Cleveland's IX Center to Close - Home to the National

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by conor912

Good luck to anyone making decisions about mask rules. That in and of itself could be a nightmare.

Even here is Texas if the masks are mandated by county, state, etc then most of the people will honor that request. Kyle's August show had about 90 percent compliance. Not perfect but much better than June's show.

Rich

[Exhibitman]

Absent a vaccine or good treatments and everyone behaving like a grown-up instead of an entitled child, I am not going regardless. Only an asshole gets killed for baseball cards.

[conor912]

Regardless of vaccines, treatments, or compliance, masks are going to be around and a hot button issue for the next couple of years at least, I would think. I personally wouldn’t go to an indoor event with that many people without 100% enforced compliance, and even then I’d be on the fence. I know others feel differently it’s their right to do so....but my point being, I’m not sure if they’ll be able to make enough people comfortable with the situation to make it worth having the show in tue next couple of years. The end question is, it better to try and have it be a flop attendance-wise, or not have one at all?

[ocjack]

Dependent on vaccines/masks/large indoor gatherings, maybe sometime next year, we could see the National morp into several large, regional shows. Less people, smaller venue, more (relatively speaking) safety.

I sense that many people believe the National, as is, has grown into something never intended by the original "trailblazers." Perhaps this give the collecting community the opportunity to get back to something closer to the original.

[Exhibitman]

Well, you could definitely pick up the entire corporate section and move it to another room...or just drop it in the ocean with the 1952 Topps high numbers.

[conor912]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Well, you could definitely pick up the entire corporate section and move it to another room...or just drop it in the ocean with the 1952 Topps high numbers.

Originally Posted by ocjack

Dependent on vaccines/masks/large indoor gatherings, maybe sometime next year, we could see the National morp into several large, regional shows. Less people, smaller venue, more (relatively speaking) safety.

I sense that many people believe the National, as is, has grown into something never intended by the original "trailblazers." Perhaps this give the collecting community the opportunity to get back to something closer to the original.

I understand the draw of one big show every year for several reasons I won’t go into. I do wonder how masks would inhibit the social piece of the show, which is a major one for most attendees. It’s a crappy situation for all involved. I do think that some careful planning and consideration could produce a pretty awesome virtual National. I know someone tried one, which I’m sure provided a lot of takeaways. It would require a patchwork (video, audio, IM) of, or possibly its own platform, but it could be cool. Not the same, but cool. You could still charge admission, dealer fees, everything. You could have speakers, lectures, special signings. You can still have breaks. They could run ads (commercials, basically) for corporate sponsors. These could offset the platform costs easily since you have no rent, union fees, etc to deal with. Yes it would be a logistical challenge, but anything that happens will be anyway, so what the hell.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by conor912

I understand the draw of one big show every year for several reasons I won’t go into. I do wonder how masks would inhibit the social piece of the show, which is a major one for most attendees. It’s a crappy situation for all involved. I do think that some careful planning and consideration could produce a pretty awesome virtual National. I know someone tried one, which I’m sure provided a lot of takeaways. It would require a patchwork (video, audio, IM) of, or possibly its own platform, but it could be cool. Not the same, but cool. You could still charge admission, dealer fees, everything. You could have speakers, lectures, special signings. You can still have breaks. They could run ads (commercials, basically) for corporate sponsors. These could offset the platform costs easily since you have no rent, union fees, etc to deal with. Yes it would be a logistical challenge, but anything that happens will be anyway, so what the hell.

I will assure you Masks had almost no effect on socialization at Kyle's August show. Bigger issues would be with physical distancing what can the corporates do and the autograph areas. The card show area can actually with a few adjustments continue as it was.

Rich

[ocjack]

Quick question: At a virtual convention, if I make a hot dog at home, do I have to send someone $12.00?

[conor912]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I will assure you Masks had almost no effect on socialization at Kyle's August show. Bigger issues would be with physical distancing what can the corporates do and the autograph areas. The card show area can actually with a few adjustments continue as it was.

Rich

Im sure there’s plenty of physical space. I was speaking more to people’s comfort level (and how that would effect their willingness to go at all) as opposed to the geographical logistics. Im not saying its not possible...just curious how it would pan out. There’s really only one way to find out!