Future National Locations - Same Old Story

[Exhibitman]

I am going to go with the unpopular opinion here: I like the Cleveland show, sort of the way you like the weird cousin you visit with at a family event--not exactly someone you'd pal around with all the time, but interesting every year or so. As long as you understand that you are going to be in a car every day to and from the venue, and in a car any time you want to get a decent meal. The airport is easy to get through, the hotel aren't walkable to the show but some are pretty close, and once you resign yourself to a drive, you can find some really good places to eat. Last time a group of us had a couple of really good dinners in town. We just had to drive there. Good ice cream too...if that makes a difference.

As for Vegas, I've been to a number of bar association events there in the summer months, and have gone there on trips myself. Yeah, it is hot outside, but everything is available and room prices are really good. Plus, the airport is world class.

[Jewish-collector]

Adam - You used to hate the National in Cleveland. What changed your mind ?

[Exhibitman]

Driving. Being from LA it is a treat for me to go a place where I do not need a car, so I hate having to rent a car and deal with it, but last time I decided to go with it and had a good time. Getting away from the IX Center is critical, as is not using the bathrooms there after 10:00 a.m. (worst place to drop a deuce this side of TJ). Still, Rosemont is light years better.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Driving. Being from LA it is a treat for me to go a place where I do not need a car, so I hate having to rent a car and deal with it, but last time I decided to go with it and had a good time. Getting away from the IX Center is critical, as is not using the bathrooms there after 10:00 a.m. (worst place to drop a deuce this side of TJ). Still, Rosemont is light years better.

Huge difference is there's little traffic in and around Cleveland.

[Exhibitman]

That's true but in Rosemont I can skip the car entirely.

[Snapolit1]

People running the National want to maximize attendance, maximize sales, maximize publicity, and maximize profit. If there were better places to have it from their point of view I can't imagine what their incentive would be to ignore them.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

That's true but in Rosemont I can skip the car entirely.

Absolutely correct! But figured being from the LA area, traffic was a big reason you didn't like driving.

[egri]

It sounds like there won’t be a change of venue until a National (or likely, a few Nationals) is a flop. In this crazy market, it could be a while.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by BobC

Absolutely correct! But figured being from the LA area, traffic was a big reason you didn't like driving.

Traffic is an annoyance to be sure but actually, I just do not like driving at all, so whenever I have to drive everywhere it is a hassle. Sometimes you do see the most interesting things, though, when you drive around LA:




My office is a few minutes from Disney, Warner Brothers and Universal. I was driving home one evening and saw that ahead of me in traffic. Must've been out for a spin from Universal.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I am going to go with the unpopular opinion here: I like the Cleveland show, sort of the way you like the weird cousin you visit with at a family event--not exactly someone you'd pal around with all the time, but interesting every year or so. As long as you understand that you are going to be in a car every day to and from the venue, and in a car any time you want to get a decent meal. The airport is easy to get through, the hotel aren't walkable to the show but some are pretty close, and once you resign yourself to a drive, you can find some really good places to eat. Last time a group of us had a couple of really good dinners in town. We just had to drive there. Good ice cream too...if that makes a difference.

As for Vegas, I've been to a number of bar association events there in the summer months, and have gone there on trips myself. Yeah, it is hot outside, but everything is available and room prices are really good. Plus, the airport is world class.

2nd you on liking Cleveland ^

My wife dragged me in a cab 45 minutes outside Cleveland to Vermillion to go to a fancy restaurant on the water. Little town was super cool and we ended up having a great dinner and walk around near the lake. Don't remember much of what I purchased that National, but I do remember all of the Vermillion experience.