National Attendees, Remember...

[JollyElm]

airplanewereallcountingonyou.jpg

Forget NOT those of us who are stuck in our miserable lives at home and can't attend the show. Please take and post many, many, many pictures and videos!!!!!!!!!

We're vicariously living through you fellow collectors, so unlike someone showing up to the family BBQ with plant-based 'hamburger' disgustingness, please don't disappoint us.
Too much is at stake.

[IndyDave]

The only picture I took today was from near the front of the General Admission line. This was a couple of minutes before we were let in early.

I promise to do better today!

[ALBB]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Attachment 667951

Forget NOT those of us who are stuck in our miserable lives at home and can't attend the show. Please take and post many, many, many pictures and videos!!!!!!!!!

We're vicariously living through you fellow collectors, so unlike someone showing up to the family BBQ with plant-based 'hamburger' disgustingness, please don't disappoint us.
Too much is at stake.

Yes !

[Brent G.]

Originally Posted by IndyDave

The only picture I took today was from near the front of the General Admission line. This was a couple of minutes before we were let in early.

I promise to do better today!

It was nice that the GA opened 30 min early!

[Snapolit1]

Good looking crowd. People dressed up this year.

[mrreality68]

Finally met the famous Joe T.

VIP group gets bigger every year.

The early hour is not as empty as it used to be

[4815162342]

Our connecting flight was delayed yesterday so we didn’t make it there until 3:15pm. We waited in the “VIP” line for an hour and 35 minutes. Most of that wait was in the hot and muggy skybridge. It was brutal.

[Brent G.]

30 minutes into Day 2, I found this amazing Indianapolis Clowns proof photo from the 1950s — VERY proud to own it!

Mike has a fantastic setup, including dozens of Old Judge — check him out!

[Brent G.]

Eye candy

[Brent G.]

This is actually a Pokémon dude’s backpack — the holder in the middle constantly rotates, perfect for displaying your trade bait wherever you go.

[Jewish-collector]

I didn't go this year, but this one of those times that you just gotta say, "WTF"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp82ZTuhcqY

[mrreality68]

Crowds are huge this year

Wrestling Cards seem to be sold by more vendors this year

HVAC is working well

VIP section is really big and also totally full

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by IndyDave

The only picture I took today was from near the front of the General Admission line. This was a couple of minutes before we were let in early. I promise to do better today!

As Frank Sinatra once said to a songwriter pitching a song to him: "But where's the chick?"

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Brent G.

This is actually a Pokémon dude’s backpack — the holder in the middle constantly rotates, perfect for displaying your trade bait wherever you go.

Holy s**t! I hope he has liability insurance for that thing.

[Jewish-collector]

You mean the Memory Lane girls handing out auction catalogs at pre-covid Chicago Nationals ?

[Brent G.]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Crowds are huge this year

Wrestling Cards seem to be sold by more vendors this year

HVAC is working well

VIP section is really big and also totally full

From what I’ve seen, I think Hogan’s death upped his prices 2.5x and all wrestlers 1x.

[BobbyStrawberry]

I'd love to see some pictures as well. Cards > crowds !

[4815162342]

A few random photos I took today:

[Beercan collector]

Big net54 shout out from Clemente Collector at the very beginning of this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw4Zvg53hro
Great video if you’re not there, great video if you ARE there

[JollyElm]

A request.
If you're posting video links, please avoid the mugs and show the frickin' cards...

1033. Walking Head
A guy whose video ‘of a show’ is nothing more than his face staring into the camera the whole time as he prattles on and on during his wanderings around the venue.

[mrreality68]

I have lots of pictures on my phone.
But sadly I cannot seem to upload anything no matter how many times I try
So I will try from my laptop when I get back from the trip

[Beercan collector]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

A request.
If you're posting video links, please avoid the mugs and show the frickin' cards...

1033. Walking Head
A guy whose video ‘of a show’ is nothing more than his face staring into the camera the whole time as he prattles on and on during his wanderings around the venue.

Did you watch the video ?

[mrreality68]

Hi

I UPLOADED 79 Pictures temporarily to my Flicker account because I could not upload to net54 kept failing

So check this LINK out for the 79 photos but beware I did not edit or organize just uploaded

https://www.flickr.com/photos/144250058@N05/

[jbsports33]

Thank you for the updates all, was stuck at work today!

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by Beercan collector

Did you watch the video ?

Whoa!!
My comment was in no way directed at the video you posted, which is the exact opposite, because the focus is on all of the great cards and not just shoving the YouTuber's face and reactions down the viewer's throat.

[IndyDave]

Day 2 was good. Probably the coolest temperature outside for a National I’ve attended.

Crowds were large but only a few places where it was bad. Suitcases galore. Even saw a guy pulling a huge Igloo cooler (missed getting that picture).

As I walked thru the breakers area (as a means of transit only) I realized what the noise reminds me of. The Snake Pit at the Indy 500. Continual music punctuated by the occasional scream.

I did walk up to the second floor where the expansion area with a handful of first year dealers are. They have the entire floor to work with and the narrowest aisles I’ve seen. I got to talk with a vintage hockey dealer who was at one of the corners but there was no way I was squeezing thru those aisles (see picture)

Oh and a little bit of card porn included.

[LuckyLarry]

Cards cut in half, then glued to extra cardboard

[horzverti]

Day 1 was very well attended. Long pre-purchased general admission line. Great that we were allowed in early.

It was great to spend some time talking with hobby legend Kit Young. He is a super person. He is still doing cross-country buying trips. The

I think this was the biggest show and crowd I have seen. It is pretty much Disneyland and the hobby is stronger than ever.

[Clemente_Collector]

Thanks for sharing Eric!!! Net 54 is the best!

Originally Posted by Beercan collector

Big net54 shout out from Clemente Collector at the very beginning of this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw4Zvg53hro
Great video if you’re not there, great video if you ARE there

[LuckyLarry]

Re Pokémon backpack fellas. I asked them about their backpacks. They are actually made to display cards on a shelf or table and it’s their way of advertising their product.

[Snapolit1]

Good to see prices are as stupid as I imagined.

Cards marked at 15-20K, that wouldn't get half of that in a big time auction.

Originally Posted by IndyDave

Day 2 was good. Probably the coolest temperature outside for a National I’ve attended.

Crowds were large but only a few places where it was bad. Suitcases galore. Even saw a guy pulling a huge Igloo cooler (missed getting that picture).

As I walked thru the breakers area (as a means of transit only) I realized what the noise reminds me of. The Snake Pit at the Indy 500. Continual music punctuated by the occasional scream.

I did walk up to the second floor where the expansion area with a handful of first year dealers are. They have the entire floor to work with and the narrowest aisles I’ve seen. I got to talk with a vintage hockey dealer who was at one of the corners but there was no way I was squeezing thru those aisles (see picture)

Oh and a little bit of card porn included.

[OhioLawyerF5]

[BRoberts]

Is that Joe T. I see in the rafters, watching over his flock?

[JollyElm]

Is anyone running across any major Topps-era errors and variations on display?

Besides maybe an occasional 1969 Topps #500 Mickey Mantle 'White Letter' (with the obligatory historically-overpriced sticker) making a cameo,
I never see any of them showcased in the pics or videos of this massive show.

If you see anything, please snap away!!

[90feetaway]

Great pictures, folks. Glad to see the hobby is alive and well.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Wow! I guess the hobby's doing OK!

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by horzverti

Day 1 was very well attended. Long pre-purchased general admission line. Great that we were allowed in early. It was great to spend some time talking with hobby legend Kit Young. He is a super person. He is still doing cross-country buying trips. Ignore the dork he is next to. I think this was the biggest show and crowd I have seen. It is pretty much Disneyland and the hobby is stronger than ever.

Great pictures both! In all the Chicago Nationals I attended or set up at, I never saw a line outside the hall. Those driving by must have thought they were giving away free money or something! Who could have ever predicted this as the future of the hobby just a few years ago?

[Snapolit1]

Is the “hobby” sports, Pokémon, Magic cards, shiny refractors, jerseys with prob fake autos, signed mini football helmets, soccer cards, racing cards, crazy loud box breaks, WNBA, Chicago sports fans getting autographs?

Many more avenues for collectors than there was 10 years ago, but if you back out all the non vintage baseball, how different do you think it looks from the National in 2015? Good for the Pokémon collectors but I’m tired of seeing them.



QUOTE=Hankphenom;2530600]Great pictures both! In all the Chicago Nationals I attended or set up at, I never saw a line outside the hall. Those driving by must have thought they were giving away free money or something! Who could have ever predicted this as the future of the hobby just a few years ago?[/QUOTE]

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Hi
I UPLOADED 79 Pictures temporarily to my Flicker account because I could not upload to net54 kept failing So check this LINK out for the 79 photos but beware I did not edit or organize just uploaded

Wow! Thanks for the great pictures, Jeff, absolutely incredible stuff.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Is the “hobby” sports, Pokémon, Magic cards, shiny refractors, jerseys with prob fake autos, signed mini football helmets, soccer cards, racing cards, crazy loud box breaks, WNBA, Chicago sports fans getting autographs? Many more avenues for collectors than there was 10 years ago, but if you back out all the non vintage baseball, how different do you think it looks from the National in 2015? Good for the Pokémon collectors but I’m tired of seeing them.

Great questions, and I'd like to hear from some attendees. I suppose the answer is "all of the above." But one thing that's surely different from 2015 is the prices. Holy crap! Where in the world, and it probably is from all over the world, is all that cash coming from? Regardless, this current state seems to me better than the widely predicted one of a dying hobby as those who came up through the golden years pass on, with smaller and fewer shows, declining interest among the newer generations, etc. And even if it's the niches that we once thought of as tangential or even irrelevant to our pursuits that's engaging these younger folks, and our beloved vintage cards and memorabilia gets "collected up" and a smaller and smaller part of the whole, I'd rather see it go this way than the other. I, for one, am blown away by what's happened, and quite happy to see it. Rock on, kids!

[jingram058]

Wow, that's quite a spread of VERY desirable cards. That's the positive. The negative is NO WAY I could afford any of them, and still be able to live. And therein is my problem...it isn't a hobby, it's an industry. Fortunately for me, who has been in and out several times, I got most of these cards when the average person could afford them. That is simply no longer the case.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Great questions, and I'd like to hear from some attendees. I suppose the answer is "all of the above." But one thing that's surely different from 2015 is the prices. Holy crap! Where in the world, and it probably is from all over the world, is all that cash coming from? Regardless, this current state seems to me better than the widely predicted one of a dying hobby as those who came up through the golden years pass on, with smaller and fewer shows, declining interest among the newer generations, etc. And even if it's the niches that we once thought of as tangential or even irrelevant to our pursuits that's engaging these younger folks, and our beloved vintage cards and memorabilia gets "collected up" and a smaller and smaller part of the whole, I'd rather see it go this way than the other. I, for one, am blown away by what's happened, and quite happy to see it. Rock on, kids!

There was very little pokemon at all. Around 8% of dealers had non-sport. That part is overblown.

As for new shiny stuff? It absolutely should be there. And has every right to be there as much as vintage. It wouldn't be a healthy hobby if people weren't collecting the new stuff, too.

I was actually pleasantly surprised at the balance of modern and vintage. This show had it all.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

There was very little pokemon at all. Around 8% of dealers had non-sport. That part is overblown. As for new shiny stuff? It absolutely should be there. And has every right to be there as much as vintage. It wouldn't be a healthy hobby if people weren't collecting the new stuff, too.
I was actually pleasantly surprised at the balance of modern and vintage. This show had it all.

Exactly the kind of report I was looking for. Thanks!