Why does the National always float between Cleveland and Baltimore?

MCMLVTopps

I'm sure there are reasons for this, but I'm not sure I get it.

Seems to me that Atlanta (yes, I live here), would be a decent choice now and then. The metro-Atlanta area has a population of approximately 5 million people. The airport is a breeze to get in and out of and you can take the train directly from the airport to downtown, where several very nice hotels are located. Got a pretty snappy aquarium, great restuarants and an overall pretty cool city. We've even got a huge rock called Stone Mountain, only 1/10th of which is out of the ground...big hunk of granite. Six flags over Georgia is easy to find, and we've even got some pretty decent trout fishing not far from downtown Atlanta.

Did I forget to mention the Braves, who have a very cool stadium...the scenery in August is exceptionally nice !!

Surely all the National visitors don't live anywhere near the Cleveland / Baltimore areas, and I'd bet it's a lot easier to fly into ATL than either of those two.

I think those who make the venue decisions are overlooking something by not tapping into the south once in a while. I've been to the Cleveland, Chicago and Philadelphia shows, I really think Atlanta is worth a shot.

I'd like to hear fro anyone who can enlighten me on the decision making of the venue choices.

Blackie

Couldnt agree more...................even Dallas or St Louis..................praying one lands in the South sometime..

MBMiller25

It really doesn't. It was in Bmore for the first time ever in 2010 and by all accounts the dealers found it extremely successful. It was in Chicago last year and was originally scheduled to be in Cleveland this year, until they negotiated a change to Baltimore for 2012 on the backs of Bmore success in 2010. Cleveland is up for 2014 which will be the first time it would be there since 2009.

Edit to add: I live in the South so a south based show would be great for me. The National was in Atlanta at one time (2002?) and I believe it's generally regarded as the worse National ever. I don't think you will see it Atlanta.

cpamike

<< <i>Edit to add: I live in the South so a south based showcwould be great for me. The National was in Atlanta at one time (2002?) and I believe it's generally regarded as the worse National ever. I don't think you will see it Atlanta. >>



Obviously, you must not have gone to that one or it would have been a success.

MBMiller25

<< <i>Obviously, you must not have gone to that one or it would have been a success. >>



I am not even sure if I got my date right on the Atlanta show! If it was in 2002, I was chasing other stuff besides baseball cards back then!

ahkmedbinladen

This has been covered over and over here. Just type in the search function to find the threads. It would be nice if it rotated to many different and new cities but it wont. The National Committee will make sure of it. You can rest assure that it will be Cleveland ,Chicago, and Baltimore for a little while. Hopefully they can squeeze an Anaheim or West Coast destination in there somehow. It is all about the cost of the venue and being able to secure time slots. It would be great though if they could do something down south or in Texas or San Diego.

Archaninator

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alnavman

someone beat me to it, the National hasn't been in cleveland since 09. my memory is that it's been here three times over the years. I know it was here in 97 and it may have been here in 2001 but it obviously hasn't been here every other year. And I think it's only been in Baltimore twice, again I'm not keeping track but I think it's been in Chicago way more times. That said I agree that it should be in other towns, I went to the one in Atlantic City and the one in Atlanta years ago. I have a sister in law who lives down there so it wasn't hard to convince my wife to go....and I'd go again. Only thing I didn't like is the traffic....what a mess. al.

Griffins

National cities

1980 LA
1981 DETROIT
1982 ST. L.
1983 CHICAGO
1984 PARSIPPANY
1985 ANAHEIM
1986 ARLINGTON
1987 SF
1988 ATLANTIC CITY
1989 CHICAGO
1990 ARLINGTON
1991 ANAHEIM (BIGGEST)
1992 ATLANTA (BUST OF A FOLLOWUP)
1993 CHICAGO
1994 HOUSTON
1995 ST. L.
1996 ANAHEIM
1997 Cleveland
1998 Chicago
1999 Atlanta
2000 ANAHEIM
2001 CLEVELAND
2002 CHICAGO
2003 Atlantic City
2004 Cleveland
2005 CHICAGO
2006 ANAHEIM
2007 CLEVELAND
2008 CHICAGO
2009 CLEVELAND
2010 BALTIMORE
2011 CHICAGO
2012 BALTIMORE

1960toppsguy

according to Griffin's, it looks like it's been all over the US, did anyone do this research before commenting?

spazzy

I like it in Cleveland...its 15 min away from me!!!

dmurphy3mvp

The fact is, dealers determine where the show will be, not collectors. And as stated here previously, because most of the dealers live in the general proximity of the East Coast (along with the bulk of the population), they want to keep it there (helps keep travel costs down.) Chicago is a proven winner when it comes to show attendance, and I'm not just saying that because we're only an hour away from the convention center.

Other factors include being able to book the convention center years ahead of time and the union situation at the convention center. It's my understanding that certain convention centers don't allow dealers to move in their own product, so we have to use the union employees to push the dolly across the floor to and from their booth, then pay them on top of that. You can see why no dealer would vote for that location. Also, certain convention centers won't allow bookings for more than a year or two in advance. If the National committee were to play that game of waiting around for a good date/location and lost, the National could end up being cancelled, because no locations are left.

My personal feelings on other proposed locations are as follows:

Anaheim - 2000 and 2006 were poorly attended; Californians did not come out in full force to support the show. Many dealers had to drive cross-country with their product, which could cost over $1000 in gas alone, not to mention the few extra days each way in travel time. It will likely never be held out that way again.

Atlanta - 1999 was a disaster; poorly attended as well but for what reason? There were still a lot of card manufacturers in business, McGwire/Sosa was just the year before, etc. I guess you could say the same thing; people in Atlanta just didn't come out to support the show. A large population center does not guarantee a good turnout.

Orlando - I don't have a family so I can't necessarily see it from a family vacation point of view, but I'm not so sure this would work. It would appeal to quite a few collectors, so it's not a bad location to propose. Problem is, it's not centrally located. Anaheim and Florida are the same thing when it comes to distance a dealer has to drive. I know many collectors fly in and out to the National, and believe me, all dealers would love to do that as well, but the product has to make it there somehow. How crappy would the BBCE booth be if we didn't have any wax boxes/cases?

Las Vegas - the absolute worst idea possible. Conventions where no money is spent work best here. If we did have a National in Vegas, all the money would be lost at the tables. I wouldn't even bother bringing product to that show. It would be much more profitable to sit around with tons of cash, buying up inventory from those who stayed up all night gambling.

Chicago, Cleveland, and Baltimore are three great places to have the National. Boston would be great, but I think the lack of a viable location makes it a no go. The New York City area would be awesome except for the outrageous costs involved for just about everything. Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, St. Louis - they should work, but there's probably something we're not aware of that keeps it from happening in these cities. I'd vote every year for Buffalo - would save money by not having to pay for a hotel...

thedutymon

Morning,

Denver

Denver

Denver


Oh, did I mention Denver !!!!!!!!!! We've got the Superbowl winning team now, why not the National!!!!

YeeHah

Neil

prthd

<< <i>Morning,

Denver

Denver

Denver


Oh, did I mention Denver !!!!!!!!!! We've got the Superbowl winning team now, why not the National!!!!

YeeHah

Neil >>



Because you cant have both. A Superbowl winning team OR the National. Think about it why do you think its always in Cleveland. DUH!

thunderdan

<< <i>

<< <i>Obviously, you must not have gone to that one or it would have been a success. >>



I am not even sure if I got my date right on the Atlanta show! If it was in 2002, I was chasing other stuff besides baseball cards back then! >>



Admit it, Matt. You were too busy looking at the 1/10th of stone mountain and the snappy acquarium to care about baseball cards.

thedutymon

<< <i>

<< <i>Morning,

Denver

Denver

Denver


Oh, did I mention Denver !!!!!!!!!! We've got the Superbowl winning team now, why not the National!!!!

YeeHah

Neil >>





Because you cant have both. A Superbowl winning team OR the National. Think about it why do you think its always in Cleveland. DUH! >>

alnavman

WOW, I didn't realize it had been in Cleveland so many times.....I do know that the shows at the IX center have all been great. It's easy to get to and lots of parking. In fact if you want to go there you could fly in and just about walk from the airport to the IX center without any problems.

ahkmedbinladen

Reed,
Great comments and insight. Playing devils advocate on the Anaheim thing regarding the last time it was there. Most(not all) East Coast dealers were so pissy about having to come out there and didnt do full set ups with all their best inventory. There were plenty of collectors with cash to spend but if the dealers didnt have the goods(selection)....kind of makes it tough.
There are also a good amount of dealers from both Calif and at least ONE from Florida that bring big amounts of inventory no matter where it is. Travel is a poor excuse especially if it rotates and everyone takes their turn. Some years it costs more to get your stuff there ...others less.

PowderedH2O

Why not Charlotte? Convenient to the South, Central, and East Coast. Not too expensive to visit. Lots of collectors within a reasonable distance.

JohnnyD

<< <i>I like it in Cleveland...its 15 min away from me!!! >>



Same here....we need this!!!!!

Mickey71

Please clarify something as I've never been to a national.......Do all dealers drive there inventory there? I mean how would somebody like Levi get all there cards there? Drive and park the van outside 7 eleven...drive and park the van outside of the hotel with 2 million dollars worth of cards inside? I've always wondered these questions. How about when you're set up at the show. How do you leave for the night? Do you leave the 2 million worth of collectibles in the cases on the tables? How do most dealers do this?

thunderdan

<< <i>I mean how would somebody like Levi get all there cards there? >>



Not sure if this would hold all his graded 52 mantle inventory, but here's a start:

Archaninator

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