Went to the National on Thursday, July 27, and came away a bit disillusioned with the direction the show seems to be heading.
First, I was forewarned by a dealer who set up a Tuesday that this show would be large. Needless to say, he was right. I’ve been to every major show in Chicago for nearly 40 years. This one blew all those away, and not in a good way.
In as few words as possible, there were too many dealers and too many customers. Every one of the four major exhibit halls on the first floor of Rosemont were filled. Aisles were not only packed but were narrow, there was little coordination of traffic flow, longtime dealers were displaced from spots by corporate sponsors, and many dealers were complaining as customers either couldn’t get to their tables due to the crowding or blocking the aisles due to the podcasts and pack ripping that was going on.
Too many dealers, especially when it comes to newer products, means a lot less money for those paying thousands of overhead dollars in booth fees, hotels, meals, etc. just for the chance to set up.
On top of it all, the air conditioning system failed, it was 95 degrees outside and very uncomfortable inside and the event center did not put down carpeting, leaving rock solid concrete to walk on.
I commented to a long time friend that I did not enjoy the show at all, despite looking forward to it for a long time.
I went looking to sell some stuff as I made a huge buy just a week before the National, and accomplished much of that through both item sales and auction consignment. I went in looking for two items to add to my collection. One I thought would be plentiful, while the other I did not expect to find at all.
The one I expected to be plentiful was an Ernie Banks stadium giveaway bobble head from a couple of weeks ago. I saw one all day. Luckily, I came home with it.
The other was a Spalding store model Jim Hickman glove, that I had been looking for throughout the past 13 years. I’ve only seen them on EBay, maybe twice at most. I’ve even had dealers tell me it didn’t exist, even though I knew it did. I couldn’t believe it when I actually found one on Thursday. Yes, I bought it for a little more than half it’s listed price. No my collection of 69 Cubs store model gloves is complete. Now, to find a few store model bats.
Two buys after nearly eight hours of attendance. Not a great use of time. But since I bypass almost everything from the last 40 years as well as all graded cards, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
It’s too bad a show like National with four major exhibit halls couldn’t be organized so vintage dealers could have their own area, while modern cards could be placed elsewhere, and corporate sponsors, etc their own as well.
It would be interesting to see the attendance breakdown if that set up was the norm.
First, I was forewarned by a dealer who set up a Tuesday that this show would be large. Needless to say, he was right. I’ve been to every major show in Chicago for nearly 40 years. This one blew all those away, and not in a good way.
In as few words as possible, there were too many dealers and too many customers. Every one of the four major exhibit halls on the first floor of Rosemont were filled. Aisles were not only packed but were narrow, there was little coordination of traffic flow, longtime dealers were displaced from spots by corporate sponsors, and many dealers were complaining as customers either couldn’t get to their tables due to the crowding or blocking the aisles due to the podcasts and pack ripping that was going on.
Too many dealers, especially when it comes to newer products, means a lot less money for those paying thousands of overhead dollars in booth fees, hotels, meals, etc. just for the chance to set up.
On top of it all, the air conditioning system failed, it was 95 degrees outside and very uncomfortable inside and the event center did not put down carpeting, leaving rock solid concrete to walk on.
I commented to a long time friend that I did not enjoy the show at all, despite looking forward to it for a long time.
I went looking to sell some stuff as I made a huge buy just a week before the National, and accomplished much of that through both item sales and auction consignment. I went in looking for two items to add to my collection. One I thought would be plentiful, while the other I did not expect to find at all.
The one I expected to be plentiful was an Ernie Banks stadium giveaway bobble head from a couple of weeks ago. I saw one all day. Luckily, I came home with it.
The other was a Spalding store model Jim Hickman glove, that I had been looking for throughout the past 13 years. I’ve only seen them on EBay, maybe twice at most. I’ve even had dealers tell me it didn’t exist, even though I knew it did. I couldn’t believe it when I actually found one on Thursday. Yes, I bought it for a little more than half it’s listed price. No my collection of 69 Cubs store model gloves is complete. Now, to find a few store model bats.
Two buys after nearly eight hours of attendance. Not a great use of time. But since I bypass almost everything from the last 40 years as well as all graded cards, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
It’s too bad a show like National with four major exhibit halls couldn’t be organized so vintage dealers could have their own area, while modern cards could be placed elsewhere, and corporate sponsors, etc their own as well.
It would be interesting to see the attendance breakdown if that set up was the norm.
