2009 National Convention-Cleveland

BBCE · July 25, 2009 1:57PM

Hello!
We are getting ready to head to Cleveland tomorrow for the National Sports Collectors Convention. I will attempt to write on my blog each evening with anything exciting from that day. If you plan on coming to the show, please stop by our booths (#1608 and 1612) to introduce yourself and say hello!

See you there! Steve

OAKESY25 · July 25, 2009 2:00PM

good luck with sales

skilow · July 25, 2009 4:12PM

THANK YOU for allowing our group rips!

Good luck at the show, like you really need it.

jeffcbay · July 25, 2009 4:23PM

The BBCE tables are my first stop!

BPorter26 · July 26, 2009 1:14AM

Steve, I'll be buying some wax from you at the National.

GoDodgersFan · July 26, 2009 2:55AM

Good luck Steve.

You are a great asset for the hobby.

Stingray · July 26, 2009 5:01AM

I hope you have a great show, though I wll not make it this year. I will be in Chicago next year, for sure!!

ChrisStufflestreet · July 26, 2009 5:06AM

<< <i>I hope you have a great show, though I wll not make it this year. I will be in Chicago next year, for sure!! >>

Then we'll miss you next year too...the 2010 National will be in Baltimore.

It goes back to Chicago in 2011.

VitoCo1972 · July 26, 2009 5:09AM

Is it EVER on the west coast?! I'd love to go, but when you're on a budget...a plane ticket and hotel room is not happening to go to a card show. I'm sure PSA would love if it were in Los Angeles or San Diego. Actually, doing it the week following Comic-con in San Diego would make a ton of sense. There would probably be a bunch of crossover.

Stingray · July 26, 2009 5:22AM

<< <i>

<< <i>I hope you have a great show, though I wll not make it this year. I will be in Chicago next year, for sure!! >>

Then we'll miss you next year too...the 2010 National will be in Baltimore.

It goes back to Chicago in 2011. >>

Oh crap really!! Well then I will be there in 2011. Did the have an issue with the west coast??

ChrisStufflestreet · July 26, 2009 6:04AM

<< <i>Did the have an issue with the west coast?? >>

I asked that to a few sellers and hobbyists at the last Cleveland National two years ago. It seems that the bulk of the hobby is centered in the upper Midwest, with smaller (though still large) pockets in the northeast -- NYC, Philly, Boston areas -- and the West Coast. That's why they tend to have many of the Nationals in Cleveland and Chicago. I'm guessing that money makes a big factor in the decision of location, just as it does for everything else in our lives.

It's been said among the hobby that Nationals rarely do well when they venture outside of a city that had one of the 16 major league teams before 1961. They've held two in Atlanta and a few in Texas that disappointed the promoters. A shame, really; moving the location around the country would give us a good reason to visit new places. This will be my third trip to Cleveland for a National (also went in '04 and '07) and there's not a whole lot around there I still have to see.

But, getting back to the money thing...NYC has never hosted a National and the three that have been held in New Jersey were disappointing. Boston (and all of New England) has been shut out of the National as well). And Philadelphia hasn't had one either as far as I know. Despite having a lot of collectors around those cities, they're also priced higher for hotels and I'm guessing that the heavy union representation in those cities makes it cost more to have a National.

That said...if they held the show in Chicago every year, I wouldn't mind it at all. Chicago's a great town.

VitoCo1972 · July 26, 2009 6:10AM

Chicago IS a great town and you could find many different things to do there on several trips. But come on...Los Angeles has some of the best restaurants and hotels in the country. The LA Convention center is huge. You're near a beach in the summertime (what a NOVEL concept for a convention) and people could see new things while spending thousands on a trip to the National.

The real question is this...why has there not been a National in Las Vegas? Would dealers be worried that buyers would be blowing all their money at the craps table instead of on 1981 Topps Rack packs? I would think Vegas would offset that with the guys that rake in $2,000 the night before at the blackjack table and decide it's time to buy a Ted Williams rookie. Plus, you would get a TON of extra people and maybe even a few celebrities in Vegas. Who the heck wants to go to Cleveland? Hey, I've been. it's not Hades or anything but it's freaking Cleveland.

jeffcbay · July 26, 2009 6:16AM

Here are a couple of videos promoting the city of Cleveland:

This one is funny...

This one is funnier...

ChrisStufflestreet · July 26, 2009 6:41AM

Those two videos crack me up every time I watch them. My wife, who's suffered through two trips to Cleveland but out of love or masochism is going back there again next week, says they're pretty accurate.

Bottom9th · July 26, 2009 7:48AM

I will definitely be stopping by your booth Steve!

flatfoot816 · July 26, 2009 11:36AM

Steve--

looking forward to meeting you

Manny

basketballcollector · July 26, 2009 11:57AM

Steve,
I look forward to stopping by. I will be at the National on both Thursday & Friday. I love Cleveland as I've got as full an agenda after the show hours as I do during the show.

basketballcollector · July 27, 2009 12:39AM

So, where are we all meeting in Cleveland ?

epatmythes · July 27, 2009 1:18AM

The National was just in Anaheim in 2006!

I did not attend, but know many friends/fellow collectors that did. I've also talked to several autograph promoters and dealers since then that were there as well... and from what I heard, it was easily the worst National in the last 10 years! From my understanding, also one of the major reasons they selected Baltimore for the 2010 National instead of trying another show out on the West Coast.

I too would love to see it in Chicago every year... great city, centrally located (and for me, only a 4-5 hour drive).

I was pretty disappointed with the National last year in Chicago, but maybe that was just due to the economy going south at the time. That was my second National in Chicago and I went to the 2004 National in Cleveland... by far the best of the three I've been to so far. Looking forward to this weekend, and hoping it will be as fun as I remember it being in 2004!

gemint · July 27, 2009 3:23AM

So Steve, what awesome unopened finds are you going to bring to the National this time? You usually hold back something special for the National.

2009 National Convention-Cleveland

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