Las Vegas National

Zilla

Just wanted to see if there is any interest amongst the members on this board, of bringing a National back to the West Coast, and more specifically to Vegas? I work for one of the big Strip casinos and can help with setting up convention space, room blocks, and numerous entertainment options, including golf outings, poker tournaments, and nightclubs. Anyone interested?

TNP777

I'd be all over a Vegas Natty. I know negotiations with Anaheim aren't going well, or at least weren't the last time I saw it being discussed. I would think LV would be a major draw regardless of dealer/attender location.

handyman

are you kiding? Is that an option!?
Nah not iterested.
PLEASE PLEASE DO IT!
Make it happen.

VitoCo1972

I would think the dealers would be concerned about the attendees having the kind of money and attention to focus on the show when the rest of Vegas is an option. But heck yes, I'd go!

CocoaBeachDodgers

I can not think of a better place than Vegas for a show!

By the way, you know there is a small show this weekend at the Galleria Mall on Sunset? They usually have about 30 tables or so.

KbKards

The "National" won't be held in Las Vegas. If you want a big show in Las Vegas then become a show promoter and build the show yourself. If you come up with a fancy name like International Sports Spectacular or Prestige Worldwide Sports it will sound important and everyone will want to come.

pdub1819

I know if the show were to ever go to Vegas, I would be there. I would also have budgeted my money for cards and fun. I would hope that most people who spend their extra money on cards would do the same.
I would think even though the National is always well attended, if in Vegas, it would be the best attended ever. The promoters would need to change their ways of making money on the show, i.e. discounts on entry tickets if bought early, but higher prices if you wait to purchase at the show. I know they probably already do this, but maybe on a more drastic level.

54topps

I would love the national to be in vegas.

pclpads

Great idea, but will never happen. Big time dealers would lean hard on the Natty board that makes the call to not choose LV. Too many distractions and competition there for card buying customers to blow their $$$ on that would have nothing to do with nat'l dealers making coin.

LeonLuckey

The National locations are based on venue, contractual limitations, demographics, cost, unions, ingress and egress. And then cost again.....those are the factors. Come up with answers to those questions for Vegas, or the left coast, and you will make a good case for the powers that be to have the shows there. It's not as easy as you might think either. This subject has been discussed ad nauseum with the Founder and Promoter, Mike Berkus.....who has a say in where they are, I believe. The committee picks the location but there are all of those factors that get weighed in. (and probably some I don't know about too)

itzagoner

c & p'd from their site:

The current schedule for the National is: 2011-Chicago; 2012-Baltimore; 2013-Chicago; 2014-Cleveland; 2015-Chicago; 2016-TBD; 2017-TBD; 2018-Cleveland.

Organizers have been asked about a return of the National to the West Coast. For the last several years we have repeatedly spoken to authorities in Anaheim, site of the most successful National ever in 1991 and also the site of the National in 1996, 2000 and 2006. Similar to the situation in Baltimore, the Convention Center has a rigid policy which will not allow them to guarantee dates to us. Despite our past history, numerous meetings, phone calls and letters, Anaheim officials have been unable to provide the National with dates far enough in advance to allow adequate preparation and planning for the event. We will continue to look for a suitable West Coast site.

the central locations of Chicago & Cleveland make them attractive cities.

they have ML baseball there. Vegas doesn't. what other "suitable" West Coast site has baseball? how 'bout San Francisco?!?!!

i doubt the dealers who've participated in the past would want to lose their business to the attraction of round-the-clock gambling.

from my perspective, including the difficulties with Anaheim & Baltimore, we may be seeing the institution of a Chicago/Cleveland year-by-year swap.

esquiresports

Back in the heyday of card shows (1989-1991), I did several shows in Las Vegas. I believe they were at the Sands convention center. Unlike shows I did in SoCal, I never turned a profit. Attendance was significantly lower than what you'd get at a similar show (size and signings) in SoCal and people spent less. A larger percentage of attendees appeared to be casual collectors. That said, it was a good excuse to get out to Vegas (sadly I wasn't of legal drinking/gambling age yet).

The Orange County area is probably the best spot I can think of for a West Coast National. Places like Phoenix never had the same draw and I wouldn't expect any different today.

Zilla

Thanks to everyone for their comments and insights. I'm glad to see that there does seem to be some interest in trying to get a National out here. I'm going to send out some e-mails and make some calls to get the ball rolling and see what happens. Vegas is notoriously slow in August, so I know I could secure a good location for cheap as well as some very good room rates. Additionally, with all the sports celebrity contacts the casinos have, I'm sure an amazing line-up of autograph guests could be set-up.

CocoaBeachDodgers

<< <i>Thanks to everyone for their comments and insights. I'm glad to see that there does seem to be some interest in trying to get a National out here. I'm going to send out some e-mails and make some calls to get the ball rolling and see what happens. Vegas is notoriously slow in August, so I know I could secure a good location for cheap as well as some very good room rates. Additionally, with all the sports celebrity contacts the casinos have, I'm sure an amazing line-up of autograph guests could be set-up.[/q

If I was going to take on such a task, which I am not, I would start with intoducing the National Committee with the Las Vegas Visitors & Convention Authority. That is one of their main responsibilities, bring conventions to Las Vegas. They would also have all the know how as to if they can or can not meet the National Committee demands, and if so, how to get the ball rolling. Here is their link:
Text

Good luck, as this will not be easy, but maybe not impossible either.

hdunk

I can assure you that Mike Berkus knows who to contact in Las Vegas in regards to having the National there.

There was a thread on Net54 in 2009 that Mike replied to several times. http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=114661

Check his posts and note post #79 where Mike states Las Vegas had been considered in the past.

Before I wasted alot of time simply email Mike at mberkus@aol.com unless has changed his email address and he will tell you why Las Vegas has not been in play.

Zilla

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm going to e-mail Mike on Monday and see what he has to say. I'll keep you updated.

hookem

Never been to a National but one in Vegas would pop my cherry.

Zilla

Just wanted to provide an update. I e-mailed Mike Berkus this morning (he really seems like a great guy, and I look forward to hopefully meeting him in Cleveland in 2014), and found out the National board has already approved all their future locations through 2019, and Vegas didn't make the list. So I hate to say it, but there'll be no Sin City National for at least the next seven years. But who knows after that? I've seen a guy turn $3K into $1.4M on a baccarat table, so I believe in anything.