Poll: BUYERS preferred National Location

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by Seven

Atlantic City. I like the convenience, my hotel room is always free or at a heavy discount, and you can't beat the selection restaurants (Both chain and small businesses). Its proximity to the rest of the Jersey Shore, as well as the chance that there might be a concert of someone interesting performing or a comedy show also gives it bonus points.

To be fair, I've never visited Atlantic City, but I'm surprised to see it declared the country's (world's?) top restaurant destination.

[perezfan]

What happens in Vegas doesn't really have to stay in Vegas.

Let's get something west of the Mississippi into the rotation. Once every 4-5 years isn't asking a lot.

[x2drich2000]

AC works for me only cause it is close by. Adding flights makes it more travel time, more expensive, and lets be honest, flights haven't been the most reliable lately. Vegas sounds fun on the surface, but the volume of dealers that would need to fly/extensively drive I think make it prohibitive. Below is what I posted last year on the topic with additional data from this year.

While moving the National around I think would be great, I can certainly understand why they stay in the Northeast corner and continue to rotate between the 4 current cities. Below is a break down of the dealers from this years national by name and booths. NY, NJ, PA combined are top 3 and make up 30%. Why not have it where dealers are? Also below is the US Census map from 2020. Again, population density looks to be in the northeast. Why not have it where most people are? To me it is only common sense to keep it in that area from a business standpoint.

2022 AC Dealer List by state
State Dealers Percent Booths Percent
NY 38 11.08% 64 10.63%
NJ 31 9.04% 61 10.13%
PA 30 8.75% 52 8.64%
FL 27 7.87% 56 9.30%
IL 27 7.87% 40 6.64%
TX 19 5.54% 37 6.15%
OH 15 4.37% 25 4.15%
VA 14 4.08% 24 3.99%
MI 14 4.08% 21 3.49%
CA 11 3.21% 22 3.65%
GA 10 2.92% 22 3.65%
MN 9 2.62% 11 1.83%
NC 8 2.33% 12 1.99%
TN 7 2.04% 10 1.66%
IN 7 2.04% 11 1.83%
MD 7 2.04% 13 2.16%
MO 6 1.75% 10 1.66%
WI 5 1.46% 8 1.33%
CT 5 1.46% 12 1.99%
AZ 4 1.17% 6 1.00%
WA 4 1.17% 9 1.50%
KY 4 1.17% 5 0.83%
IA 4 1.17% 7 1.16%
CO 4 1.17% 6 1.00%
AR 3 0.87% 4 0.66%
Canada 3 0.87% 4 0.66%
MA 3 0.87% 4 0.66%
ND 3 0.87% 7 1.16%
KS 2 0.58% 3 0.50%
ME 2 0.58% 2 0.33%
VT 2 0.58% 4 0.66%
SC 2 0.58% 3 0.50%
RI 2 0.58% 3 0.50%
NV 2 0.58% 6 1.00%
DE 2 0.58% 3 0.50%
OK 1 0.29% 1 0.17%
NH 1 0.29% 2 0.33%
NE 1 0.29% 4 0.66%
OR 1 0.29% 4 0.66%
WV 1 0.29% 1 0.17%
ID 1 0.29% 1 0.17%
HI 1 0.29% 2 0.33%
Grand Total 343 100.00% 602 100.00%

2023 Chicago Dealer List by State
State Dealers Percent Booths Percent
FL 29 8.26% 63 9.55%
NY 30 8.55% 57 8.64%
IL 32 9.12% 54 8.18%
NJ 25 7.12% 52 7.88%
PA 29 8.26% 51 7.73%
TX 16 4.56% 31 4.70%
OH 17 4.84% 29 4.39%
MI 16 4.56% 27 4.09%
CA 13 3.70% 26 3.94%
VA 14 3.99% 25 3.79%
GA 10 2.85% 21 3.18%
MD 8 2.28% 16 2.42%
WI 10 2.85% 16 2.42%
MN 8 2.28% 16 2.42%
MO 8 2.28% 15 2.27%
IN 9 2.56% 15 2.27%
NC 8 2.28% 14 2.12%
CT 5 1.42% 13 1.97%
TN 7 1.99% 12 1.82%
IA 6 1.71% 10 1.52%
WA 4 1.14% 10 1.52%
AZ 4 1.14% 8 1.21%
ND 3 0.85% 8 1.21%
NV 4 1.14% 8 1.21%
AR 4 1.14% 7 1.06%
NE 3 0.85% 7 1.06%
MA 4 1.14% 5 0.76%
CO 3 0.85% 5 0.76%
VT 2 0.57% 4 0.61%
KS 2 0.57% 4 0.61%
OR 1 0.28% 4 0.61%
RI 2 0.57% 4 0.61%
KY 2 0.57% 3 0.45%
WV 2 0.57% 3 0.45%
SC 2 0.57% 3 0.45%
ID 2 0.57% 3 0.45%
ME 2 0.57% 2 0.30%
DE 1 0.28% 2 0.30%
NH 1 0.28% 2 0.30%
HI 1 0.28% 2 0.30%
AL 1 0.28% 2 0.30%
OK 1 0.28% 1 0.15%
Grand Total 351 100.00% 660 100.00%

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

. Below is a break down of the dealers from this years national by name and booths. NY, NJ, PA combined are top 3 and make up 30%.

This is something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. OF COURSE more dealers will come from the east if you hold the show in the Midwest or East.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Tabe

This is something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. OF COURSE more dealers will come from the east if you hold the show in the Midwest or East.

Sure, but there simply are far more dealers from that area. The greatest concentration has always been in the Northeast. If the show was held in Van Buren, Arkansas, it wouldn't magically have a huge abundance of dealers from that state just because that's where it was being held. Also remember that people have their table spaces reserved years in advance, so you're going to see mostly the same faces no matter where it's held.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Sure, but there simply are far more dealers from that area. The greatest concentration has always been in the Northeast. If the show was held in Van Buren, Arkansas, it wouldn't magically have a huge abundance of dealers from that state just because that's where it was being held. Also remember that people have their table spaces reserved years in advance, so you're going to see mostly the same faces no matter where it's held.

But we're not talking about Arkansas, are we? Do you really think there would be trouble getting dealers for a California or Vegas National? And, again, it's self-fulfilling - if you announce AC 3 years in advance, of course, you're going to get northeast dealers. But the balance would shift if they announced Vegas for 2029.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Tabe

But we're not talking about Arkansas, are we? Do you really think there would be trouble getting dealers for a California or Vegas National? And, again, it's self-fulfilling - if you announce AC 3 years in advance, of course, you're going to get northeast dealers. But the balance would shift if they announced Vegas for 2029.

That's not really how it works. Remember that table space at this show is such a hot commodity that any additional space wouldn't first simply open up for dealers just because they're from that part of the country. There are already tons of other dealers from all over the place who have been waiting their turn and trying in vain to get in.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

That's not really how it works. Remember that table space at this show is such a hot commodity that any additional space wouldn't first simply open up for dealers just because they're from that part of the country. There are already tons of other dealers from all over the place who have been waiting their turn and trying in vain to get in.

So, what you've just said is that there would be no problem filling up a Vegas National with northeast dealers. In other words, there's no reason to NOT have one on the west coast.

[CurtisFlood]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Sure, but there simply are far more dealers from that area. The greatest concentration has always been in the Northeast. If the show was held in Van Buren, Arkansas, it wouldn't magically have a huge abundance of dealers from that state just because that's where it was being held. Also remember that people have their table spaces reserved years in advance, so you're going to see mostly the same faces no matter where it's held.

Well, big pig on the hill would roll down and set up.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Sure, but there simply are far more dealers from that area. The greatest concentration has always been in the Northeast. If the show was held in Van Buren, Arkansas, it wouldn't magically have a huge abundance of dealers from that state just because that's where it was being held. Also remember that people have their table spaces reserved years in advance, so you're going to see mostly the same faces no matter where it's held.

Hey, that would be the easiest National I've ever traveled to since I'm already there!

[Seven]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

To be fair, I've never visited Atlantic City, but I'm surprised to see it declared the country's (world's?) top restaurant destination.

There are honestly some very good restaurants out there. They have a nice balance of places that got their starts in Manhattan and then expanded, and some local favorites that often go under the radar by tourists but are well known to most locals/regular shore visitors.

[mrreality68]

Prefer AC

Like to do these trips with my wife

Tons available hotel rooms within walking distance of convention center


Great Restaurants

Boardwalk

Great evening action between shows, Gambling etc

[bobbvc]

Would be nice if at least 20% of the "Nationals" were on the west coast. Especially since the first one was.

[isiahfan]

Sorry if I missed it if already posted somewhere within the dozens of National threads and all....but have they posted the results of the vote for the 2026 show?

[bcornell]

Originally Posted by bobbvc

Would be nice if at least 20% of the "Nationals" were on the west coast. Especially since the first one was.

I asked John Broggi (soon-to-be-former show organizer) this - how is it a "National" when the event can now only be held in 3 locations?

Mike Berkus once said Anaheim "didn't want us" after 2006 because it's a consumer show and they want, er, whatever the alternative is. Well, if you went to Rosemont in 2023, you know it's just barely a consumer show now.

Stop letting the dealers alone dictate where the show is held. There are fewer and fewer or them and they take bribes (looking at you, AC, with your payola).

Fanatics is going to save us all from these amateurs when they buy the thing and fix it. Maybe.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by bcornell

Fanatics is going to save us all from these amateurs when they buy the thing and fix it. Maybe.

As far as I know, through the information that has been released, Fanatics seems to be setting up a show to "compete" with the National and not replace it. I certainly think there's enough room for two shows to operate. My hope is the fanatics show draws the interest of modern and breakers, and the National gets a little more back to its roots. I would not be devastated to see the nonsense of Whatnot leave the national. Breakers/breaking culture, is a plague on the Hobby IMO.

[Bigdaddy]

DC/Baltimore or Atlanta.

There's always a ballgame in the DC/Baltimore area as the O's and Nats switch off on who is home on any given day. Some large convention centers in those cities.

[conor912]

Vegas, baby!!!

[kailes2872]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

To be fair, I've never visited Atlantic City, but I'm surprised to see it declared the country's (world's?) top restaurant destination.

They might have gotten that distinction on Chef Vola's alone!

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by kailes2872

They might have gotten that distinction on Chef Vola's alone!

AC has some truly excellent restaurants. However for real foodies it ain't Vegas.

I have zero doub I could get a far better meal one mile from the AC Convention center than I could at almost any current National site.