What would you change / improve about the National.

[Bigjigglies]

Can’t say that this will change anything but I have regular meetings with two of the board members. I am willing to pass along suggestions.

Be reasonable. Things out of their control, like the AC breaking is not going to happen.

They are not going to put all like tables together. Not all vintage in this area, all shiny together etc.

[Philthy]

The layout has to improve.

It doesn't even necessarily be putting all like tables together (thought that would be great!), but the layout in Chicago was incredibly tough to navigate and not miss anything. There has to be a better way to separate breakers, corporate, and dealers so they're not smattered all accross the venue.

[NYBBFAN]

An interactive map for attendees. A static PDF map is very 2002.

You should be able to hover (or tap) and see a booth name, number and brief byline about the items they are selling/buying.

[byronscott4ever]

Full day Wednesday
One more hour each day

[tdbaseballcards]

I think the layout definitely could use some adjusting. Dealers one area, corporate another, and breakers another. At a minimum, there should be a floor map with dealer names/tables that are in the vip bags and available at all the entrances. All booths should be labelled with booth #. An app would be even nicer, especially if you could check off booths or take notes/pictures. Those banners were not super helpful when you sometimes couldn't see them or didn't realize that the booth you were looking for was in the 'other' room.

The corporate booths should be away from the dealer tables because often times when the lines are queuing you or people are standing around to 'see something' you can't get to some dealer tables.

I did like the bag check area, that is nice, hopefully this is something they offer ever year. Although it should be advertised some where on the website or when buying tickets. It would have been nice to know ahead of time so I could pack accordingly.

The VIP badge pickup needs to be improved for Wednesday. No one knew what was happening with all the lines, why it was taking so long, which line to get in, that they had to wait in the looong line and such. Why can't someone who is doing the early entry elect to have their badge 'shipped' (for a fee) so they don't have to wait in line. I know VIPs have to get the gifts, but you need more windows for how many tickets you sold.

You need people in the lobby answering questions and directing people where to go. The random signs did not help people when there are large amounts of people standing around. The lobby was often chaotic.

That is all I thought about right now.

[mnvikingstwins]

Clean up the lobby from everyone trying to create their own trade nights that don't even pay for admission

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by mnvikingstwins

Clean up the lobby from everyone trying to create their own trade nights that don't even pay for admission

To me, this is a big one. They are basically having a free show and this has to stop.

[mfisher27]

Originally Posted by mnvikingstwins

Clean up the lobby from everyone trying to create their own trade nights that don't even pay for admission

I went back to the car Saturday around 3 and was shocked at how many people had their cards spread out on the floor in like 10 card x 10 card sections. Either with stealing or someone stepping on your stuff, I don’t get why anyone thought was a good idea. Especially when it was all over the place. Turning corners and there’s 50 cards spread out.

My vote is similar to the other comments, the layout is awful. I know they have to have it broken up because of the layout of the convention center but it should be broken up better/clearer. Random corporate booths mixed within dealers should be changed asap. Breakers were mostly centralized but also a pain with their location because it was the middle of the show so when switching sections, you were walking by all their equipment and people watching the breaks on the TVs setup.

I know I missed so many tables because of the setup. There was like a half row of maybe 5-8 dealers I completely missed because they were tucked away behind large corporate booths. I didn’t see their setup until I was leaving. It was back along that back row of corporate booths with cardsmiths

Also a fan of booth numbers on every single one. A good deal had them but the ones I looked for specifically, didn’t. Idk if that’s on the dealers or the show promoters but either way, every booth should be labeled. They already are for setup, why not display them for everyone to easily find their way back.

[SupermanBrandon]

Organization has been lacking for years. From booths, booth locations, signage, help, etc. It's just not well ran. The event is great despite the organizers "efforts". Imagine if you had people that understood how to run something of this magnitude, how great it would it.

re: people in the lobby, trade nights, etc. The National organizers are missing out on this big time. Create designated areas. Create & organize trade nights at the hotels every night. Charge a very small admission. Control it!

...thoughtful ORGANIZATION!

[mnvikingstwins]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

Organization has been lacking for years. From booths, booth locations, signage, help, etc. It's just not well ran. The event is great despite the organizers "efforts". Imagine if you had people that understood how to run something of this magnitude, how great it would it.

re: people in the lobby, trade nights, etc. The National organizers are missing out on this big time. Create designated areas. Create & organize trade nights at the hotels every night. Charge a very small admission. Control it!

...thoughtful ORGANIZATION!

Keep it away from the main lobby though. Why would a new dealer bother paying for admission when they can peddle their instagram and ja morant graded crap for free out there?

[SupermanBrandon]

Originally Posted by mnvikingstwins

Keep it away from the main lobby though. Why would a new dealer bother paying for admission when they can peddle their instagram and ja morant graded crap for free out there?

Agree completely. First impression when someone walks in and you see people just peddling their crap on the floor (for free). Makes it look like homeless people.

[K111]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

Full day Wednesday
One more hour each day

Exactly what I was going to say, maybe even more than 1 hour, would the dealers prefer longer hours like 10-8 Friday and Saturday or are they spent after standing on their feet for 8 hours a day?

[Pacmeyer]

Originally Posted by K111

Exactly what I was going to say, maybe even more than 1 hour, would the dealers prefer longer hours like 10-8 Friday and Saturday or are they spent after standing on their feet for 8 hours a day?

These are not exactly young fellas. That’s why so many booths are locked up because you have people who have been showing up for decades.

[Cardfanusa]

From a dealers perspective the worst part of the National is the show closing at 5pm on Sunday. I have a lot of inventory and a quick load out, sneaking out at 4 is not an option.

I would be fine with the show opening at noon on Wednesday and closing at 8 instead of 6 on Saturday and load out 8am to 4pm on Sunday with no customers Sunday.

I am so over the show by the close on Saturday. Typically I don’t care if I sell anything on Sunday, I want to pack it in and leave. I did sell some cards Sunday but more tire kickers that day with a few any last minute inquires like that was going to be the last show I setup at.

[Pacmeyer]

Originally Posted by Cardfanusa

From a dealers perspective the worst part of the National is the show closing at 5pm on Sunday. I have a lot of inventory and a quick load out, sneaking out at 4 is not an option.

I would be fine with the show opening at noon on Wednesday and closing at 8 instead of 6 on Saturday and load out 8am to 4pm on Sunday with no customers Sunday.

I am so over the show by the close on Saturday. Typically I don’t care if I sell anything on Sunday, I want to pack it in and leave. I did sell some cards Sunday but more tire kickers that day with a few any last minute inquires like that was going to be the last show I setup at.

You’ll be swimming upstream trying to get rid of Sunday. If the idea is one day less, it would be Thurs-Sunday instead. Wednesday is kind of an early start for a fan convention anyway.

[Bigjigglies]

Opinions on a few of the ideas. Just my opinion.

Full day on Wednesday would mean an extra day of facility rental and an extra day of hotels for dealers etc.
Corporate move in is on Monday, dealer move in is Tuesday (for people who pay extra) and Wednesday morning.

Layout: you have to work within the design of the building. I personally do not think it would work putting all the dealers that sell similar item in the same area. I think some areas would get packed and some would be empty.
Getting from the main room to the autograph room was easy to do if you cut through the lobby vs. cutting through the breaker area.

VIP checkin: I'm not sure why the lines were so long this year (more sold?) I do not remember it being like that in the past. Mailing the passes could be good and bad, what if they are lost in the mail? How many people would get to the show and claim they never arrived? Just so they could give one to a friend.

Organized trade nights: Maybe someone on here who thinks they could run the show better than the people who do should take this upon themselves. Contact the local hotels, rent a room, pay for set up, hire someone to charge admission etc.

Table numbers: All tables are numbered, both on the floor (hard to see with people standing there) and with a booth sign that has the dealer name and booth numbers on them. For some reason many dealers take these down. Also a book is in the VIP bag and at the entrance that lists all the booths by name and has a map of the facility.

Interactive APP: I have no idea what the cost of this would be to implement. Also getting dealers to list on the app what they sell could be difficult. What would this do to the wi-fi in the building?
I have always though having a website where people could list specific items they are looking for that dealers could search and make contact through would help. But, I also think many people would just fill it up with "I by Ohtani" and dealers would get tired of looking thru it.

Lobby flea market: I agree, it should go. The argument will be that this is how we get kids involved in the hobby. but it does look bad and I did see security telling some of the people they had to move so people could walk thru.

I agree, a help desk in the lobby would be helpful.

Keep the ideas coming. It may be helpful if some who offered suggestions also gave ideas on how to implement their suggestion. Just saying fix it does nothing.

[packman80]

Surprised no one has said requiring people to shower, brush their teeth, and use deodorant.

[Pacmeyer]

Set aside a portion of booths for a lottery that’s a random drawing not just going down the list of previous exhibitors. Maybe some of those dealers who are getting kicked out by eliminating subletting were better than the ones with their name on the contract. Also gets in some new dealers so it’s not always the same cards showing up.

[glen87]

Originally Posted by packman80

Surprised no one has said requiring people to shower, brush their teeth, and use deodorant.

well....he did say to be reasonable in the op

[Cardfanusa]

Originally Posted by Pacmeyer

You’ll be swimming upstream trying to get rid of Sunday. If the idea is one day less, it would be Thurs-Sunday instead. Wednesday is kind of an early start for a fan convention anyway.

For a once a year special show Wednesday isn’t too early by evidence of the lines of people attending.

Sunday being a throwaway day has basis of fact due to the lack of attendance on Sunday. The crowd at this year’s show on Sunday was a fraction of other days, at least at my booth toward the front where people racing for the giveaways at the corporate booth are seen each day.

Agree they won’t get rid of Sunday, just a dream, but atleast officially end the friggin show at 3 instead of 5

[packman80]

Originally Posted by Cardfanusa

For a once a year special show Wednesday isn’t too early by evidence of the lines of people attending.

Sunday being a throwaway day has basis of fact due to the lack of attendance on Sunday. The crowd at this year’s show on Sunday was a fraction of other days, at least at my booth toward the front where people racing for the giveaways at the corporate booth are seen each day.

Agree they won’t get rid of Sunday, just a dream, but atleast officially end the friggin show at 3 instead of 5

Do they offer a discounted admission to Sunday? If not maybe do that would be a way to draw in more people.

[Pacmeyer]

Originally Posted by Cardfanusa

For a once a year special show Wednesday isn’t too early by evidence of the lines of people attending.

Sunday being a throwaway day has basis of fact due to the lack of attendance on Sunday. The crowd at this year’s show on Sunday was a fraction of other days, at least at my booth toward the front where people racing for the giveaways at the corporate booth are seen each day.

Agree they won’t get rid of Sunday, just a dream, but atleast officially end the friggin show at 3 instead of 5

Wednesday is only crowded because it’s the first day and people don’t want to miss out on whatever they came for. At 5 days by Sunday understandably you’ll have a comparatively thin crowd for a weekend day.

[Cardfanusa]

Originally Posted by Pacmeyer

Wednesday is only crowded because it’s the first day and people don’t want to miss out on whatever they came for. At 5 days by Sunday understandably you’ll have a comparatively thin crowd for a weekend day.

Thanks for making my point to do away with Sunday. I know they never will but the show officially ending at 5 on Sunday is nuts.

[NYBBFAN]

Originally Posted by Bigjigglies

Opinions on a few of the ideas. Just my opinion.


Interactive APP: I have no idea what the cost of this would be to implement. Also getting dealers to list on the app what they sell could be difficult. What would this do to the wi-fi in the building?
I have always though having a website where people could list specific items they are looking for that dealers could search and make contact through would help. But, I also think many people would just fill it up with "I by Ohtani" and dealers would get tired of looking thru it.

Doesn't even have to be a full app, just a webpage. Assets are easily cacheable, so after the first download, they stay on your device for X amount of days.

As far as the dealers listing what they sell, that should be a no-brainer since it will drive relevant traffic to the booth. Can be as simple as: Joe's Cards and Collectibles - multi-sport value boxes.

[mfw13]

From reading all the comments, it seems like the National might be getting too big for its own good.

Why not supplement it with several 200-300 table regional shows throughout the year in various parts of the US instead of trying to just have one humungous show that is a disorganized mess?