National may be in peril

JollyElm · #1 04-02-2021, 03:42 PM

If everyone has to wear a mask, I know how the show could save a heckuva lot of money. They should just hire people from a temp agency (with a passing resemblance) to 'be' the Hall of Famers signing autographs. Can't see their faces? No problem. "That's Reggie Jackson and Johnny Bench at those tables. And allow me to direct you to the ticket window..."

egri · #2 04-02-2021, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyElm

If everyone has to wear a mask, I know how the show could save a heckuva lot of money. They should just hire people from a temp agency (with a passing resemblance) to 'be' the Hall of Famers signing autographs. Can't see their faces? No problem. "That's Reggie Jackson and Johnny Bench at those tables. And allow me to direct you to the ticket window..."

I thought that was the Coaches Corner model?

rats60 · #3 04-02-2021, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by egri

I thought that was the Coaches Corner model?

They would be telling you it is Babe Ruth and Shoeless Joe Jackson signing autographs.

Tony Gordon · #4 04-02-2021, 05:42 PM

As an Illinois resident, living and working not far from Rosemont, I was initially skeptical the National could happen. However, some recent events have given me hope. First of all, the Cubs allowed 10,000 fans in Wrigley Field yesterday. I read they plan to allow even more as the season progresses. Also, the Chicago area's main regular card show, the one in the south suburb of Orland Park, is scheduled to come back on April 18. The show has been shut down since February of 2020. My booth at the National is bought and paid for. I'm looking forward to it. I'm also setting up in Orland on April 18 and can't wait! Maybe things are finally opening up here.

Snapolit1 · #5 04-02-2021, 06:07 PM

Will be nice when life returns to normal. Or substantially normal. We�ve all been cooped up too long. Maybe when we all hit the beach and the lake PSA will be able to dig out from their 27 million card backlog.

JollyElm · #6 04-24-2021, 05:55 PM

Be careful what you wish for...

~~Went~~ Tried to go to a card show today here in Northern California. These types of (relatively small) shows are generally pretty well attended, but nothing too crazy. But today, due to the pandemic, it was an absolute nightmare. We arrived at about 9:30 for a 9 to 4 show at The Marriott. Pulling into the hotel, we saw there wasn't a single parking spot available, so we drove around in continuous loops waiting for something to suddenly open up. One finally did. Woo frickin' hoo! Approaching the entrance, we saw a line the likes of which I have never seen at one of these card shows before, with hundreds and hundreds of people snaking around the side of the venue, bending into every possible nook between dumpsters and construction trucks and whatever else. I talked to the guy at the door to see what was going on, perhaps there was a player signing autographs or something?? Nope, just a regular show. Owing to the current state of affairs, only 200 people (including the vendors) were allowed in at a time. My response to him was a simple, "This isn't like a supermarket where you go in, grab your stuff and leave. People looking at cards STAY and look at cards, usually for a whole bunch of hours." He replied, "Yup, I know," and told me the wait to get in would be at least two hours. Saying screw it, I joined the throngs of people on line to see if the wait time wasn't overestimated (knowing full well it was UNDERestimated). I kept staring at the people in the far distance near the beginning of the line, and decided to focus on a fellah I dubbed 'Barney Blue Jacket' (although his name was probably Mike or Bob or something). After 45 minutes, 'Barney Blue' was in the exact same spot. The line in front of me moved a bunch of times, but it was just a false positive with people scrunching up closer and closer together while the actual number of people between me and the mirage known as the door hadn't changed one bit. Nobody left the show, so no one 'new' was allowed inside. And again, there were hundreds of people in front of me. It would be countless hours before my number was called (and everything I would've hoped to buy would've already been snatched up regardless of the ridiculous pricing) and realized my only option was to bail. We left and went to eat, hit a dollar store and then Walmart, and eventually headed back to The Marriott. The line looked exactly the same (didn't even bother looking for 'B.B. Jacket' this time), so we ventured out again to check out the environs of Travis Air Force Base and walk around town a bit. By now it's closing in on 1PM and we once again headed back to the show...so take a wild guess what the situation was. The line hadn't moved at all, so home I went.

Long, boring story for nothing except to vent, but I can only imagine what kind of f_ckfest a large show will be if the same protocols are in place. Yowza.

P.S. Think I'll search for good ole 'Barn' on Facebook.

Casey2296 · #7 04-24-2021, 06:07 PM

Next time walk through the back door confidently dressed in PPE with some gadget that beeps, stop at every table and inspect every card.
_

Chris-Counts · #8 04-25-2021, 08:34 AM

I'm so glad I decided not to go. I was planning to, but my second Covid shot knocked me out of commission. That, plus four hours of traffic for the round trip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Be careful what you wish for...

~~Went~~ Tried to go to a card show today here in Northern California. These types of (relatively small) shows are generally pretty well attended, but nothing too crazy. But today, due to the pandemic, it was an absolute nightmare. We arrived at about 9:30 for a 9 to 4 show at The Marriott. Pulling into the hotel, we saw there wasn't a single parking spot available, so we drove around in continuous loops waiting for something to suddenly open up. One finally did. Woo frickin' hoo! Approaching the entrance, we saw a line the likes of which I have never seen at one of these card shows before, with hundreds and hundreds of people snaking around the side of the venue, bending into every possible nook between dumpsters and construction trucks and whatever else. I talked to the guy at the door to see what was going on, perhaps there was a player signing autographs or something?? Nope, just a regular show. Owing to the current state of affairs, only 200 people (including the vendors) were allowed in at a time. My response to him was a simple, "This isn't like a supermarket where you go in, grab your stuff and leave. People looking at cards STAY and look at cards, usually for a whole bunch of hours." He replied, "Yup, I know," and told me the wait to get in would be at least two hours. Saying screw it, I joined the throngs of people on line to see if the wait time wasn't overestimated (knowing full well it was UNDERestimated). I kept staring at the people in the far distance near the beginning of the line, and decided to focus on a fellah I dubbed 'Barney Blue Jacket' (although his name was probably Mike or Bob or something). After 45 minutes, 'Barney Blue' was in the exact same spot. The line in front of me moved a bunch of times, but it was just a false positive with people scrunching up closer and closer together while the actual number of people between me and the mirage known as the door hadn't changed one bit. Nobody left the show, so no one 'new' was allowed inside. And again, there were hundreds of people in front of me. It would be countless hours before my number was called (and everything I would've hoped to buy would've already been snatched up regardless of the ridiculous pricing) and realized my only option was to bail. We left and went to eat, hit a dollar store and then Walmart, and eventually headed back to The Marriott. The line looked exactly the same (didn't even bother looking for 'B.B. Jacket' this time), so we ventured out again to check out the environs of Travis Air Force Base and walk around town a bit. By now it's closing in on 1PM and we once again headed back to the show...so take a wild guess what the situation was. The line hadn't moved at all, so home I went.

Long, boring story for nothing except to vent, but I can only imagine what kind of f_ckfest a large show will be if the same protocols are in place. Yowza.

P.S. Think I'll search for good ole 'Barn' on Facebook.

chalupacollects · #9 04-25-2021, 09:40 AM

[QUOTE=JollyElm;2096308]Be careful what you wish for...

~~Went~~ Tried to go to a card show today here in Northern California. These types of (relatively small) shows are generally pretty well attended, but nothing too crazy. But today, due to the pandemic, it was an absolute nightmare. We arrived at about 9:30 for a 9 to 4 show at The Marriott. Pulling into the hotel, we saw there wasn't a single parking spot available, so we drove around in continuous loops waiting for something to suddenly open up. One finally did. Woo frickin' hoo! Approaching the entrance, we saw a line the likes of which I have never seen at one of these card shows before, with hundreds and hundreds of people snaking around the side of the venue, bending into every possible nook between dumpsters and construction trucks and whatever else. I talked to the guy at the door to see what was going on, perhaps there was a player signing autographs or something?? Nope, just a regular show. Owing to the current state of affairs, only 200 people (including the vendors) were allowed in at a time. My response to him was a simple, "This isn't like a supermarket where you go in, grab your stuff and leave. People looking at cards STAY and look at cards, usually for a whole bunch of hours." He replied, "Yup, I know," and told me the wait to get in would be at least two hours. Saying screw it, I joined the throngs of people on line to see if the wait time wasn't overestimated (knowing full well it was UNDERestimated). I kept staring at the people in the far distance near the beginning of the line, and decided to focus on a fellah I dubbed 'Barney Blue Jacket' (although his name was probably Mike or Bob or something). After 45 minutes, 'Barney Blue' was in the exact same spot. The line in front of me moved a bunch of times, but it was just a false positive with people scrunching up closer and closer together while the actual number of people between me and the mirage known as the door hadn't changed one bit. Nobody left the show, so no one 'new' was allowed inside. And again, there were hundreds of people in front of me. It would be countless hours before my number was called (and everything I would've hoped to buy would've already been snatched up regardless of the ridiculous pricing) and realized my only option was to bail. We left and went to eat, hit a dollar store and then Walmart, and eventually headed back to The Marriott. The line looked exactly the same (didn't even bother looking for 'B.B. Jacket' this time), so we ventured out again to check out the environs of Travis Air Force Base and walk around town a bit. By now it's closing in on 1PM and we once again headed back to the show...so take a wild guess what the situation was. The line hadn't moved at all, so home I went.

Long, boring story for nothing except to vent, but I can only imagine what kind of f_ckfest a large show will be if the same protocols are in place. Yowza.

For the few small shows in NJ/NY area that came off recently it was the same experience. Long, overcrowded lines that didn't move. People with "early arrival" passes getting screwed also because occupancy limits included dealer personnel not being able to get inside. Wait times in excess of 2 hours plus to approach the door.

That said there is no way the national will be allowed to let 30-50k people in an enclosed venue to mill around without following 6 foot spacing and masking protocols. Wait times to get in will be very lengthy unless time limits are put on people inside of say an hour or two at a time to rotate people through the show. Thus people will have travelled many miles, paid for a hotel room and tickets, food and beverage and see nothing. Because as mentioned above collectors are browsers and will hang around.

If the weather is nice - Soldier field? Under giant tents and out doors less restrictive since there has been no scientific proof of outdoor transmission.

hammertime · #10 04-25-2021, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Gordon

As an Illinois resident, living and working not far from Rosemont, I was initially skeptical the National could happen. However, some recent events have given me hope. First of all, the Cubs allowed 10,000 fans in Wrigley Field yesterday. I read they plan to allow even more as the season progresses.

That's outdoors though... kinda apples and oranges.

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