National Headed to Chicago Again in 2026

[jethrod3]

Originally Posted by jiw98

I personally like Chicago. It’s only 3 1/2 hours from home. Cleveland is about 6 hours, so that’s not too bad for me either. Is Indianapolis a place that’s not a good option? I’m not sure if the needed space is available, but it’s a centrally located location and should have plenty of rooms available.

I've been a proponent for Indianapolis hosting the National as well. The Indiana Convention Center ballrooms cover 62,173 sq. ft. Can't remember what the space requirement is for the National----might be a tad bit too small. But when you add in Lucas Oil Stadium, which is connected to the Convention Center, that supposedly adds "up to 183,000 contiguous square feet of space." I have no idea if anyone seriously explored Indianapolis as an option though. Maybe time they should if they haven't yet.

[Hankphenom]

I Have no dog in this hunt--too old to be going to Nationals now unless they're in D.C./Baltimore/Philly. But it strikes me that the consistent choice of Chicago, Cleveland, and AC are the result of a flawed system not unlike the taxicab medallions in NYC. The long-time dealers in the Northeast, with their top priorities, are always going to vote for a location within a one day drive. And I'm guessing those valuable dealer priorities rarely change, but rather get passed down one way or another. For example, no way H&S loses its high priority just because Bill Huggins passes away. I don't know if there is actually an active marketplace for these coveted dealer slots at the Nationals, but I wouldn't be surprised. So instead of more dealers from the south, west, and southwest--West Coast, Vegas, Dallas, Atlanta, Florida, etc.--having a say in where the Nationals will be held as the country's population and economy move there, the "legacy" dealers from the Northeast continue to be in control and will always be as long as this system remains in place.

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by jethrod3

I've been a proponent for Indianapolis hosting the National as well. The Indiana Convention Center ballrooms cover 62,173 sq. ft. Can't remember what the space requirement is for the National----might be a tad bit too small. But when you add in Lucas Oil Stadium, which is connected to the Convention Center, that supposedly adds "up to 183,000 contiguous square feet of space." I have no idea if anyone seriously explored Indianapolis as an option though. Maybe time they should if they haven't yet.

A minimum of 600,000 square feet is required for the National so unless there is a different much larger venue, they will not be looking at it.

[Jewish-collector]

They can't do Indianapolis because it's too small.

As mentioned, the convention center needs to have a minimum of 600,000 contiguous square feet. Unrelated to venue availability, scheduling, costs, fees, hotels, etc,... I might be missing one or two, but these are pretty much the only convention centers that they will consider:

McCormick Place
Las Vegas Convention Center
Orange County Convention Center
Georgia World Congress Center
New Orleans Convention Center
World Equestrian Center
International Exposition Center (I-X Center)
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Sands Expo and Convention Center
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
George R. Brown Convention Center
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Huntington Place
Moscone Convention Center
San Diego Convention Center

[MBMiller25]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

They can't do Indianapolis because it's too small.

As mentioned, the convention center needs to have a minimum of 600,000 contiguous square feet. Unrelated to venue availability, scheduling, costs, fees, hotels, etc,... I might be missing one or two, but these are pretty much the only convention centers that they will consider:

McCormick Place
Las Vegas Convention Center
Orange County Convention Center
Georgia World Congress Center
New Orleans Convention Center
World Equestrian Center
International Exposition Center (I-X Center)
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Sands Expo and Convention Center
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
George R. Brown Convention Center
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Huntington Place
Moscone Convention Center
San Diego Convention Center

And of these with the space requirements need to be available on the date windows the National is shooting for.

[Brian Van Horn]

Guess air conditioning wasn't a factor in the vote.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by jethrod3

I've been a proponent for Indianapolis hosting the National as well. The Indiana Convention Center ballrooms cover 62,173 sq. ft. Can't remember what the space requirement is for the National----might be a tad bit too small. But when you add in Lucas Oil Stadium, which is connected to the Convention Center, that supposedly adds "up to 183,000 contiguous square feet of space." I have no idea if anyone seriously explored Indianapolis as an option though. Maybe time they should if they haven't yet.

Not even close. Chicago was well over 600,000 Sq feet

A lot of these questions and complaints have been answered many times in other threads, but here goes:

Location Issues

1. Square footage is the easiest problem to quantify, there are very few venues that can provide the space needed.

2. Time Frame - You'd be surprised hoe many venues will not book years in advance which the National absolutely has to be able to do. I have heard in the past that this is the problem with Vegas

3. Democracy - If you let the current dealers vote it's going to stay where the current dealers are happiest

As a side note I didn't vote for Chicago.

[MVSNYC]

IMO, the Nat'l should rotate venues across the country- west coast, east coast, mid-west, etc. Would keep it fresh, exciting, etc. Just my 2 cents.

Jewish-collector- Good list BTW...Would be cool to see some of them get a shot...

McCormick Place
Las Vegas Convention Center
Orange County Convention Center
Georgia World Congress Center
New Orleans Convention Center
World Equestrian Center
International Exposition Center (I-X Center)
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Sands Expo and Convention Center
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
George R. Brown Convention Center
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Huntington Place
Moscone Convention Center
San Diego Convention Center

[Vintagedeputy]

Chicago again?

Screwed once more.

[brianp-beme]

Thanks to Mr. Wiki, here is a list of US convention centers that have at least 500,000 square feet of exhibition space.

The first number for each convention center below is the total exhibition space in square footage, while the second number is its overall square footage. Note that Atlantic City is at the bottom of the list with exactly 500,000 square feet of exhibition space...that's where I drew a line in the convention sand. I do not have the contiguous square footage for each place, but if Atlantic City is currently in the mix, then the National organizers are obviously willing to accept under 600,000 sq. ft. of contiguous space.


McCormick Place Chicago 2,670,000 sq ft /9,000,000 sq ft

Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas 2,500,000 sq ft /4,600,000 sq ft

Orange County Convention Center Orlando 2,100,000 sq ft/ 7,000,000 sq ft

Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta 1,500,000 sq ft/ 3,900,000 sq ft

New Orleans Morial Convention Center New Orleans 1,100,000 sq ft/ 3,100,000 sq ft

World Equestrian Center Ocala, Florida 1,026,500 sq ft /1,036,100 sq ft

International Exposition Center (I-X Center) Cleveland 1,000,000 sq ft/ 2,200,000 sq ft

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas 1,000,000 sq ft/ 2,000,000 sq ft

Pennsylvania Convention Center Philadelphia 1,000,000 sq ft /2,000,000 sq ft

Sands Expo and Convention Center Las Vegas 936,600 sq ft/2,250,000 sq ft

Mandalay Bay Convention Center Las Vegas 861,231 sq ft /2,100,000 sq ft

George R. Brown Convention Center Houston 853,000 sq ft/1,800,000 sq ft

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York City 850,000 sq ft/ 3,300,000 sq ft

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois 840,000 sq ft /1,000,000 sq ft

Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim 815,000 sq ft /1,600,000 sq ft

Cleveland Convention Center and Global Center for Health Innovation Cleveland 767,000 sq ft/1,002,000 sq ft

Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter Perry, Georgia 738,204 sq ft/781,831 sq ft

Huntington Place Detroit 723,500 sq ft /2,400,000 sq ft

Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles 720,000 sq ft /867,000 sq ft

NRG Center Houston 706,000 sq ft/1,400,000 sq ft

Walter E. Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C. 703,000 sq ft/2,300,000 sq ft

Moscone Convention Center San Francisco 700,000 sq ft/2,000,000 sq ft

San Diego Convention Center San Diego 615,700 sq ft/2,600,000 sq ft

Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center Harrisburg, PA 593,872 sq ft/634,507 sq ft

Colorado Convention Center Denver 584,000 sq ft/2,200,000 sq ft

Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis 566,600 sq ft /1,300,000 sq ft

America's Center St. Louis 523,000 sq ft /2,700,000 sq ft

Boston Convention and Exhibition Center Boston 516,000 sq ft/ 976,000 sq ft

Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City 515,000 sq ft/ 679,000 sq ft

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio 514,000 sq ft/1,500,000 sq ft

Miami Beach Convention Center Miami Beach 502,000 sq ft/ 1,000,000 sq ft

Atlantic City Convention Center Atlantic City, New Jersey 500,000 sq ft /1,000,000 sq ft


Brian (you can thank me later for removing square meter amounts)

[Johnny630]

Rosemont is a great locations for the National why not make it there every two years with Cleveland...... so two years Chicago one year Cleveland. I bet that’s they do. The gray breads hate change they love routine and commonplace that’s comforting and has a past experience with.

[Jewish-collector]

It's needs to be minimum of 600,000 contiguous square feet.

[ValKehl]

Considering all the dealers on the waiting list to get into the NSCC, I'm surprised that some very enterprising sports show promoter (hello Joe D.?) hasn't decided to have a go at establishing an annual "Winter NSCC." IMO, January or February would be a good time of the year. How about Las Vegas, New Orleans, or San Diego for a location. One major benefit for dealers and collectors would be not having to suffer inadequate air conditioning!! I truly feel that a Winter NSCC would quickly become a huge success.

[IndyDave]

Originally Posted by jethrod3

I've been a proponent for Indianapolis hosting the National as well. The Indiana Convention Center ballrooms cover 62,173 sq. ft. Can't remember what the space requirement is for the National----might be a tad bit too small. But when you add in Lucas Oil Stadium, which is connected to the Convention Center, that supposedly adds "up to 183,000 contiguous square feet of space." I have no idea if anyone seriously explored Indianapolis as an option though. Maybe time they should if they haven't yet.

62k square feet is smaller than the typical chain grocery store. The Indianapolis Convention Center is much larger than that

The ballrooms are 62k sf but the main exhibit hall is 566k sf of contiguous space

https://www.visitindy.com/meetings/m...ention-center/

That said, I live here and would love for it to be here. But flights to Chicago are a lot easier

[IndyDave]

Originally Posted by jethrod3

I've been a proponent for Indianapolis hosting the National as well. The Indiana Convention Center ballrooms cover 62,173 sq. ft. Can't remember what the space requirement is for the National----might be a tad bit too small. But when you add in Lucas Oil Stadium, which is connected to the Convention Center, that supposedly adds "up to 183,000 contiguous square feet of space." I have no idea if anyone seriously explored Indianapolis as an option though. Maybe time they should if they haven't yet.

62k square feet is smaller than the typical chain grocery store. The Indianapolis Convention Center is much larger than that

The ballrooms are 62k sf but the main exhibit hall is 566k sf of contiguous space

https://www.visitindy.com/meetings/m...ention-center/

That said, I live here and would love for it to be here. But flights to Chicago are a lot easier