The National is going back to Baltimore

I went to the National for the first time this year. It was a massive card show and got tiresome by the last day.

But, I had a great time.

I met some really great people, guys I still talk to even now. Spending a weekend listening to homeless people yell at you can have a really special bonding effect.

Well, the officials from the National Sports Collectors Convention said today the show is headed back to Baltimore in 2012. The vote came down to Atlantic City (a place near and dear to my heart) and Baltimore.

Initially, there were problems with the Baltimore site, the release stated.

"First, the Convention Center could not provide a 2014 date earlier than the middle of August (much later than the National has ever been held) and second, the Convention Center would not sign a contract with the NSCC more than 24 months in advance of those dates. Both of these issues posed large problems for the NSCC and show organizers"


But the Baltimore convention officials came back and offered a deal that would give the NSCC the dates they wanted four years away.

The dates for that show are Aug. 1-5, 2012.

Some of you may recall, the show was supposed to be in Cleveland in 2012. There was already a contract signed to have the show there, but NSCC officials worked out an agreement to move the site from Cleveland to Baltimore, but will return to Cleveland in 2014 and 2018.

Don't forget, next year is in Chicago though (technically, Rosemont) from August 3-7, 2011.