National Headed to Chicago Again in 2026

[parkplace33]

Why weren't other cities included in that vote?

[Lorewalker]

I got that email today. It said there were only 333 ballots cast and that was a great turnout. Seems low considering how many dealers set up, no?

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

I got that email today. It said there were only 333 ballots cast and that was a great turnout. Seems low considering how many dealers set up, no?

There were only around 355 dealers at the 2023 National. Many more booths because dealers have 2,3,4 each but 333 votes is a tremendous turnout based on historically less than half of that.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by rand1com

There were only around 355 dealers at the 2023 National. Many more booths because dealers have 2,3,4 each but 333 votes is a tremendous turnout based on historically less than half of that.

Sounds like great voter turnout. Appreciate the reply too.

[perezfan]

If you can't get a direct flight, that prospective city should not even be considered. They should've replaced AC with LV on their "ballot".

[jingram058]

If I am living in Connecticut by this spring, then Chicago is at least doable.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by perezfan

If you can't get a direct flight, that prospective city should not even be considered. They should've replaced AC with LV on their "ballot".

100 percent. They are still tied to that city. I guess NJ dealers still have pull.

[jcmtiger]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Why weren't other cities included in that vote?

Because this is how it works. LOL

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by jcmtiger

Because this is how it works. LOL

Totally right, why should I expect anything else?

Vegas would be a grand location. The knock I heard was that dealers wouldn't want to travel to Vegas, which I find hard to believe.

[timber63401]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Totally right, why should I expect anything else?

Vegas would be a grand location. The knock I heard was that dealers wouldn't want to travel to Vegas, which I find hard to believe.

They would have plenty of dealers that would set up.....maybe not all the old guard that gets tables every year but there absence would be replaced. Should be a rotating system in place for dealers anyways. For the record if it was in Chicago every year I wouldn't mind since that's the location closest to me but would love for them to try west of the Mississippi ONE FRICKEN TIME and see how it goes.

[obcbobd]

Am I understanding this correctly? The people who set up in Chicago voted where it should be in 2026 and they voted for Chicago.

[jiw98]

I personally like Chicago. It’s only 3 1/2 hours from home. Cleveland is about 6 hours, so that’s not too bad for me either. Is Indianapolis a place that’s not a good option? I’m not sure if the needed space is available, but it’s a centrally located location and should have plenty of rooms available.

[jethrod3]

Originally Posted by jiw98

I personally like Chicago. It’s only 3 1/2 hours from home. Cleveland is about 6 hours, so that’s not too bad for me either. Is Indianapolis a place that’s not a good option? I’m not sure if the needed space is available, but it’s a centrally located location and should have plenty of rooms available.

I've been a proponent for Indianapolis hosting the National as well. The Indiana Convention Center ballrooms cover 62,173 sq. ft. Can't remember what the space requirement is for the National----might be a tad bit too small. But when you add in Lucas Oil Stadium, which is connected to the Convention Center, that supposedly adds "up to 183,000 contiguous square feet of space." I have no idea if anyone seriously explored Indianapolis as an option though. Maybe time they should if they haven't yet.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Vegas would be a grand location. The knock I heard was that dealers wouldn't want to travel to Vegas, which I find hard to believe.

Yeah, this is nonsense. It seems to be based on this notion that there are no card dealers anywhere west of Chicago. As if there aren't a pile of dealers in California that would come to Las Vegas but not Chicago, same as there are dealers in Philly/wherever that will come to Chicago but not Vegas.

[The Detroit Collector]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Why weren't other cities included in that vote?

There's a good interview on YouTube with the National organizers.
Basically, they look for venues based on size (needs to be 500K sqft), range of dates in summer, hotels nearby, airport nearby.

A lot of good cities have shows already running every year at the main venues. For the National to come in and every 3 years and say, "Hey give me a week in primetime summer 3 years from now", the venues will always choose the shows that are constantly coming in year after year.

Link is below to anyone interested. They start talking about location selection at minute 13.
https://www.youtube.com/live/aCjPy1d...-CoBzHyRTD-rbp