Now that the dust has settled...

[brass_rat]

I'd like to echo the comments that there are a lot of auction houses advertising and displaying upcoming auction lots (which is kind of neat -- I got to hold a Ruth gamer and take photos with it). One well-known ebay specialist, however, simply setup a bunch of la-z-boy recliners and took up a lot of space.

On the whole, the show very much feels like a card museum with a gift tables (where you can buy autographed items hot off the press). Pre-war definitely felt underrepresented.

I like Cleveland more than Chicago and Baltimore because the I-X Center is larger. (I-X has about 1 million sq. ft. compared to 840k sq. ft. in Chicago and 400k sq. ft. in Baltimore.) A side note, the food inside Cleveland is much better than either of the other two locations.

Had it not been for the case breakers (with whom I have no issues), the show's attendance would have been abysmal.

I look forward to weekends in cities where I can catch ballgames as well -- I made it to two exciting Rangers/Indians games on Friday and Sunday. Atlantic City won't have that...in fact, AC in 2016 may very well be one of the most depressing cities in the US. The local economy there continues to dive, and crime is only destined to get worse after the next few casinos close.

Overall, I really enjoyed the National. Hopefully, the case breakers will breath life into the future of the hobby and perhaps some of those chasing the lottery inserts will find enjoyment in pre-war in the future. (I understand that it's easier for young collectors to relate to modern players more so that historical figures.)

Have a nice day,
Steve

[Tyler]

I have family in Cleveland, so it is a good excuse for me to time my trips around the National there.

I dropped my young child off at my sister's and spent 5 hours on my own...I had an absolute blast.

Highlights...

-Finally got to meet Leon (hi Leon). It was so cool to finally see and hold his multi-strike and Matty proof. I have been following the board and occasionally participating for around 7 years.

-I filled a bunch of holes in my 59 Topps set. Met some really cool dealers in the process. They were far more friendly than I had anticipated.

-I got to see some AMAZING items. I like the fact that the auction houses are there to show their upcoming lots. T206 Wagner, that Cy Young collection of cabinets, etc.

-Thanks to the overwhelming amount of beer stands, I caught a buzz and decided to overpay for some items. I have no regrets, I am not the fizziest pop in the fridge, but I wasn't going to go home empty handed.

Overall, it was a great experience. I had a great time making some deals with Levi of 707. I took home a '33 Goudey Gehrig and I could not be happier.

See you in Cleveland '18!

[kamikidEFFL]

Tyler sounds like you had fun. Glad to hear that you were able to score some PC items

[the 'stache]

If they had the National in Dallas, I'd be there in a heartbeat. Traveling to Chicago, or Cleveland, is an impossibility for me.