2022 National Sports Collectors Convention

[drazz5]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

The first National I attended was in AC maybe 4 years ago. It was totally worth the effort to get there. There is so much vintage at the National your head might explode. I remember being simply overwhelmed at all the cases to look through. If you've never been to one I would strongly recommend it. The venue is sort of in the middle of nowhere, but a bar is right across the street which is a great place to rest for a few hours. Best advice I got was wear comfortable shoes and bring a little pad to write notes, because at some point you are going to want to double back and see something again and with the sheer of stuff it's easy to get overwhelmed.

I'd say highly desirable stuff will be grossly marked up. But always interesting things to see and buy. Also nice to see people face to face you've done business with or heard about.

Thanks for the tips Steve. I will make a point to check out that bar! haha

[Jewish-collector]

IF I go, let's meet up and have a couple cold ones at one of the bars there.

[x2drich2000]

I think it really depends on your objective. If you are going to just get the best deals possible, you might want to rethink it. By the time you factor in flights, hotel, food, etc, you could easily have bought a HOFer or two from your living room. However, if your going for the experience, meeting friends, meeting other collectors, being overwhelmed, etc, then definitely I would think about going. Seeing that your in CA, I doubt you'll get the chance to go to one locally anytime soon.

[drazz5]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

I think it really depends on your objective. If you are going to just get the best deals possible, you might want to rethink it. By the time you factor in flights, hotel, food, etc, you could easily have bought a HOFer or two from your living room. However, if your going for the experience, meeting friends, meeting other collectors, being overwhelmed, etc, then definitely I would think about going. Seeing that your in CA, I doubt you'll get the chance to go to one locally anytime soon.

Great point. I think it would be more about the experience. I like the idea of having an opportunity to connect with other t206 collectors (particularly the net54 guys). If I have to overpay for a few cards at the expense of a fun trip, so be it. I just wanted to make sure there were actually going to be t206 cards to look at before I showed up.

[Belfast1933]

Have not been since an early 90's visit in San Francisco not even sure that was a "national" or just a huge show.

I am planning to attend too - more for fun and probably a few cards to bring home. From the way you all describe it, I'm picturing a museum of baseball collectables (but with an option to buy the exhibits!)

(Does anyone host a Net54 Meet/Greet/Drink event?)

Jeff G

[Yoda]

For me, it depends whether Leon is going to organize a dinner for Board members. Leon, didn't you get some financial help from REA or Heritage to defray the costs in prior years? No pressure, just saying.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Yoda

For me, it depends whether Leon is going to organize a dinner for Board members. Leon, didn't you get some financial help from REA or Heritage to defray the costs in prior years? No pressure, just saying.

I am not positive I am going this year. But if I do I doubt I will host a dinner. When it goes back to Chicago I will try to. Yes, Heritage has always been the top, or one of the top, sponsors of the dinner. REA has also helped over the years as well as a few others.
.

[Carter08]

Will be my first. Excited.

[Exhibitman]

I had a suboptimal experience at the AC show a few years ago; pretty much a crap experience other than meeting Riddick Bowe



and had opted to skip 2020 before COVID made the decision for me. I skipped last year's show for various reasons but missed it a lot and so I've decided to go to AC again. No expectations of great things from the show per se but I do relish a week of visiting with friends who share this strange obsession of ours.