Atlantic City

[Snapolit1]

If anyone is starting to make travel plans for the National in August and has questions about where to stay or other logistics, please feel free to reach out to me. I like AC a great deal, and it's not the really scary place some of you may have been led to believe. Having said that, there are a lot of cheap motels in the area that I would not stay in, never mind stay in with tens of thousands of dollars in valuable products with me. I would steer clear of motels and get in a real hotel. Many fine choices, and some of them start to get pricey.

[Snapolit1]

I'd also be happy to arrange an Italian restaurant dinner for some board members off the strip in a place that will totally blow your doors off.

[ksabet]

I am hoping to go...but I am using the convention as an excuse to the wife to play poker.

10% baseball cards
10% eating
80% losing money at poker

Actually thats 100% losing money.

[1880nonsports]

I hope I can get myself away from the casino for at least an hour a day to see the national....... St. Louis was crazy - up 6am - work the show until closing - casino until 7am the next day and back to the show to groundhog day it all over again. Last AC not so bad as my smoking and drinking got in the way. That predilection and the hookers keep me centered now. Those nights with Glenn and Jerry Spillman used to get a bit crazy.

[Head928]

I was just starting to think about the logistics last night so good timing on the thread.

I am interested to know your thoughts on getting to AC from Long Island. We are visiting family that week in LI (so I am not a local). The wife and I want to come down for a day of cards and night of dinner/gambling.

Should I just plan on driving down from LI or are there other convenient ways to get there such as train?

Also a dinner recommendation would be cool. thanks-

[x2drich2000]

Leon, I know it is early still, but any word on if there will be a net54 dinner again on the Friday night?

DJ

[sago]

Originally Posted by Head928

I was just starting to think about the logistics last night so good timing on the thread.

I am interested to know your thoughts on getting to AC from Long Island. We are visiting family that week in LI (so I am not a local). The wife and I want to come down for a day of cards and night of dinner/gambling.

Should I just plan on driving down from LI or are there other convenient ways to get there such as train?

Also a dinner recommendation would be cool. thanks-

Long Island Railroad to Penn Station. Amtrak to AC. Probably 1-1.5 hours longer than driving, depending on where on Long Island you will be. With unknown traffic conditions, taking the train could be better.

[brookdodger55]

Originally Posted by Head928

I was just starting to think about the logistics last night so good timing on the thread.

I am interested to know your thoughts on getting to AC from Long Island. We are visiting family that week in LI (so I am not a local). The wife and I want to come down for a day of cards and night of dinner/gambling.

Should I just plan on driving down from LI or are there other convenient ways to get there such as train?

Also a dinner recommendation would be cool. thanks-

I would recommend the Tropicana, newly remodeled sports bars, shopping and dining mall, Carmine's Italian Family Style. Cuban Resturant, Mexican, Chinese, Starbucks, small gourmet shops, nice music bars all in a separate corridor. Gaming is excellent wide variety, very large poker room with daily poker tournaments.
I would drive down parking is $10 for the day with a free transfers.
Since the national is there they might have a shuttle bus to the show. I happen to be staying there on the Thrusday night. They have a great sports bar $8 bottles of barefoot wines cheap food but very good and $5 40 ounce bottles of beer. Check out the website.

[Snapolit1]

No train convenient from LI. I grew up there know it well. Have to drive unless you want to endure a casino bus.
Chef Vola. Best Italian. Good places in Tropicana. Like the Cuban place. Fun. Also the White House sub shop cannot be missed on any trip to AC. Trust me. Cannot be missed. Also highly recommend the Knife and Fork Inn. If you were a fan of Boardwalk Empire cannot be missed.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

No train convenient from LI. I grew up there know it well. Have to drive unless you want to endure a casino bus.
Chef Vola. Best Italian. Good places in Tropicana. Like the Cuban place. Fun. Also the White House sub shop cannot be missed on any trip to AC. Trust me. Cannot be missed. Also highly recommend the Knife and Fork Inn. If you were a fan of Boardwalk Empire cannot be missed.

How is the walk to White House Subs from boardwalk area?

[KingFisk]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

No train convenient from LI. I grew up there know it well. Have to drive unless you want to endure a casino bus.
Chef Vola. Best Italian. Good places in Tropicana. Like the Cuban place. Fun. Also the White House sub shop cannot be missed on any trip to AC. Trust me. Cannot be missed. Also highly recommend the Knife and Fork Inn. If you were a fan of Boardwalk Empire cannot be missed.

+1 on Chef Vola. Went there years ago for a bachelor party...as I recall you had to know a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy to get a table there. Food was unreal...

[moeson]

Do you still need "an in" to get a reservation at Chef Vola? I had the pleasure of dining there twice over a decade ago and the food and overall experience was top notch!

[judsonhamlin]

I will be going for the day on Friday, most likely, I second Knofe & Fork and the down market charm of the Irish Pub

[Huck]

For those who would be setting up at the National, would you prefer Baltimore over AC? Just curious.

[Donscards]

I set up at both Baltimore Nationals. They were outstanding. Great hotels, restaurants, good parking, easy set up and collectors came in droves. Time will tell on Atlantic City. I know most dealers would love to see another Baltimoe National, but it will be a few years due to logistics. But I am looking forward to AC.

[parker1b2]

Originally Posted by moeson

Do you still need "an in" to get a reservation at Chef Vola? I had the pleasure of dining there twice over a decade ago and the food and overall experience was top notch!

Pretty much the same. Or you can try to call now for a reservation in August, but your phone call might not get returned. Very difficult to get in there for dinner.

If you never been, I agree you have to go to the White House Sub Shop.

[parker1b2]

Also, if anyone is going to be there for a few days with children, you should check out Ocean City NJ, about 10 miles south or so of AC . Best family boardwalk in NJ.

[Snapolit1]

Agreed. But not super convenient, as those 10 miles could take a lot longer than you'd figure in the summer.

[Snapolit1]

I called Chef Vola and easily got a res a few months ago. Summer might be more difficult. Angelo's Fairmont is off the strip and packs a lot of good local flavor. Is not Chef Vola's though. There is also Carmines near the Trop, in the attached mall ("The Quarter"). A chain but good, especially for large groups.

As far as hotels, I'd be careful with anything that looks like a cheap motel. Under $300 a night I'd say the Tropicana, Ballys and The Chelsea (not the annex part, that's gotten a little run down) are all solid choices.

If money is no object and you want the wife to be thrilled all weekend sporing for the Borgata or attached Water Club. Spas, outside pools with drinks, the whole 9 yards. Or the Golden Nugget.

Do not miss the White House sub shop. And do not order a whole sandwich. As long as your arm. Not kidding.

[Snapolit1]

Shereaton is in the middle of nowhere but is closest to the convention center and no casino, which means its quiet at night.

[4815162342]

.

[LuckyLarry]

I've never been to AC, but I'll agree with Daryl, the logistics seem like a nightmare. Last year I flew into ORD and took the free shuttle to my hotel. Took the free shuttle each day from my hotel to the convention. Took the free shuttle from my hotel to ORD for my return flight. It appears it would have been easier to fly from my home in Florida to the west coast. I'm leaning to just sitting this one out.
Larry

Originally Posted by 4815162342

The ridiculous logistics are exactly the reason I won't make it this year. See you in Chicago!

[mrvster]

we will see you there............you will love it!

[herbc]

Got my admission pass, and my hotel reservation through the conference website last week. I'll be staying at Bally's. It's not too far from the convention center. There was nothing available at the Sheraton. I'll probably take a casino bus in from NYC.

[Jewish-collector]

I missed last year's National in Chicago. I hope to be in Atlantic City.

[4815162342]

.

[Bobsbats]

Getting from Philly to AC might be the easiest ride you will have. Its more difficult to get out of the Philly airport, then once on the road getting to AC. Literally, going over the Walt Whitman bridge from Philly......you stay straight for 50+ miles straight to AC....LOL.

An easy commute for me, so I'll be there for sure.

Bob

[Jewish-collector]

Originally Posted by Bobsbats

Getting from Philly to AC might be the easiest ride you will have. Its more difficult to get out of the Philly airport, then once on the road getting to AC. Literally, going over the Walt Whitman bridge from Philly......you stay straight for 50+ miles straight to AC....LOL.

An easy commute for me, so I'll be there for sure.

Bob

Agree.

[Mdmtx]

Fun memories resurrected from the aggieville comments. Getting old isn't much fun.

[th38larg]

AC to NYC is a relatively easy drive also. Its a rough commute to do every day of the con, but you have the advantage of one of the best city in the world at your disposal. Easy to fly into as well.

As was mentioned by another poster, I'll probably take Casino buses back and forth between AC and Brooklyn. For those that don't know, these are buses run by the Casinos to bring in NYC patrons. Super cheap, sometimes free and some will even give you like a $20 voucher for whatever casino is running the bus.

[Leon]

It's kind of an ebb and flow with me as to going or not . Today I am not really "feeling" it. AC might be a good year to pass.....And with Mike Berkus's passing it won't be the same even if I do go. He was certainly a great hobbyist (to me) and did more for the hobby than most.

Originally Posted by 4815162342

Getting to Atlantic City is so easy that the National had to send an email to tell us just how easy.

http://editor.des08.com/vo/?FileID=6...57&listid=9400

[jerrys]

The last NSCC in AC was in 2003. Here are a few snap shots from that event:

AC012a.jpg

AC015a.JPG

AC052a.jpg

AC049a.jpg

AC044a.jpg

AC043a.jpg

AC028a.jpg

AC027a.jpg

AC026a.jpg

AC025a.jpg

AC023a.jpg

AC020a.jpg

[biggsdaddycool]

Anyone have an opinion on the Tropicana as far as being a good middle ground for proximity to family type activities vs the show.

Taking the wife and kids but last time we all went wasn't very appealing to the to be at the show so much. She was thinking they could go to a beach or places on the boardwalk to entertain while I was at the show, then they could go to the show in smaller doses.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks


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[Snapolit1]

I think the Trop is probably the single best hotel in AC to take a wife and kids who aren't into the show. There is a large indoor mall area ("The Quarter") that has some nice stores and great places to eat. There is an IMAX theater there kids are welcome at. And they are on the boardwalk/beach. As a footnote, also has a totally awesome fitness center if you are into working out. I'd totally recommend for families.

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by biggsdaddycool

Anyone have an opinion on the Tropicana as far as being a good middle ground for proximity to family type activities vs the show.

Taking the wife and kids but last time we all went wasn't very appealing to the to be at the show so much. She was thinking they could go to a beach or places on the boardwalk to entertain while I was at the show, then they could go to the show in smaller doses.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks


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I am not saying this to be dismissive or rude, but A.C. never really seems like much of a family destination, IMO. I am a huge fan of low limit poker, so I have probably been to Atlantic City 50-60 times in my life. Most of the shops on the boardwalk are very cheesy/tourist trap type of places and the city itself is a ghetto a few blocks off the boardwalk.

The Borgata is far, far and away the nicest casino in town, but it is in the marina district and not located on the boardwalk. Most of the casinos on the boardwalk have a tired, worn-out vibe to them.

Again, I am not trying to hate on the show. I hope it is hugely successful. But Atlantic City never really seems like much of a destination unless a person is going there to gamble or for a specific reason like a show or a concert. I say that just as a word of caution that your wife and kids may not enjoy A.C. as much as you hope they will. Atlantic City is a very grimy, adult-oriented city with many pawn shops, bars and adult themed venues.

On the whole, A.C. is dying. Four of the 12 casinos in town have closed since 2013 -- and more closings are expected. Legalized casino gaming in other states, especially Pennsylvania and Maryland, has just gutted A.C. in recent years. Personally, I have gone from going to A.C. 5-6 times a year to 1-2 times a year now that poker is legal in PA. As someone that has been going to Atlantic City only since the early 2000s, I can visibly see what a downturn the city has experienced just over the past five years.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/12/01/news...asinos-moodys/

http://www.politico.com/magazine/sto...s-dying-112057

[Jewish-collector]

I completely agree with Eddie. It actually was a family destination BEFORE the casinos were built, but it is not now. If you are deciding to take the family, I would strongly recommend not to and go by yourself.

There was a vote for the 2016 National between Anaheim and Atlantic City. Many of the dealers voted Atlantic City (which won the vote) since the dealers didn't want the west coast site. The reason Atlantic City was even considered in this last vote was because basically the National show promoters will pay next to nothing for the Atlantic City convention center for this summers National. The 2003 National was horrible for dealers, but they were willing to try it again.

I personally think the Atlantic City show will be a total disaster, for a variety of reasons, many logistical as mentioned in earlier posts. Most west coast collectors will not attend, so that will eliminate a lot of those collectors. Most New Yorkers and Philly collectors who went to the Baltimore shows by car or train, will definately drive or take a train to this national. So, the show will look very similar to the Baltimore National in terms of attendees.

[Huck]

I had heard that dealers were really happy with the National being held in Baltimore. I surely enjoyed the short drive to attend the show. Is there any truth to the rumor that the problem with the Baltimore Convention center is events can't be booked more than a year out?

[Snapolit1]

I couldn't disagree more with people who say keep your family away from Atlantic City. Yes, the outer fringes are pretty gritty, but there is no reason to go there. If you stay on the Boardwalk I am sure your spouse and children will find plenty to keep themselves busy. Hotels have pools, there is a beach, is a great old time amusement part on the Boardwalk. Many sows, an Imax theater at the Tropicana. Many fun restaurants. Yes, it has an urban city vibe, and yes there's a chance to might see some seriously wacky people wandering down the boardwalk, but if you limit your walking around to the populated areas and don't stagger around like a drunken sailor you'll be fine.

Sort of reminds me of when I moved to NJ and my well meaning friends would tell me not to go see the Newark Bears. Yes, Newark NJ has a scary murder rate. But that had nothing to do with the Bears stadium, which was about 2 minutes off the highway. And no one went to the Bears and an amazing franchise disappeared.

[4815162342]

Wow, there were ones and ones of people there!

[kailes2872]

I spoke with Uncle Dick at the Robert Morris show on Friday. He said that this will be the first one that he misses in 33 years. He said that 2003 was the only one that he ever lost money at. He said that it was very light on Thursdsy Friday and they kept waiting for the traffic to pick up over the weekend but it never did - hotel rates doubled over the weekend and traffic getting out was a nightmare so folks stayed away. I'll be there so hopefully folks will be ready to deal to generate some volume.

[LuckyLarry]

I've attended six Nationals: 1991 Anaheim, 1999 Atlanta, and the last four Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Chicago.

I'm probably not going to attend this year in AC. Flying into CLE BWI and ORD has been a breeze, with easy to catch free or low cost shuttles from the airport to my hotel. In Baltimore I walked to the venue. In Chicago, the hotel provided a free shuttle to/from the show. Atlantic City just sounds like a pain.

From the National Sports Collectors Convention website http://nsccshow.com "About the National"

"Seeking to involve collectors from around the country, founders of the National stipulated that the event should move around the country to insure all collectors and exhibitors could participate."

Dealers need to vote to move the location around the country some, but Atlantic City wasn't the correct vote for me. I would have rather flown out to Anaheim.

Larry

[AddieJoss]

Spirit air does fly direct into AC from several cities. You need to check thier site as they aren't on most of the others.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

This should be a very active show given how heated the card market is currently. I'm betting even this less than optimal host city won't dampen the amount of $ thrown at dealers.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

This should be a very active show given how heated the card market is currently. I'm betting even this less than optimal host city won't dampen the amount of $ thrown at dealers.

I think most of the dealers who will be there will do well. I also think that it will be a buyer's market. The dealers who might hurt are those with the high ticket items, IF the high ticket buyers don't show. But for the more average Joes (buyers and sellers), I think it will be a good show. Gut feel or wishful thinking, we'll see.

Not directed to AJ...

Y'all need to get a little more creative with your planning. In my case, this is the first year the wife will be able to come along. Will she go to the show? Maybe on one day for an hour or two. But since we got a time share exchange for a week on the beach in Brigantine for the price of one night's stay in an AC hotel, she'll be able to relax on the beach as much as she wants while I make the 15-20 minute drive to the convention center everyday. It's one way to keep her in a good mood while I probably spend more than I should at the show.

[icollectDCsports]

Any concerns walking directly to and from boardwalk and the convention center during daylight hours?

[biggsdaddycool]

I have been to quite a few Nationals and I do some autographs, too.

Yes, you can bring your own items or buy things at the show. I've done both depending on who it is. The VIP bag will usually give you access to all of the freebie autos. Some people trade tickets to get extras of their favorites for ones they won't use.

And most definitely bring something to carry your stuff! I recommend a stand up rolling case, usually available in the suitcase sections of most stores. You can get one on the cheap, doesn't have to be expensive. I like those because you can carry everything from wax to balls to cases and binders to 8x10's!

I usually take some time before the show to organize my case for maximum viability.

Some regulars I can't wait to see, and new friends to meet!

You'll love it!


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[thetruthisoutthere]

Thank you, Mike.

I am looking forward to going there and meeting some fellow autograph collectors.

[Jewish-collector]

Chris - They have a fantastic selection of autograph guests !!!

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

Chris - They have a fantastic selection of autograph guests. See you in Atlantic City !!!

Absolutely.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Thanks guys.

One more question:

Do I bring my own items for the players to sign?