Thoughts on Atlantic City 2016

[e107collector]

I am planning on attending my first National next year. I know AC isn't what it use to be, but I think it should attract a high attendance, especially on the east coast.

I think it will be a great time!! Hopefully, I'll get to meet a lot of the folks I chat with on the board, and finally put a face to them.

Tony

[Bicem]

Too far for West Coasters, will be going to Vegas that week instead.

[packs]

I'll be there and going to my first national. I don't see what dealers have to complain about. AC is the place to be for a buyer. People at the show are going to need slot money and when you lose big, you get desperate for cash. And if you win big, it burns a hole in your pocket. Seems like a dream come true for any dealer.

[mrvster]

It's going to be AWESOME! my first national...meeting all my net 54 friends.......

JERSEY STRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


debut of "The Circus"...


..gambling........shows......food......boardwalk.. ..

lions, and tigers, and bears, OH MY

[Runscott]

Will definitely skip it. I was warned that Cleveland would be awful for dealers, but I went anyway and took a bath financially. It was still very positive because of all the interaction with other collectors, and it was a fantastic road trip.

I can't drive all the way to Atlantic City, and from what I've heard it is not a great thing for dealers.

[wondo]

I'll be there - two hours from the house!

[mark evans]

I'm giving the trip serious consideration as it is a reasonable car or train ride from DC. Maybe even confuse my wife to join me if we can find something to do with Daisy (our French bulldog who brings new meaning to the term "frisky").

[Donscards]

I cant wait as a dealer, one of the few times I can drive to a National from Maine---I did hear some dealers will not do it due to no direct flights into AC----they have to fly to Philly or NY and then rent a car do get their goods there.--But I cant wait---I feel there will be a large crowd since East Coast Collectors will be able to drive From New England, NY , Pa. etc.----

[rjackson44]

i have a house in long beach island 30 min away will be there in a heartbeat.just dont venture to the seedy part of town not worth it .

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

I hate to say it but probably gonna have to sit out next year's National. Too far to drive from where I live.

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by mark evans

I'm giving the trip serious consideration as it is a reasonable car or train ride from DC. Maybe even confuse my wife to join me if we can find something to do with Daisy (our French bulldog who brings new meaning to the term "frisky").

Don't laugh but go to this link:

http://www.bringfido.com/lodging/cit...ic_city_nj_us/

There are a few nice hotels in AC that are pet friendly and if that gets you all to AC then go baby go!

Peace, Mike

[Iron Horse]

I was there once many years ago for the national. Don't recall the year( in the 80's mid to late) remember the Trump hotel was not done yet to but i was young lol
Wish it would come to the west coast at some point
From what i recall it was a good show, and the dealer i was helping back then he put the cash in his shoes till we walked back to our hotel.

[MVSNYC]

A true "National" collector's event, should be rotated evenly over time...East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, South, etc...a decade of Chicago, Cleveland, Chicago, Chicago, Cleveland, Chicago, BALTIMORE, Chicago, Cleveland, ATLANTIC CITY, Chicago, etc...isn't exactly evenly rotated. There has to be great venues in other parts of the country.

I'd love to see Los Angeles, NYC, Dallas, etc. added to the mix...I am excited about AC, and happy to see that they are trying to mix it up. Will be fun.

[conor912]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

A true "National" collector's event, should be rotated evenly over time...East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, South, etc...a decade of Chicago, Cleveland, Chicago, Chicago, Cleveland, Chicago, BALTIMORE, Chicago, Cleveland, ATLANTIC CITY, Chicago, etc...isn't exactly evenly rotated. There has to be great venues in other parts of the country.

I'd love to see Los Angeles, NYC, Dallas, etc. added to the mix...I am excited about AC, and happy to see that they are trying to mix it up. Will be fun.

+1

Currently, it's the equivilant of having the Super Bowl in the same 3 cities over and over. It would motivate me a lot more to so to, say, Chicago, if I knew it wasn't going to go back there for another 10 years. It's like that overpriced card you really want on eBay....some day you might pull the trigger, but it's not going anywhere so no need for any urgencey.

Seattle doesn't need any more congestion, but Portland could be really cool, as well as NorCal.

[packs]

While I was still living in SF I always wondered why the National never came out there. The Cow Palace hosts a huge Tristar show every year.

[buymycards]

I plan on going. It will be a long drive from Wisconsin, but it will be worth the drive to get some fresh seafood.

[bobbyw8469]

I think I will never go to a National. If I want overpriced cards, I will just buy from the handful of Ebay sellers that have been rehashed through ever card forum message board for years. Everyone knows who they are.

[the-illini]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

A true "National" collector's event, should be rotated evenly over time...East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, South, etc...

That's fine but there are better choices than Atlantic City IMO.

[MVSNYC]

Chris, I do agree. Though I'm happy to have it on the east coast next year, and I am not one who minds that it is in AC...I do agree there has to be better choices on the east coast going forward.

[toppcat]

I expect to be there, possibly even for a fourth night this time. All in all though, the location is not ideal.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

St. Louis, Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, Phoenix, Denver, etc are just a few places that I can think of which might serve as good venues....bright, sunny places with baseball teams (mostly) I realize some of these places have hosted a few years back.

[Steve_NY]

As always, I will be close to the front door at booth 451. I have done all three of the New Jersey Nationals and have done decently at all of them. The same collectors make it to all of the Nationals for the largest selection of sports card merchandise every year. I don't expect that to change next year. I plan on making a large display of non sports and sports cards -- cards, unopened packs, boxes. empty boxes and uncut card sheets. I am on the prowl for more of the same so keep me in mind.

I plan on having a terrific show, and hope that many of the people who are considering not attending will change their mind. It is to their advantage to show up and see what we all have found during the current year. I am always on the search for new items. Don't miss out just because you have a bad feeling about A.C. If you put up a great display, you will do fine. The last 33 years of setting up at Nationals speak for themselves.

Thanks for making Chicago another great year for Mitch and me.

Steve Sabow
DynamicTwo@aol.com
914-522-3853 (Cell)

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

For those that went to the Anaheim CA show was it good/bad?

[CharleyBrown]

Definitely going - it will be my first National.

[mybestbretts]

It seems all the people that are happy live on the East coast.
To be quite honest, I think its a shame it isn't centrally located
so its at least located where more people can get to it in a reasonable
time.
It seems short sited to place it on either coast. But then, you have all
these people that say they will be going, so maybe they will make up
for the people that won't???

Apparently to organizers of "The National", baseball card collecting does not exist west of the Mississippi. No Nationals nearby through 2019..... Did Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle run out of convention spaces available? Oh well, rather go to the twice annual WSSCA show anyway! No loudspeakers, other than the raised voices of excited collectors

[t206hound]

Originally Posted by pariah1107

Apparently to organizers of "The National", baseball card collecting does not exist west of the Mississippi. No Nationals nearby through 2019..... Did Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle run out of convention spaces available? Oh well, rather go to the twice annual WSSCA show anyway! No loudspeakers, other than the raised voices of excited collectors

Here's why... 50% of the U.S. population lives within 500 miles of Columbus Ohio. That's why there's the general alternating between Chicago and Cleveland... And why the west coast won't (regularly) get it.
http://homes-columbus.com/2012/03/7-...columbus-ohio/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Erick, great info. I did not realize Ohio was the center of the universe

[btcarfagno]

I will most likely go because it is the national and all. I live in New Jersey and can find very few reasons to make the two hour drive to AC. Ever. Absolute hole of a town. Makes Camden look like Sesame Street.

Tom C

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

I will most likely go because it is the national and all. I live in New Jersey and can find very few reasons to make the two hour drive to AC. Ever. Absolute hole of a town. Makes Camden look like Sesame Street.

Tom C

Come on Tom ....Just stay away from Baltic, Mediterranean, Vermont and Oriental Aves. You've played Monopoly......

[Jewish-collector]

The short version is that the National will rotate forever between Chicago & Cleveland with another city thrown in once every 3 or 4 years. Next year for Atlantic City is that "another city". The National hasn't confirmed any other "another city" yet.

[Runscott]

If it were in Alpine, Texas my guess is that people who lived near Alpine, Texas would be very happy and would tell us what a great time we would have. And we probably would. But there are better places to have a National than Alpine, Texas and there are better places to have it than Atlantic City. Unfortunately, politics and money drive everything in the United States, so look forward to more nationals in Atlantic City and Cleveland and none in places that seemingly make great sense...other than Chicago...because of money and politics.

[DixieBaseball]

I will be traveling from the South to the National for the first time in 3 years next year. I have grown tired of the usual places, like Cleveland, Chicago (I really like Chicago but I have been there too many times), etc. and really look forward to a different venue/location. I am bringing my wife and friend and his wife due to the new venue/location.

I hope they continue to mix it up and pump fresh locations in for the National. Orlando ? Dallas ? Nashville? Charlotte? St. Louis?

[MVSNYC]

Cool research, Kevin. The first 20-ish years of the show, exhibits great variety and a nice balance...I wish that was able to be maintained on an ongoing basis.

Great stats Kevin. I retract my earlier statement. Apparently they know some card collectors ARE west of the Mississippi but really don't care since 2006.

[kmac32]

I would definitely vote for a West Coast venue. San Diego, Los Angeles, Vegas, Phoenix all would be awesome. Atlantic City, not so much. I have been to Downtown Chicago in the late 80's, Rosemont, and Cleveland so why not one on the West coast. San Diego has Comic Con so why not the national? My 2 cents worth.

[Enfuego]

Looking forward to it!!!

[AddieJoss]

Spirit Airlines flys direct into Atlantic city. The airport is about 8 miles from the convention center and the casinos. They have dozens of locations that fly in AC.

[mrvster]

we keep this thread going until the national in anticipation

WE WILL MAKE IT AWESOME

[Greg Sonk]

I take the train every weekday from Atlantic City to Center City Philadelphia (30th St Station) and back for work, as I live in OCNJ year round (20 minute drive). Even I think it's a less than ideal location to hold a national, but some of you people are taking this way too far.

The train station (NJ Transit) is literally attached to the Convention Center. You don't even have to walk outdoors to get inside. The Sheraton is directly across a street that only carries convention center traffic. All of the casinos have shuttles to and from the train station if you prefer to stay there as well.

Yes, Atlantic City has sections that can be quite rough, but the area immediately around the convention center is completely fine. On the other side of the Sheraton is an area of outlet shopping that is packed on the weekends. I usually take a 4:30 or 6:40 AM train out of AC in the mornings and I have never had or even seen one problem in the years I have had this commute. Again, I get anyone not wanting to go to AC because it's not their thing, but the talk of it being anywhere near Camden is the definition of insanity. You could not pay me to walk around Camden anywhere other than the waterfront.

If anyone has any questions about the train or anything else in the surrounding area, feel free to shoot me a PM. I would be happy to help any way that I can.

[wondo]

Atlantic City is fine in the area of the convention center, the shopping outlets, boardwalk. I'll be staying at the Borgata casino which is just a shuttle or short cab away.

Maybe someone can hold craps lessons?