Who is going to the THE NATIONAL?

carkim

www.thenational.com

I've already ordered my VIP pass, and I'm going to start looking for a hotel in the area. Who else is going to the national this year?

I see they still have a photo of me from last year...

That's me in the middle of the picture sitting at a table all by myself. (Blue shirt, shaved head, looking at the camera.)

I CAN'T WAIT

mcdee2

I was fortunate last year in that I am from Toledo Ohio and my former employer had a job in Cleveland the month of the show so I was able to attend every day and the company footed my hotel bill It was my first national and now I intend on trying to attend whenever possible.. and without a doubt I will be there this year

Wayne8348

I'm in for sure. We need a set registry get together up there.

wayne

BigKidAtHeart

having never been to a card show like this before....
is it really important to go all four days (thurs - sunday)

or is it really the same thing you looked at yesterday??

and if so, which day is best? first? last? Why?

(sorry for all the questoins but I am thinking about going but want to do it right)

dalew

You know Carlos, if you sold some of your cards, you could hire a helluva plastic surgeon.

dude

<< <i>I was fortunate last year in that I am from Toledo Ohio >>



I've been to Toledo twice. Did you really mean what you wrote with a straight face?

carkim

Dale,

Ouch that hurt

BigKid,

At the national in Cleveland I went to the show all 5 days (WED-SUN) and I still needed more time. It takes a long time time search for raw cards in HIGH grade. I spent the first two days (THUR & FRI) looking for raw cards. The last two days (SAT and SUN) I started trying to talk dealers down on their graded card prices. I figured if the graded cards didn't sell the first two days of the show the they would be a little more flexible (And they were). The National PRE-Show is for VIP's on (WED). That is when we get our bag of goodies. They also have free autographs (Last year was Fergie Jenkins & Gaylord Perry) and dinner. After the sponsors dinner we were able to walk the floor of the convertion center and even submit some cards to PSA. Only a handful of dealers were selling, but there was a ton of things to do.

Carlos

kardkollector

im gonna go agian this year. i hope to have a little more money saved up for this one though

mcdee2

Well .. I didnt say I was proud to be from Toledo... and I did move to PA lol

mcastaldi

Considering I live about 30 min. away, I will be there. I am not sure yet how many days or how much I'll have to spend since the even will be only about 2 weeks after moving (within the Chicagoland area).

Mike

gaspipe26

I will be arriving on Thursday night, I'll party til they close the bars. Then crawl to the shop on Friday and Sat. I'll leave Sunday mornig back to DC.

cabo

I'm in. I already have my flight reservations made. I love visiting Chicago.

GangstaJayson

Hey carkim i will be there lol... Looking for some help on my sets 72 topps football, 76 tall boys basketball.... http://gangstajayson.tripod.com/ take a look guys see if you can help me thanks....




THE GANGSTA

HalleyGator

I will be there ... looking for ONE card.

BigKidAtHeart

which one?

HalleyGator

My HOF set is at 99% ... and will be at 99.5% when Ross Youngs gets back from PSA.

I need an 1887 Old Judge card of Bid McPhee to get 100% completion.

BUT I WILL NOT OVREPAY !!! (Just in case any dealers are licking their chops)

zardoz51

Well, there's certainly a card that can be found in any dealers stock

Good Luck!

qualitycards

ZARDOZ - Speaking of the National!!
I'm still waiting for the info. about getting the comp. airline tickets, the comp. hotel room, the comp. food & drink and of course show admissions. I figured if GAI could have a bash in Vegas, should'nt you reciprocate in Chicago? One must remain competitive in the grading market, where us consumers have 40+ grading companies to choose from.

zardoz51

With ZAG

It's the other way around. It is the submitters that must pick up the tab for ol' Zardoz' trip....at least if they want to get super grades. There's a price to everything.

Jay,

Are you going to the Nat?

qualitycards

ZARDOZ - I was debating to go, but decided to pass. I will be at Ft.Washington in 3 weeks though, so I'll get a taste of a big show atmosphere, which will have to do.

A question I have is ....since 1983 Chicago will now have its 5th National when the 2002 show rolls around.
It seems as if Chicago, Anaheim, Arlington, St'Louis & Cleveland get the show every year. Wouldn't it be nice if our "National" show moved to different venues now & then? There is a ton of big cities in our Country that could handle it, but it always seems to gravitate to the same locations....any thoughts?

calleocho

great weather in south florida....and they never come...

calleocho

great weather in south florida....and they never come...

RayBShotz

Quality cards - I'm still waiting for a National in the Northeast. I realize that the geography would then make airfare prohibitive for Westies to attend, but I was hoping for one in driving distance from New Jersey.
I keep my fingeers crossed.
RayB69Topps

FB

Ray,

I agree... As a matter of fact, I'm fixing up the basement right now. Maybe next year, I'll put in a bid for the Nationals at my place! (of course, I'll have to get first dibs...)

RayBShotz

Frank - where would you store all the blacklights, lava lamps, and felt Jimi Hendrix posters then?

RayB.

FB

Actually...

The blacklights make it easier to see if the 71's have been touched up with a marker...

BigKidAtHeart

<< <i>blacklights make it easier to see if the 71's have been touched up with a marker... >>

see the wealth of knowledge you can absorbe while surfing these boards!!

I mean, you just can't buy this kind of infomation!

mikeschmidt

I think the National is planned to be in Atlantic City next year. That qualifies as the Northeast, yes?

thegemmintman

You mean I have a chance to triple my spendable cash in the casinos before going to the National!

Or not even being able to afford the admission...

FB

Mikeschmidt...

Don't toy with me like that... If what you're saying is true, and its roughly the same week as this year, I'll not only be there, but can stay at my in-laws condo on the boardwalk for the week.

RayBShotz

My mother is a regular patron. Nickel slots. She's comped rooms all the time. I'll be there as well. maybe we can organize an East Coast PSA Collectors bash.
RayB69Topps

PROMETHIUS88

next year is indeed in atlantic city!! the folks that run the nationals have deceided that there are only about 5 citys/buildings that can support the nationals. they claim they will never go back to atlanta and i believe houston is out as well. also, i think cleveland is out now because the airport is "supposed to" be taking over the convention center it was held in last year. i think that for the next decade, you can probably narrow it down to a handful of cities...chicago, anaheim, atlantic city. i'll have to get the specifics, as i remember falling asleep during the meeting last year...and not much else. sometimes there are some pretty heated arguments that fall on deaf ears. all the dealers that show up get a vote, but it doesn't really matter because it's already been deceided by the people that run it. and, sorry if this sounds bad, but "they" do more for the collector than they do for dealers. when you spend $1000 or more on a booth, i think they can do a little more for you than an autograph of a hasbeen that signs every weekend!! i really like and hate the vip passes. it's nice that you can get in early and what not, but what about the dealers??? it takes time to set up each morning and you really don't want people around while trying to do it. not because they are nasty people, but because of security reasons!! also, when do we have time to look around at other tables?? anyway, enough of my whinning....hope to see plenty of you at rosemont this summer!!! tim

dude

<< <i>....the folks that run the nationals have deceided that there are only about 5 citys/buildings that can support the nationals.....they claim they will never go back to atlanta and i believe houston is out as well >>



It sounds to me that selecting the town for the National is as "political" (and that's the nicest word I can think of) as selecting a town for the Olympics. Houston certainly has the capacity. The Astrodome is abandoned and there are convention halls attached to it. I now have to wonder how Chicago got selected since the I was told by several reliable sources that their capacity this year will be smaller than Cleveland's last year.

When Houston held the National in '94, it was during the baseball strike and you could pick up a Beckett Monthly and see that the hobby was hurting (just about everything, modern and vintage, had "down arrows"). That '94 convention was panned by several of the big voices in the hobby including Al Rosen in the subsequent issue of SCD.

Now it's going to Atlantic City next year? Now there's a sports collecting mecca!

zardoz51

Funny you should mention that dude

I set up at the 94 Houston convention. I think that tables were a shade under 600.00 back then. It seemed like a good idea at the time, "The time" being the operative phrase, Cards were dead, and as you stated, MLB was on strike. Not exactly the foundation for success. To relegate Houston to the "Never Again" file is just ridiculous. Had the 94 show been held in any other city, it would have been a disaster as well.

gaspipe26

Atlantic City is a great choice in my opinion because I go there every other weekend anyway. They have really cleaned the town up in the past few years. Its not nor ever will be Las Vegas but its a nice choice with alot of activities for the wife and kids to do while your gambling away the mortgage and the college fund or spending it on cardboard. The NEW Convention Center is very very nice also.

Basilone

How about Columbus, Ohio? Not only does it have a good location but it also has a state of the art convention center.

FB

Plus...

It may not be the 1/2 hour drive that Castaldi has to the Chicago National, but its still within 2 hours for me!!!! Does anyone know what the planned dates for that show will be?

Josher416

I am definetly going this year since I missed it last year and it is in my hometown--Chicago this year!
Mcdee I didnt know you were going to come, it would be great if all of us TR members can get togeather

and for all of you who dont know me I have never posted here in set registry but I will start using this forum with the other forums on CU sports that I used
-josh

Philabuster

I have a real nice 1971 set put together from vendor box's years ago.

JoeMamma

''

vorthian

I'll be there. It's going to be one large party...