2009 National

mrmint23 · June 11, 2008 1:34AM

Does anyone know where it will be?

leathtech · June 11, 2008 1:36AM

...

gumbyfan · June 11, 2008 1:36AM

The 2008 is in Chicago...not sure where the 2009 is going to be.

mrmint23 · June 11, 2008 1:38AM

Im debating on going to this years. How far is the site from the Midway airport. I havent been to a National since it was in Atlanta at the World Congress Center around 1995.

Sheamaster · June 11, 2008 2:41AM

<< Im debating on going to this years. How far is the site from the Midway airport. I havent been to a National since it was in Atlanta at the World Congress Center around 1995. >>

It's not too bad, probably about a 40 minute drive (unless during rush hour which would make trip in excess of an hour or so). Rosemont is right next to O'Hare so if you have any chance to fly into O'Hare that's the way to go.

mknez · June 11, 2008 2:52AM

I believe 2009 is back in Cleveland again.

11235813 · June 11, 2008 4:15AM

They really need to start rotating the National around the country like they did in the 80's/90's. It's only been held west of Chicago once in the last ten years (2006 in Anaheim), and this makes it very difficult for a lot of west coast collectors to attend.

Instead of holding it in Chicago or Cleveland just about every year (at least it seems like it), why not hold it in places that do not otherwise have any huge shows so as to rejuvinate the local collecting scene.

Here in Seattle, we probably haven't had a decent show (i.e. more than 50 tables) in close to a decade. I'm sure that there are other cities in similar situations that would also be great hosts for the National.

Holding it in the same region every year does a disservice to collectors from other regions of the country. There should be a rule that no city can host the National more than once a every five years.

mrmint23 · June 11, 2008 4:20AM

I remember back in the '90s when they had it in Arlington, Tx and Atlanta,Ga.

Boopotts · June 11, 2008 4:59AM

<< They really need to start rotating the National around the country like they did in the 80's/90's. It's only been held west of Chicago once in the last ten years (2006 in Anaheim), and this makes it very difficult for a lot of west coast collectors to attend.

Instead of holding it in Chicago or Cleveland just about every year (at least it seems like it), why not hold it in places that do not otherwise have any huge shows so as to rejuvinate the local collecting scene.

Here in Seattle, we probably haven't had a decent show (i.e. more than 50 tables) in close to a decade. I'm sure that there are other cities in similar situations that would also be great hosts for the National.

Holding it in the same region every year does a disservice to collectors from other regions of the country. There should be a rule that no city can host the National more than once a every five years. >>

The hold the National to make money-- not as a service for collectors. If they could make more money by holdng it on the West Coast I'm sure they would do so.

Also, a central location is probably close to optimal, for reasons that I'm sure are fairly transparent.

11235813 · June 11, 2008 5:24AM

Making money and being of service to collectors are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it could be argued that the promoters would make more $$$ holding it in a location where it has not been in a long time. I'm sure Anaheim was just as well attended as any of the Chicago/Cleveland shows. In fact, attendance at the Chicago/Cleveland shows may actually be lower than it would be in other locations, because there is no urgency for people to attend....they know it will be nearby again in the next year or two. Hold it in places like Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, or the Bay Area, and you would attract a whole new legion of collectors who have never been to the National before.

otwcards · June 11, 2008 5:26AM

While it would make it convenient for regional collectors, locations such as Arlington, Atlantic City, Anaheim, and Atlanta had very poor results. It seems the best attendance as well as suitable venues are Chicago and Cleveland.

Logistically, cities like New York are a nightmare. Venue costs and lodging would stifle the bottom line. Hence the reason cities like Boston, Philly, San Francisco, and Orlando have been skipped.

I'd love to see a wild card location every four or five years. Some place like Seattle, New Orleans, San Antonio, San Diego, Kansas City/St. Louis, and Orlando would be a hoot. Great things to do and see and it would break up the repetition. I'd really love some good KC BBQ or sip a Hurricane on Bourbon Street after a long day staring at cardboard.

NickM · June 11, 2008 5:51AM

I thought 2009 was scheduled for Anaheim.

BTW, Anaheim is the site to bring the whole family when you're going to the convention. The convention center is literally across the street from the Disneyland/Disney California Adventure/Downtown Disney complex (and about 7 miles from the Knotts Berry Farm amusement park and Knotts Soak City water park), is walking distance from several major hotels (and a number of small ones), and is less than a half hour drive from several popular beaches. If the convention is on a week when the Angels are in town, their stadium is 2 miles down the street.

Nick

Allen · June 11, 2008 5:57AM

The dealers/ exhibitors vote on where to have it. There was an article in Tuff Stuff about when they decided to have the 09 in Cleveland because it was not even on the ballot and the dealers really liked that venue so thats where they decided to have it.

RonBurgundy · June 11, 2008 5:58AM

The 2009 National is in Cleveland.

Ron

Boopotts · June 11, 2008 6:33AM

<< Making money and being of service to collectors are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it could be argued that the promoters would make more $$$ holding it in a location where it has not been in a long time. I'm sure Anaheim was just as well attended as any of the Chicago/Cleveland shows. In fact, attendance at the Chicago/Cleveland shows may actually be lower than it would be in other locations, because there is no urgency for people to attend....they know it will be nearby again in the next year or two. Hold it in places like Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, or the Bay Area, and you would attract a whole new legion of collectors who have never been to the National before. >>

My larger point is that I'm sure the people who schedule the National have given this issue more thought and consideration than either you (or I) have, and that they have very good reasons for holding in certain locations.

Griffins · June 11, 2008 6:39AM

It's all about where the promoters can make the most money.
There have been rumors the '09 show will move a bit further east, but it's probably too late.

CreeperKat · June 11, 2008 6:47AM

They should have the National in Anaheim in 2010 to match up with the MLB All-Star game.

11235813 · June 11, 2008 7:02AM

Heck....if they were smart, they would work out a deal and have the National at the site of the All-Star game every year...what better way to promote the hobby.

MLB has the All-Star Fanfest every year, but there are relatively few card dealers involved.

Seems to me that it is very shortsighted to hold the National in the same part of the country every year. In many parts of the country the hobby is slowly dying due to lack of card stores & shows...

Allen · June 11, 2008 7:34AM

That would drive the costs of rooms through the roof if you did that. It would be cool to have the All-Star game, Super Bowl, Smackdown and the National all in the same city on the same weekend, but a single hotel room would cost about six figures and the city would be left in ruins.

NickM · June 11, 2008 7:37AM

Well, they changed it again to America's armpit.

It's not exactly about where the dealers and promoters can make the most money; it's about where the group of dealers who show up at all the meetings want to go. There have been problems in past years where conventions already booked for one place (e.g., Anaheim 2004) suddenly get changed at a poorly attended meeting when that wasn't even on the agenda in advance.

Nick

TheVon · June 11, 2008 8:00AM

I don't know anything about this topic or have any insight that hasn't already been shared . . . but I can tell you that even though my wife supports my hobby, I think she'd draw the line at me taking a mini vacation without her just so I could go buy cards. If the National was held in a city she would like to go to with me, however, my chances at attending would increase exponentially.

RonBurgundy · June 11, 2008 8:42AM

Sir, with regard to the comment about America's armpit I saw no one say anything about the show being in Detroit.

RB

RawPlusSlabbed · June 11, 2008 11:27AM

<< Sir, with regard to the comment about America's armpit I saw no one say anything about the show being in Detroit.

RB >>

Detroit is underatted and is one of the few cities that has actually hosted a National. It is the home of Frank Nagy, Charles Conlon and many other prominent hobby icons. The early Dearborn shows and then latter Plymouth were phenominal. It has degraded to just the Giblralter shows, but certainly a fantastic following of card collectors in the metro-Detroit area still exist.

For the record, the city of Detroit is an embarresment. Metro-Detroit has some fantastic suburbs that can rival any state.

Flintboy · June 11, 2008 12:03PM

Ron Burgundy slamming my beloved city????? You gotta be from Cleveland.....

RonBurgundy · June 11, 2008 1:47PM

Well I guess there are the Red Wings. But that doesn't overcome the stench from Ann Arbor a few miles to the east.

RB

Stingray · June 11, 2008 10:25PM

<< Well I guess there are the Red Wings. But that doesn't overcome the stench from Ann Arbor a few miles to the east.

RB >>

Get your directions straight, Ann Arbor is west of Detroit!! They could clear out one of those Gilbraltar Trade Center buildings and hold the National there!!

ROCKDJRW · June 11, 2008 10:35PM

I think people are forgetting the best part about Detroit...............WINDSOR!!

BobS · June 11, 2008 11:17PM

+1 for Windsor. Million Dollar Club=Good Times!!!

saucywombat · June 11, 2008 11:19PM

Cleveland is one of the few cities you can get a direct flight to thats not in the South from Charleston - I hope to attend in 2009.

Of course Atlanta would be good as well.

Stingray · June 11, 2008 11:25PM

<< +1 for Windsor. Million Dollar Club=Good Times!!! >>

So you have been to the Windsor ballet!!

otwcards · June 11, 2008 11:58PM

All-in-all, Chicago and Cleveland certainly beat the heck out of having the National in Parsippany, NJ again (although I had a blast!)... The "real" oldtimers know what I'm talking about. The rest of you can continue to scratch your heads.

Stingray · June 12, 2008 12:00AM

<< All-in-all, Chicago and Cleveland certainly beat the heck out of having the National in Parsippany, NJ again (although I had a blast!)... The "real" oldtimers know what I'm talking about. The rest of you can continue to scratch your heads. >>

Or this:

RonBurgundy · June 12, 2008 1:53AM

Jeesh, you're right. I'm an idiot, Ann Arbor is to the west. But when it stinks all around, it's tough to tell ...................

RB

Stingray · June 12, 2008 2:08AM

<< Jeesh, you're right. I'm an idiot, Ann Arbor is to the west. But when it stinks all around, it's tough to tell ...................

RB >>

It does not stink in East Lansing!!

NickM · June 12, 2008 2:14AM

I thought that stench was the Lions.

Nick

Stingray · June 12, 2008 2:17AM

<< I thought that stench was the Lions.

Nick >>

They play indoors, so the stench is contained!!

2009 National

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