, which are around 4 hours away. I have tentative plans to go to the New Orleans show again, which is about 16 hours. New Orleans is a surprisingly small show but the gumbo makes up for it.

I remember when we had a show in my hometown, and a dozen or so shows within 40 minutes of my home, but those days are long gone.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by quitcrab

Wilmington show ??? Is that any good. Is it in NC ? Not Delaware.

I would guess Mass from the travel times.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by 1954 topps

I thought this would be interesting to see based on where people are from, what shows and how far they are willing to travel to find vintage cards for their collections. Which shows are you planning to attend in 2020 and how far away are they? Do you have a favorite show?

Other than the National in AC this year, I feel the Philly shows are typically the most consistently impressive shows in the Northeast.

In 2020 I'm planning on attending the following shows:
Philly - 6 hours
Strongsville - 13 hours
Wilmington - 1 hour
Atlantic City - 7 hours
White Plains - 3 hours

Is Strongsville that great a show - 13 hours travel??! I've never been.

Definitely hit Philly 1-2 x (2.5-3hours)
A/C - 2.5-3 hours
White Plains - 1 hour
Hofstra - 25min (only because its so close)

[Mark70Z]

I have to go to AC this year! Missed the last couple of National events. Other than that just some local shows in Jax.

[1954 topps]

I'm surprised people aren't jumping in their cars for a road trip. Avoid taxes and negotiate better deals in person with cash. Ebay and auction fees increase their asking prices and if your buying a couple big cards together you almost always get a package deal.

Is Strongsville that great of a show? For vintage selection, yeah it's a decent little show of around 130 tables. Decent mix of raw vs graded selection but it's an all vintage show! I don't have to walk by any tables without looking. Is it worth a 13 hour drive, absolutely not but I usually combine my road trip with a few shows on the way back home in PA, NY, or NJ. Also, the football hall of fame in Canton is a short ride from Strongsville.

Wilmington, MA has two shows per year, April and November. The fall show is the one worth traveling to. I wouldn't travel more than an hour tops for the spring show.

I went to Chantilly April '19, I was told 4-5 of the larger vintage dealers went to Strongsville so that was my mistake. Just go to Strongsville if any show overlaps the schedule. My thoughts on Chantilly are that it could be a decent show with the vintage dealers on site. Great food in the area though!

For the MI, MN, WI guys who responded, nobody mentioned the Shakopee show, anyone ever been? Is it any good for graded vintage or more of a collector grade show? I'd love to take a road trip out there and hit up smaller shows you mentioned in Dubuque, LaCrosse, Eau Claire, etc. Never traveled up that way and for that reason alone it's worth a trip.

[Exhibitman]

There isn't much within 300 miles of L.A. I will be missing the National this year for the first time since 2004, but AC just sucked last time and it is hard to get to for me: ends up being a 12+ hour trip each way with either a single flight and a very long ground leg or two flights with a shorter ground leg.

[pokerplyr80]

I won't be traveling out East for any shows this year. I may head to long beach or Frank and Sons if I take a Saturday off but that's it. I do enjoy shows but would rather take the money I'd spend traveling and pick a card up at auction.

[1954 topps]

Atlantic City sure isn't a convenient location for a National for anyone other then those already in the Northeast and even coming from MA and dealing with New York and Jersey traffic it isn't ideal. I'm actually surprised it's heading back there so soon, it's only been 4 years since it was there.

I've been to Chicago, Cleveland, and AC and of the three Cleveland was my favorite venue. That building is just massive!

[Leon]

+1
The National committee needs to be replaced .

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

There isn't much within 300 miles of L.A. I will be missing the National this year for the first time since 2004, but AC just sucked last time and it is hard to get to for me: ends up being a 12+ hour trip each way with either a single flight and a very long ground leg or two flights with a shorter ground leg.

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by 1954 topps

I'm surprised people aren't jumping in their cars for a road trip. Avoid taxes and negotiate better deals in person with cash. Ebay and auction fees increase their asking prices and if your buying a couple big cards together you almost always get a package deal.

Is Strongsville that great of a show? For vintage selection, yeah it's a decent little show of around 130 tables. Decent mix of raw vs graded selection but it's an all vintage show! I don't have to walk by any tables without looking. Is it worth a 13 hour drive, absolutely not but I usually combine my road trip with a few shows on the way back home in PA, NY, or NJ. Also, the football hall of fame in Canton is a short ride from Strongsville.

Wilmington, MA has two shows per year, April and November. The fall show is the one worth traveling to. I wouldn't travel more than an hour tops for the spring show.

I went to Chantilly April '19, I was told 4-5 of the larger vintage dealers went to Strongsville so that was my mistake. Just go to Strongsville if any show overlaps the schedule. My thoughts on Chantilly are that it could be a decent show with the vintage dealers on site. Great food in the area though!

For the MI, MN, WI guys who responded, nobody mentioned the Shakopee show, anyone ever been? Is it any good for graded vintage or more of a collector grade show? I'd love to take a road trip out there and hit up smaller shows you mentioned in Dubuque, LaCrosse, Eau Claire, etc. Never traveled up that way and for that reason alone it's worth a trip.

I have never heard of the Shakopee show. They don't advertise on the Beckett Show Calendar or the SCD show calendar.

There are a lot of show promoters who don't take advantage of the free advertising from Beckett and SCD. It can make a big impact on attendance, and it hurts the dealers who set up at the show. It only takes 1 or 2 good customers to turn a crappy show for a dealer into a profitable show.

[Exhibitman]

I'll miss the National but I am probably going to book a family vacation instead, so I probably will have to drown my sorrows in mai tais on the beach in Kona...