Hobby Musings: Countdown to Atlantic City – We are now officially a week away from the start of the 2016 National Sports Collectors Convention. The hobby’s biggest memorabilia show of the year, this year’s venue shifts back to Atlantic City for the first time since 2003. The show will begin with a sneak peek event, next Wednesday and conclude on Sunday, August 7th.
The initial announcement of Atlantic City being named as the host city for the 2016 National was met with some skepticism. In speaking with, the NSCC’s Executive Director John Broggi, he revealed that alternative locations, including Philadelphia had been examined as potential venues.
Executive Director John Broggi
However, in the end, it was felt Atlantic City provided the best fit for the show’s needs. When elaborating on this, Broggi said the city and its convention center were able to provide the necessary amenities, including adequate parking structures and easier access for exhibitors, to set up at the show.
Speaking about the skepticism regarding Atlantic City, Broggi instead took the opportunity to point out the positive aspects of having the National there. Most notably being its close proximity to many major cities, including New York and Philadelphia. While it may not have the native populations of a city like Chicago or Cleveland, it does have a large amount of ardent collectors and sports fans within close distance.
Broggi went on to say, “We’re looking forward to the family-friendly atmosphere that the National and Atlantic City itself can provide.”
He also stated how despite some of its past problems, Atlantic City has been working hard to try to correct them with the goal to become more of a destination city. Whether it’s taking in some of the night life at a club or casino or something perhaps a little more family-friendly at the beach or boardwalk, there are plenty of supplementary activities to take in outside of the National. The city is also offering half-price wristbands on the Steel Pier with the purchase of a National ticket.
Ferris Wheel at the famous Steel Pier
With the show regularly taking place in Chicago every other year, in addition to making stops in Baltimore and Cleveland, many people have called for the National to take place in other cities. This has been especially true with collectors calling for it to return to the west coast, where it hasn’t been since Anaheim, CA in 2006.
Broggi explained that he and Mike Berkus had been looking for quite some time into finding different venues to try and move the National around more. While there have been several cities big enough in size to host the show, trying to get them to commit a venue far enough out in advance has been a challenge. Given the scope of the show and the needed commitment from everyone involved, the prospect of having to wait for confirmation on a venue only a year out from the National date is something that just wouldn’t work.
Looking to the future, the National’s locations up to 2019 are confirmed. Broggi said that Chicago has been a very successful location for the National, often offering better facilities than other venues. He added that there has been some call from people involved with the show on all sides to permanently keep the National in the Windy City. With Cleveland and Chicago currently penciled in for the next three years, he also said they are looking for a potential three-year rotation of cities in the future. The performance of the Atlantic City show this year could very well determine whether it becomes part of that rotation.
In a sign of the times, Broggi discussed the impact social media has made on the show this year. Revealing that the National’s social media interaction has doubled in the past two weeks, he explained that this has been a big leap from where they were two-three years ago, when they didn’t do nearly as 
much. With a heavy concentration on Facebook and Instagram, there has been a more consistent focus on providing show updates as well as offering giveaways for a variety of items, including admission tickets.
While Broggi admitted that not a lot is changing with the National this year, there is still a lot to look forward to. When elaborating, he spoke about some of the headline offerings from the case break pavilion, including the $100,000 vintage break and the set break of 1952 Topps. He also spoke with enthusiasm about the autograph pavilion, which will have over 130 athletes this year, many with ties to the cities in the east coast.
Broggi said he was particularly looking forward to the chance to see Tino Martinez, Andy Pettitte and Walt Frazier at the show. As always, there will be a large amount of unique memorabilia on display by the exhibitors. And of course, the large amount of trading cards, sealed boxes and other cool pieces of sports memorabilia that will be available.
One change of this year’s show will be the absence of Mike Berkus, who passed away late last year. Though this is the first National that Mike won’t be involved with, his son Dan and wife Sher are helping to keep his legacy alive by working with the show this year.
In Mike’s honor, the main stage of the case break pavilion will be formally dedicated on the National’s opening day next Wednesday. Leaf is also including a card of him in their VIP-issued set and Upper Deck also has plans to offer a card of the show’s founder. When talking about the work that’s gone into the National without the help of its chief promoter, Broggi closed by saying, “We’re happy with the support we’ve gotten in Mike’s absence from everyone who has pitched in. Everyone is working hard to make this year’s show a success in Mike’s honor.”
For more information on the 2016 National Sports Collectors Convention, be sure to check out the National’s website.
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