Future of the National – South and West Locations

[ocjack]

Seems like this has become a routine subject for discussion. Maybe that means we can have a ground-swell of activism for the movement of the show. And I still wonder if East Coast dealers are basically telling the Committee that they won't travel across the country. So that, combined with any other financial interests they may have, dictates the current location rotation.

Previous discussion: https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...light=national

[theuclakid]

yes this is somewhat dictated by the fact most National dealers are from the mid west and east...the expenses to travel to the west are more... secondly the venue has to be large enough and that eliminates a lot of potential areas I have been told...thirdly the time around the end of July and early August has to be available for a venue as that is when the NSCC people like to run it, also the "deal" the NSCC people get from certain venues to host it is important to them (they can make more money) especially like Atlantic City....also the NSCC have to be willing to commit to years in advance to a certain location to get considered...like Baltimore Inner harbor which was a great spot....the NSCC hasn't been willing to do that so that venue has not been feasible since 2012...Baltimore Inner harbor is a popular convention spot

I am from the west coast but the national hasn't returned here since 2006

Bruce Perry

National dealer

[rhettyeakley]

In the past it has always been the East Coast (& to a lesser extent the Midwest) dealers telling the Committee that they weren’t willing to travel west. That has always I feel been enough to persuade the committee that they shouldn’t because they didn’t want to have an empty convention hall. With the current popularity of sports cards/collectibles that doesn’t really feel like a valid enough reason anymore. There are literal waiting lists for booths at these shows.

It is incredibly short sighted by the committee to continue short-changing the non East Coast/Midwest collectors & dealers.

Being in Idaho I know I am going to have to travel far for any show, it is something that comes with the territory. The East/Midwest guys have never felt the need to conform to a traveling venue, nor do they feel like they should ever have to. They have always had the show in their backyard but I guarantee they would travel every few years if they were to do a Vegas/West coast show every 3rd year or something.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

In the past it has always been the East Coast (& to a lesser extent the Midwest) dealers telling the Committee that they weren’t willing to travel west. That has always I feel been enough to persuade the committee that they shouldn’t because they didn’t want to have an empty convention hall. With the current popularity of sports cards/collectibles that doesn’t really feel like a valid enough reason anymore. There are literal waiting lists for booths at these shows.

It is incredibly short sighted by the committee to continue short-changing the non East Coast/Midwest collectors & dealers.

Being in Idaho I know I am going to have to travel far for any show, it is something that comes with the territory. The East/Midwest guys have never felt the need to conform to a traveling venue, nor do they feel like they should ever have to. They have always had the show in their backyard but I guarantee they would travel every few years if they were to do a Vegas/West coast show every 3rd year or something.

Exactly because they know they would make a S Ton of money in Las Vegas. If the Money is there to be made there is no way in hell they, the dealers would miss it. I’m not saying get rid of AC or Chicago how about throw a Las Vegas in Every 3-5 years.

[ValKehl]

I am very surprised that some ambitious, forward-thinking, sports-card show promoter hasn't started an annual "Western National Sports Collectors Show" long before now, held each winter (February would be ideal, IMHO). I have been to a National at Anaheim, and based on that experience, I have little doubt that a show promoter would be able to fill a huge venue with dealers, including most of the major dealers from the East Coast, especially if said promoter set low table fees for the first year or two with the goal of merely breaking even until the show becomes fully established.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

I am very surprised that some ambitious, forward-thinking, sports-card show promoter hasn't started an annual "Western National Sports Collectors Show" long before now, held each winter (February would be ideal, IMHO). I have been to a National at Anaheim, and based on that experience, I have little doubt that a show promoter would be able to fill a huge venue with dealers, including most of the major dealers from the East Coast, especially if said promoter set low table fees for the first year or two with the goal of merely breaking even until the show becomes fully established.

I agree. It appears that the folks who run the show think the venues in the current rotation are the most profitable and least risky options for them. It's their decision because it's their investment on the line. And I have no problem at all with that. If a market isn't being served, then I think you'll just have to wait for someone else to recognize that and start a new show.

[KCRfan1]

If the goal is to get foot traffic ( hence consumers ) thru the door, the show has to be in the eastern part of the country.

This is where the population base is. A venue in Cleveland, drawing an 800 mile radius, has access to tens of millions of people. AC is the same, as is Chicago although a lesser extent.

This is a distance that can be driven in a day.

Vegas, unless you live in LA, you are flying, not to mention a much more limited population to draw from with the same 800 mile radius.

I live in South County and would love a national, however if I were involved in the decision making process there is no way I go west with the show.

[Sportsnutcards]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Exactly because they know they would make a S Ton of money in Las Vegas. If the Money is there to be made there is no way in hell they, the dealers would miss it. I’m not saying get rid of AC or Chicago how about throw a Las Vegas in Every 3-5 years.

I actually think the National would be a major flop in Vegas. Vegas is great for tradeshows, not so much for consumer shows. I am not a big fan of it being in Atlantic city, but at least it is drivable from 3 Major Metro areas.

[mr2686]

Las Vegas has a yearly Industry Summit and a (so far) 200 table show to go with it (their goal is at least 400 tables). I suspect that we collectors out West will have to settle for that and help it grow until it's our own West Coast National.

[parkplace33]

Lots of great responses here. I hope the board will be more forward leaning and look for more venues in the future.

Another question I have is why AC continues to be in the mix. It isn’t a destination spot and is 2 hours away from a major airport.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by theuclakid

yes this is somewhat dictated by the fact most National dealers are from the mid west and east...the expenses to travel to the west are more... secondly the venue has to be large enough and that eliminates a lot of potential areas I have been told...thirdly the time around the end of July and early August has to be available for a venue as that is when the NSCC people like to run it, also the "deal" the NSCC people get from certain venues to host it is important to them (they can make more money) especially like Atlantic City....also the NSCC have to be willing to commit to years in advance to a certain location to get considered...like Baltimore Inner harbor which was a great spot....the NSCC hasn't been willing to do that so that venue has not been feasible since 2012...Baltimore Inner harbor is a popular convention spot

I am from the west coast but the national hasn't returned here since 2006

Bruce Perry

National dealer

And some places ask the NSCC to guarantee an insane amount of hotel rooms. Trust me, it's not as easy as we would prefer

This thread is now a dozen years old and some of the posters, including Mike Berkus, are no longer with us but the themes are well the same

https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...ht=Mike+Berkus