Does The National Still Happen This Year?

[ocjack]

Originally Posted by prestigecollectibles

We already got our refund for our 2020 booth. I wonder what kind of financial shape the National is in. Without revenue this year will they actually be able to continue in the future or could this be the end?

Perhaps the virus will cause a re-thinking of the National and the manner in which it has evolved. If it can't continue financially, maybe a new group with new methods can build upon the strong base built by the original National officers and a National, more devoted to the collector than the corporate sponsor, could prove to be a positive outcome.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by ocjack

Perhaps the virus will cause a re-thinking of the National and the manner in which it has evolved. If it can't continue financially, maybe a new group with new methods can build upon the strong base built by the original National officers and a National, more devoted to the collector than the corporate sponsor, could prove to be a positive outcome.

I was thinking the same. Would LOVE to see a new group emerge from this, who can make the Show more collector-friendly (as it was in its early days).

And more equitable geographically... with a Show west of the Mississippi to occur once every 3 years or so.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I nominate Joe Drelich

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I was thinking the same. Would LOVE to see a new group emerge from this, who can make the Show more collector-friendly (as it was in its early days).

And more equitable geographically... with a Show west of the Mississippi to occur once every 3 years or so.

Good luck getting the DEALERS to attend far west shows. Many of the dealers are located in either the east coast or the mid-west and they would rather go east than west as there is a higher population of collectors there than in the west.

[Jewish-collector]

I expect the National to be cancelled for 2020 and to resume in 2021 in Chicago, 2022 in Cleveland, etc,...

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

I expect the National to be cancelled for 2020 and to resume in 2021 in Chicago, 2022 in Cleveland, etc,...

+1

[basesareempty]

There is a 50 table show scheduled just south of Baltimore for this Saturday. It will be the first show here since February.

[oldjudge]

With people dying across the country, with schooling being made virtual, with teams playing to empty stadiums, if at all, how can anyone be thinking about a baseball card show? If there is a vaccine by then,then that changes my thinking, but otherwise I hope the National is cancelled, if for nothing else than to save the idiots who might attend from themselves.

[MikeGarcia]

Originally Posted by basesareempty

There is a 50 table show scheduled just south of Baltimore for this Saturday. It will be the first show here since February.

Which city and can we get there whilst avoiding Baltimore and D.C. ?

..

[notfast]

Originally Posted by basesareempty

There is a 50 table show scheduled just south of Baltimore for this Saturday. It will be the first show here since February.

Arthur Slade?

Hope you’re talking about something different because that show is extremely lacking normally.

[Directly]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

I expect the National to be cancelled for 2020 and to resume in 2021 in Chicago, 2022 in Cleveland, etc,...

Hopefully a vaccine will be available by next year, we are looking forward attending the National in 2021 if still scheduled in Chicago?

[CurtisFlood]

Originally Posted by Directly

Hopefully a vaccine will be available by next year, we are looking forward attending the National in 2021 if still scheduled in Chicago?

Somebody will get rich off that vaccine. Not me unfortunately, but I do sleep well at night.

[cannonballsun]

There was a show in this area, I believe it was May 30th. I didn't go, but the show did happen.
There's another show scheduled. I think It might be today.
Like a lot of us, I've lost track of the day of the week. Today is Friday. The show will be tomorrow, Saturday. Once again, I'll pass.
Hopefully things will be looking better by the time the next one comes up.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Good luck getting the DEALERS to attend far west shows. Many of the dealers are located in either the east coast or the mid-west and they would rather go east than west as there is a higher population of collectors there than in the west.

Then what happened? Historically, Anaheim has hosted many of the largest-attended shows ever on record. I bet San Diego, Las Vegas or a hub like Denver would do even better.

The existing ownership group has not given it their best effort. Survey the people here, and you'll probably have less than 15% say that Atlantic City is an accessible (or even acceptable) venue.

Once every 3 or 4 years West of the Mississippi is not asking a lot.

[Pre War Starter]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Then what happened? Historically, Anaheim has hosted many of the largest-attended shows ever on record. I bet San Diego, Las Vegas or a hub like Denver would do even better.

The existing ownership group has not given it their best effort. Survey the people here, and you'll probably have less than 15% say that Atlantic City is an accessible (or even acceptable) venue.

Once every 3 or 4 years West of the Mississippi is not asking a lot.

1000% agree.
Also would like to add/suggest, how many west coast dealers don’t go East currently?
Wouldn’t having a show on the West coast bring in new dealers? Ones that never make the voyage East because it’s too far.

[nineunder71]

Going forward, I would love to see the National come west, even just ONCE would be cool...

Thought about going when it was in Chicago a few years ago, but didn’t make it.

Further, I would never consider going to Atlantic City, it’s one of the most ghetto places I’ve ever been, AND I LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE, haha. I spent two weeks there working as a first responder after Hurricane Sandy, no thanks! Strongly agree: Not easily accessible and far less Acceptable

[buymycards]

I have been hearing about a West Coast National for many years, and I always thought that it was a great idea. I continually hear about the east coast dealers not wanting to go west, but that may be OK. It would be nice to see some fresh faces at the tables from west coast dealers who don't travel to the Midwest or East Coast shows.

This year, the National had 288 dealers signed up. 39 of these dealers were from what could be considered west coast states, and I am including the 11 dealers from Texas in that total. If the National would be held out west, I'm guessing that these numbers would triple.

48 dealers from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Missouri. Perhaps many of these dealers would travel west.

The biggest group of dealers is from the east coast:

New York 32, New Jersey 24, Penn 24, Florida 23, and North Carolina 21, for a total of 124. I wonder how many of these dealers would travel to Las Vegas, or LA, or San Fran? I would guess that most of them would make the trip.

I am betting that if a large enough venue could be obtained, the number of dealers could swell from the current 288 to 350, or 400, or more. Actually, the current location in Chicago could handle 400 dealers, and I'll be every spot would be sold out.