The National

[4reals]

I live in California and have wanted to go to The National ever since I restarted collecting in 2002. Why is it that a show that is supposed to support a national hobby does nothing to support West Coast collectors? No show on the West side of this nation since 2000? Really? C'mon, who's planning this thing? Where's the West Coast love?

I could understand the East Coast having a majority of the shows but is having one out here every 3-4 years asking too much? Maybe they should have two conventions annually, one on each side of the country so people can actually spend more money on cards than having to blow their wad just getting there.

Considering the next two years are already booked here's a lonely voice crying out for The National to make a West side appearance in 2015.

To the planners, here is a list of cities you may have heard of that just might work: Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix...

For you East Coasters, I'm not hating on you, I'm just looking for some love. Anyway, enough venting...hope everyone that is going has fun!

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by 4reals

I live in California and have wanted to go to The National ever since I restarted collecting in 2002. Why is it that a show that is supposed to support a national hobby does nothing to support West Coast collectors? No show on the West side of this nation since 2000?

It seems the show's hub is Chicago and then Baltimore & Cleveland are added to the mix as well.
And didn't Anaheim have the National a few years ago, maybe 2006 or '07?
Perhaps the dealers didn't do as well and have not voted it back.
It all boils down to economics.

[Exhibitman]

Anaheim was 2006.

It drives me crazy too. What it boils down to are:

1. Cheap venue rentals.

2. No union labor requiring dealers to pay for set-up help.

3. Lots of east coast dealers who drive to the shows and don't want to drive west of the Mississippi.

[HaloFan]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Anaheim was 2006.

It drives me crazy too. What it boils down to are:

1. Cheap venue rentals.

2. No union labor requiring dealers to pay for set-up help.

3. Lots of east coast dealers who drive to the shows and don't want to drive west of the Mississippi.

Yeah, I'm in California as well. These above answers is what I got when I asked a dealer in Michigan about this. I'm hearing the committee is considering bringing it out to the West in the near future, but they keep saying Anaheim will not allow the convention due to commitment issues and guarantees. The '06 convention wasn't very good, but that had a lot to do to with having it land on Baseball Hall of Fame Induction weekend which was dumb on the promotors part. Hardly any baseball players were available if I remembered. It was unusually hot that whole week if I remember. The dealers probably expected 70-80 degrees as more solace after leaving their hot humid region back home and didn't get it adding to the problems.

I remembered talking with a dealer from Iowa and she said it took them 23 hours to trek from Des Moines all the way to SoCal. I think that if Anaheim is such a problem, then LA(where the first one was), San Diego or at least Phoenix, Denver or Vegas could be an alternative. I mean Comi Con does great and it's in San Diego. I think like the Michigan dealer told me there is more things at work in regards to snubbing the West.

Craig H

[4reals]

I didn't realize the '06 National was out here, how did I miss that? Maybe that's why it did so poor...weak marketing.

If the weather is one of the issues in deciding, I hear that there's this wonderful new contraption called an air conditioner that makes buildings cold. It's really quite amazing!

Yeah, but seriously, temperature is never a problem in S.D., S.F., or Denver. I could understand Phoenix or Vegas getting crossed off the list for that problem.

[Jay Wolt]

The weather is probably not a consideration as the last Baltimore National was a steambox outside and probably will be again next week