National Locations Announced Through 2019

HaloFan · #1 06-21-2013, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EGreenwood

How did Anaheim works itself out of the rotation?

There is an issue that the promoters and the Anaheim Convention Center disagree with. It's been said here before, but I cannot remember the reason.

That is the official word. The real reason I suspect is related to majority of the dealers are east of the Mississippi and they don't want to travel several days trucking their wares cross-country. Anaheim is far from the only major trading post in the West. The last National in Anaheim was in 2006 and attendance was poor.

The bigger problem is that the show circuit in our hobby has slumped a great deal since the strike years. It isn't about kids, young people or the internet because they all show up to Comi-Con. But our hobby's culture has become more introverted and internet based. I have friends that collect(even vintage stuff) and they are in their mid-30s, but won't attend conventions.

Like how MLB is doing the World Baseball Classic to influence global competition and expansion, I've seen shows like the Culver City one pop up trying to revive show activity on the West Coast. Like a lot of people on this forum, I definitely try to support these efforts when I can but I expect it will be awhile before the board decides it's worth coming out West again.

Craig H.

conor912 · #2 06-21-2013, 12:59 AM

I'll go to a national when it's actually in a city and not 30 minutes away in some suburb or by an airport.

perezfan · #3 06-21-2013, 01:06 AM

Immensely disappointing. Either Anaheim or San Diego has to be put in the rotation.

San Diego has the following to offer...

Petco Park - 2 blocks away
Seaport Village - 2 blocks away
Gaslamp Quarter - 1 block away, with unlimited restaurants, bars, etc.
Tons of easily "walkable" hotels
A Gigantic Convention Center (which also supports ComicCon)

Nearby attractions for family members including...
San Diego Zoo
Wild Animal Park
Sea World
Mission Bay
The Beach
Belmont Amusement Park
LegoLand
Even Tijuana (if that's your thing)

Plus it's in the City, and less than 10 minutes from the Airport.

Plus you get the certainty of perfect weather. There cannot be a better location. The West always gets jobbed

travrosty · #4 06-21-2013, 09:41 AM

They need to spruce it up and give people new reasons to go.

comicon is as popular as ever. how come they can go to different cities?

my revised list of national convention locations

chicago
cleveland
chicago
cleveland
chicago
cleveland
chicago
cleveland
chicago
cleveland
chicago
cleveland
chicago
cleveland
no convention
no convention
no convention
no convention
no convention
no convention
no convention
no convention
no convention
no convention
...........

Leon · #5 06-21-2013, 09:55 AM

There is a board that makes the decision on where to have the National. That being said, the founder and promoter, Mike Berkus, is set to speak again at our Dinner this year at the National. He has gone over the reasoning for the locations before. It's not as easy as everyone thinks. The main things it has to do with are money (cost of venue), ingress and egress, contractual issues (can they reserve for years in the future) and sometimes it has to do with Unions. He has explained it a few times but that is what I remember. As I have said, for me personally, once I get on a plane I don't care where it is. I go to the show for the show, nothing else. It could be in a 350,000 sf tent in the desert (as long as there is ac) for all I care. I am going and am going to have fun. I go on family vacations for other things. I go to the show for the show. I am probably in the minority as usual.

MVSNYC · #6 06-21-2013, 10:18 AM

I was actually excited to see AC on the list...i'll reserve my room at Revel now

I think that would be a fun weekend for sure.

PS- I am also of the opinion that an NYC Nat'l would be amazing.

MattyC · #7 06-21-2013, 10:57 AM

So they can go east coast with AC but no love for Cali?

Boooooo for hating on the West.

Jaybird · #8 06-21-2013, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travrosty

They need to spruce it up and give people new reasons to go.

comicon is as popular as ever. how come they can go to different cities?

...........

Comicon is always in San Diego, but that being said I agree with everyone. The need to book it 5 years in advance is a little silly. I believe that is why Baltimore is out of the mix. One of the best sites for the National and should be in permanent rotation and I'm saying this as someone who lives on the West Coast.

Other cities would be great, or a permanent rotation that didn't include Cleveland. Bottom line is probably money. These guys are promoters and there is a dollar figure that they want to make in order to make it worthwhile to them. If there is a venue that doesn't make them the same amount of money, it gets axed from the list.

The local show that we put on, we do for fun. We are collectors first and foremost, not promoters. It's a different mindset.

BruceWayne · #9 06-21-2013, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travrosty

They need to spruce it up and give people new reasons to go.

comicon is as popular as ever.

Hey Travis,

Very funny about your proposed locations but I wanted to focus on this part of your quote. I agree and I have a theory in this regard. When I go to the National I can't help but notice there are very few young people/kids who attend. I am not saying there are NO kids, just that there are much less than one would expect at a National Convention of this nature.

I think one of the reasons for this is that the younger generation is growing up in a world completely different than ours. Their world is full of interaction (video games, etc) and the idea of looking at static images on pieces of cardboard is not very attractive to them. In fact, I gave my son, who is now 16, a number of 1960s and 1970s baseball cards of star players (Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, etc) when he was younger and he said "Thanks Dad, that's really nice." However, that night the cards went into his dresser drawer and I don't think he ever looked at them again. I simply don't think trading cards grab the imagination of the youth like it did in our day.

With that said, I think one thing that would truly increase the attendance at our conventions is to offer more interactive components for the youth. I still don't understand why we couldn't have companies like EA Sports and others there with interactive sports related games. I understand our industry is about nostalgia but I don't think we will truly reach our youth with this hobby unless we offer them more than what we are now. That's not to say things like "case breaks" are not appealing to some of the younger people who like to rip wax but I really think the interactive nature of the Comic Con is one of the reasons it is so popular and always draws huge numbers of people.

Just my thoughts.

HaloFan · #10 06-21-2013, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceWayne

Hey Travis,

Very funny about your proposed locations but I wanted to focus on this part of your quote. I agree and I have a theory in this regard. When I go to the National I can't help but notice there are very few young people/kids who attend. I am not saying there are NO kids, just that there are much less than one would expect at a National Convention of this nature.

I think one of the reasons for this is that the younger generation is growing up in a world completely different than ours. Their world is full of interaction (video games, etc) and the idea of looking at static images on pieces of cardboard is not very attractive to them. In fact, I gave my son, who is now 16, a number of 1960s and 1970s baseball cards of star players (Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, etc) when he was younger and he said "Thanks Dad, that's really nice." However, that night the cards went into his dresser drawer and I don't think he ever looked at them again. I simply don't think trading cards grab the imagination of the youth like it did in our day.

With that said, I think one thing that would truly increase the attendance at our conventions is to offer more interactive components for the youth. I still don't understand why we couldn't have companies like EA Sports and others there with interactive sports related games. I understand our industry is about nostalgia but I don't think we will truly reach our youth with this hobby unless we offer them more than what we are now. That's not to say things like "case breaks" are not appealing to some of the younger people who like to rip wax but I really think the interactive nature of the Comic Con is one of the reasons it is so popular and always draws huge numbers of people.

Just my thoughts.

I've read on blogs complaining that the National is mostly a vintage, high-dollar card affair and there is limited emphasis on new cards.

http://www.sportscardsuncensored.com...oming-extinct/

I'd guess 70% of the tables at the National are devoted to older stuff. Kids would be mostly drawn to newer stuff. Mike Trout excites them more than Mickey Mantle because his cards are more obtainable than the Mick in their mind and they can see/relate to him better.

Our hobby is vast and yes there is $$$ to be made, but the National doesn't seem to serve the diversity of the field that it could. I haven't got a clue as to how to change it, but that is what I see.

Another issue with the National requirements that puzzles me is their requirement for 18,000 sq. feet minimum(or whatever it is). The National only has about 500-700 tables--far from the 1000 tables there were 20 years ago. Maybe the committee has priced themselves out by having too many strict requirements??? Other events are held at the convention centers and they probably have to deal with the same requirements as the National committee, so it's somewhat of a headscratcher as to why the committee would limit itself to mostly Chicago and Cleveland.

Craig H.

Leon · #11 06-21-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaloFan

I've read on blogs complaining that the National is mostly a vintage, high-dollar card affair and there is limited emphasis on new cards.

http://www.sportscardsuncensored.com...oming-extinct/

I'd guess 70% of the tables at the National are devoted to older stuff. Kids would be mostly drawn to newer stuff. Mike Trout excites them more than Mickey Mantle because his cards are more obtainable than the Mick in their mind and they can see/relate to him better.

Our hobby is vast and yes there is $$$ to be made, but the National doesn't seem to serve the diversity of the field that it could. I haven't got a clue as to how to change it, but that is what I see.

Another issue with the National requirements that puzzles me is their requirement for 18,000 sq. feet minimum(or whatever it is). The National only has about 500-700 tables--far from the 1000 tables there were 20 years ago. Maybe the committee has priced themselves out by having too many strict requirements??? Other events are held at the convention centers and they probably have to deal with the same requirements as the National committee, so it's somewhat of a headscratcher as to why the committee would limit itself to mostly Chicago and Cleveland.

Craig H.

Not sure where you get your info but it's so far off I don't know where to start? First of all....18000 square feet? really.....how about almost exactly 20x that amount to hold a National. Minimum is about 325,000+ square feet. Then, 500-700 tables....well, how about 1100-1200, but who's counting? Strict requirements, no not really. It's called capitalism and they do it as a profit center, not as a benevolence event. No head scratcher at all if you have all of the correct information. And as far a catering to young folks, well, the last 12 of them I have been to had quite a few young folks but not enough. I actually think the hobby, with the internet the way it is, has grown over the last 30 yrs. It has made everyone be able to collect on so much more of a wide scale, and brought everyone together, I think it is more healthy than ever. If anyone doesn't think so just look at auction prices .....Just my view, nothing personal.....

Rich Klein · #12 06-21-2013, 12:52 PM

These shows are no where near being Kid orented, even if the yougsters come and get free admission with Daddy or Mommy -- the parent has already shlled out $25 for admission plus any fees for parking (Chicago is cheap if you use the MTA station at about $5) and any food, etc.

We should ask for lower admission fees, at some point we might eliminate any walk ups at that price.

Now free is too cheap, but IMHO only, a $10 admission charge is sufficient but that is just me

Rich

HaloFan · #13 06-21-2013, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

Not sure where you get your info but it's so far off I don't know where to start? First of all....18000 square feet? really.....how about almost exactly 20x that amount to hold a National. Minimum is about 325,000+ square feet. Then, 500-700 tables....well, how about 1100-1200, but who's counting? Strict requirements, no not really. It's called capitalism and they do it as a profit center, not as a benevolence event. No head scratcher at all if you have all of the correct information. And as far a catering to young folks, well, the last 12 of them I have been to had quite a few young folks but not enough. I actually think the hobby, with the internet the way it is, has grown over the last 30 yrs. It has made everyone be able to collect on so much more of a wide scale, and brought everyone together, I think it is more healthy than ever. If anyone doesn't think so just look at auction prices .....Just my view, nothing personal.....

Leon,

I never claimed I knew the specifics. I pulled those figures out of my butt. You are right there are 350,000 sq ft of space. But the website clearly states there are only 600 dealers and corporate displays. There used to be 1000. (I should have meant dealers not tables). The point was that the hobby seems to have consolidated somewhat(fewer dealers, fewer collectors, less $$$ available than 20 years' ago) yet the expectations have gotten larger???

http://nsccshow.com/show_details.shtml

I just think it's odd that the promoters make it seem like the only place viable to have a convention is in Chicago or Cleveland when other industries under the same circumstances regularly book events in other cities. This is largely what everyone has been complaining about--not that it is easy or cheap to set these things up.

The details as to why the National stays in those cities has been discussed before yet it appears people are not satisfied with the answers. I agree with you in that I do not really care where it is hosted. I've accepted the reasons as it is but apparently a lot of people do not feel that way.

Craig H.

T205 GB · #14 06-26-2013, 11:02 AM

Why schedule the Nationals at the same time every yr? Can't a month later or so work to place us at a venue that would draw a larger crowd?? Doesn't make much sense to me.

npa589 · #15 06-22-2013, 12:21 AM

Now, who would object to the convention being in Palm Beach? Brand new Convention center too!

At least then the Hawaiian shirts & jean shorts would fit the climate...

RCMcKenzie · #16 06-22-2013, 12:53 AM

I've only attended 1 national and it was Anaheim in the 80's and I stumbled through the door with my Dad and my Brother. We walked away with a primo Brett rookie for $3.

If they go to New Orleans or Hawaii, I could see going. Otherwise it's Bagger's, and Sterling, and ebay for me.

travrosty · #17 06-22-2013, 04:06 PM

what's the difference between calling something "the national" and calling something "the east coast national" if the national never hits anything west of chicago?

mrvster · #18 06-22-2013, 04:21 PM

I am stoked

This is the one you will all meet me at

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