AC vs Rosemont: A live stream National Trip Report

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Lobo Aullando

Yep, Maria's. Ate there tonight. They didn't even have a line when I showed up 30 minutes after we all got kicked out of the Convention Center. The chimichanga could have been a bit crispier, but it tasted good, and that's what matters.

When you are talking Mexican, it’s the Margs that truly matter.

[Lobo Aullando]

Point, Steve.

I'm just averse to drinking within a day or two of flying. Still, I plan to atone by making stops at some of the Midwest's best breweries.

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

When you are talking Mexican, it’s the Margs that truly matter.

[Fballguy]

Two days was enough for me. As mentioned by others the air conditioning was not firing on all cylinders and the main room was a steam bath. My favorite vendors were all coated in a glistening sheen and I'm pretty sure by 2:00pm on Thursday a pandemic of swamp ass had broken out. The heat only intensified by the crowd, especially when a human ileus, typically an outsized male, stops in the middle of an aisle to play on his phone causing a human pile up behind him. I heard rumors of toilets being down as well. Good times.

I had walked the floor for six hours on Wednesday and six more on Thursday and figured I had seen everything at least twice. But of course, I never could figure out the layout of the place with the side rooms upon side rooms. At one point I decided to take a walk over to Gibsons for lunch, but I was so deep in, I couldn't find the exit. I thought I was going to have to Kool Aid Man my way out. I eventually did escape, but the layout was a mess. And sure enough, less than 30 minutes after calling it a National, back in the comfort of my freezing cold hotel room, a friend texts me a picture of a booth I somehow had missed. Looked like he had some stuff I may have been interested in, but I wasn't going back.

It wasn't the best show in terms of memorabilia (unless maybe you're a Whale...which I'm not). Being a football only guy limited my options even more. For the "$1000 or less" demographic it was slim pickings and what was there was essentially the same exact (literally) stale stuff I couldn't get the dealers to negotiate on at the National last year....or that I wasn't interested in to begin with. The National is all about cards. If you're not into cards, you can erase 90% of the show and it becomes more about getting together with old friends and meeting new ones. That was definitely the highlight of the trip.

In terms of comparison to Atlantic City, AC definitely wins for me. I'm a coastal guy, not a land locked guy, so the scenery is better for sure. Easier city to get to. Straight shot drive from my hotel to the AC convention center. Better food options (close by) and a much better haul of what I collect. Small sample size for sure, but the needle has swung towards AC for now. Not to mention it was one large rectangular room which made it much easier to know what you've seen and then find it again if you're looking for it. I did have a great time though, primarily because of the people, and will be back hopefully many times regardless of location.

I mentioned pictures previously, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to post multiple pics each with individual comments, so sorry for the chopped up array that follows...but here's one to start.

Machine Gun Kelly attempting to slip into the show unnoticed. In all seriousness, that's a great pennant case. I need to get one of those.

[Fballguy]

I was lucky enough to score my first 1 of 1 (finding a hot girl at the National). In all seriousness, I spent hours in this booth perusing that pile of pennants again and again just to make sure I didn't miss anything.

[Fballguy]

My first purchase...Lightly used 1960s Giants pennant with a minor defect. But alas, it's not for me. Bought for a friend.

[Fballguy]

Here's one of the football themed holdovers from the Atlantic City National but I include this photo as a PSA for all the eBay sellers out there. Here I've violated my own eBay pet peeve...A foot (feet) appearing in the listing photos. Crop that shit out.

[Fballguy]

Just a picture of something I didn't buy...

[Huck]

LOL! Thanks for the update on the pandemic!

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Huck

LOL! Thanks for the update on the pandemic!

Fauci was there handing out baby wipes.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

it was slim pickings and what was there was essentially the same exact (literally) stale stuff I couldn't get the dealers to negotiate on at the National last year....or that I wasn't interested in to begin with.

I'm an autograph guy, and it was the very same way year after year after year. It became progressively more annoying wasting all that time and money only to see the same stale junk I passed on 10 years prior. Never again. Shows have gone the way of the dinosaur. Useless, overpriced regurgitated garbage.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

Machine Gun Kelly attempting to slip into the show unnoticed. In all seriousness, that's a great pennant case. I need to get one of those.

How could you resist the temptation to go ask Machine Gun what he had in the case? And all those guys in sandals--seriously, you're going to spend all day walking a concrete floor in sandals? Am I showing my age?

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

How could you resist the temptation to go ask Machine Gun what he had in the case? And all those guys in sandals--seriously, you're going to spend all day walking a concrete floor in sandals? Am I showing my age?

Oh I did...I know him. He and his dad are pennant super collectors. Jordan and Dave Gross. Great guys. One of the most impressive pennant collections out there.

And you are 100% correct. The flip flops were a mistake. My lower back was tightening up by Wednesday evening. It was sneakers from then on.

[Seven]

I will say, the sketchiness of AC outside of the main strip (well even inside the main strip, but you know what I'm talking about) aside, I feel like their are some great things to do in Atlantic City. Some top notch restaurants, shows, gambling, you're also not far from some of the very nice shore towns, if you wanted to take an extended trip after going to the National for a couple of days.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Seven

I will say, the sketchiness of AC outside of the main strip (well even inside the main strip, but you know what I'm talking about) aside, I feel like their are some great things to do in Atlantic City. Some top notch restaurants, shows, gambling, you're also not far from some of the very nice shore towns, if you wanted to take an extended trip after going to the National for a couple of days.

All true. And many people walked the relatively short distance
From their hotel to the AC Convention Center. Not the greatest walk but fine with a friend or two. Beats staying 10 miles away in some crap hotel and dealing with Uber.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

Oh I did...I know him. He and his dad are pennant super collectors. Jordan and Dave Gross. Great guys. One of the most impressive pennant collections out there. And you are 100% correct. The flip flops were a mistake. My lower back was tightening up by Wednesday evening. It was sneakers from then on.

Right, not even sandals--flip flops! Never had any use for them off the beach, but they seem to be footwear of choice for everyday apparel among younger guys now. For doing the National, though? Can't imagine that.

[Stupe the Second Sacker]

Fantastic report! Thank you!

[notfast]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

In terms of comparison to Atlantic City, AC definitely wins for me. I'm a coastal guy, not a land locked guy, so the scenery is better for sure. Easier city to get to. Straight shot drive from my hotel to the AC convention center. Better food options (close by) and a much better haul of what I collect. Small sample size for sure, but the needle has swung towards AC for now. Not to mention it was one large rectangular room which made it much easier to know what you've seen and then find it again if you're looking for it. I did have a great time though, primarily because of the people, and will be back hopefully many times regardless of location.

There are a TON of food options within 1sq mile of the convention center….and none of them involved being harassed by a crackhead on the street.

You might be the first person I’ve seen say AC is better than Rosemont because of convenience and food options. I think the fact you stayed a good distance a way skewed you.