Surprising that we're not that far away and no one is talking about Expo yet.

I'm just happy to be going. 1st time for me!!

I actually booked a couple extra days this year. Still only hitting the show for 2 days but do a little relaxing and sightseeing this year. Looking forward to that more than the show. Last year was sad.

Noticed it says hotel reservations must be made by October 11, 2021 for the group rate. Now, that's really planning ahead!

Yeah, most of the website is all stuff from last year. About the only thing that works is buying tickets. I'm looking forward to the Stern factory tour

Since this is my 1st show...... what is the established way of buying a game at a show? I can't imagine hauling around that much cash, and at the same time, if I was a seller there's no way I'm taking a check from someone I don't know. How does that work?

Just gotta get used to it. Practice makes perfect.

If you want to be sure you can buy something, haul around that much cash. If you want to take a chance, bring your checkbook and Venmo/Paypal app and hope the seller likes the look of your face and doesn't have another buyer who hauled around that much cash.

Let's hope this show doesn't suffer anymore than it did last year with all the nonworking games on the floor, and overseen creature comforts. Considering his current endeavor is now starting a museum, I can only imagine that this years show will have less games on the floor.

Does this location have more "ballroom" style rooms like the old venue? Having carpeted rooms with dim lights is pretty important in my opinion, last year it was obviously all cement (except for stern's area) and super bright industrial/gym lighting.

Same location as last year unfortunately, unless the website is wrong.

I have a room at the venue hotel, thurs Fri Sat, looking to share with somebody. Also traveling Dallas to Chicago. Can haul games.

Ken

And... I need a game transported from eastern NY to Expo if anybody is making the drive...

Tilt will be providing the games for the tournament like always. and we are going to have a lot of games for the tournament.

Game QTY
Avengers Pro 2
Avengers Prem 2
Deadpool Pro 2
Deadpool Prem 2
Mando Pro 2
Mando Prem 2
Rush Pro 2
Rush Prem 2
Jurassic Park Pro 2
Jurassic Park Prem 2
Godzilla Pro 2
Godzilla Prem 2
Star Wars Pro 2
Star Wars Prem 2
Guardians Pro 2
Led Zeppelin Pro 2
Led Zeppelin Premium2
New Game Pro 2
New Game Prem 2

Total 38 games.

I will be making post later about the games, but these games are going to be for sale and available for pickup when the tournament is over. Many of these games are already in my possesion just waiting to make the trip back to chicago.

Thanks Troy! Will be cool someday when Insider Connected can automatically run a tourney full of Stern games. I know they have leaderboards, but that's not quite full tourney scoring/management... yet.

Yancy, who knows what all leaderboard will do in the future, but that would be cool. I am setting up leaderboard in the tournament area for those games. Ive invested a lot into getting everything i need to run ethernet to all 38 machines, hubs to handle it, monitor, etc. gonna take me quite a bit to set up for this tournament, you coming to help!!

Sweet, maybe they'll at least use that to avoid manual/human score entry. Removes one tedious step. Tourney folks could look at the leaderboard online and award qualifying points based on that.

I suck at running cables, but Vince "TheKorn" is your man!

Here are my games for Expo, Abra CaDabra (restored, for sale) and a custom/rethemed EM game called "Wizard"

Is there any game judging at the show?

Ken

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What games will you all have in tow, for sale etc...?

What is this new game you speak of?

Some of the days are already sold out - i guess there were only about 17 rooms for Tuesday, i ended up paying about $225 instead of the Expo rate $155.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the show, so definitely stop by our booth! And let me thank everyone who has donated items for this year's charity auction. It has been a great success the past two Expos due to the wonderful community contributions and bidders! If anyone has anything they'd like to donate, PM me. There will be plenty of cool products and mods as well as other fun stuff like the signed small movie posters we had last year.

Brad
Project Pinball

You should call the hotel, sometimes they add more rooms to the block as time gets closer and they should discount your rate.

Call during business hours too. So you actually talk to the hotel not an after hours agent.

LTG : )

I'll finally be there this year and giving a fun talk...

"So, you (still) want to open a pinball business?"

Join Nic Schell with a serious-but-fun talk about lessons learned in the entertainment business on the road and after five years at Roanoke Pinball Museum.

Not sure if anyone reading this thread can answer, but here goes. With the Bumper Blast moved offsite to Enterrium this year, what's the plan for Wednesday night? Can game bringers stay, socialize and play whatever shows up until load-in hours end? Or will they be shown the door after setting up?

For me the best part of Wednesday night is playing whatever rolls in before the crowds either break or buy it. No real interest in heading offsite to eat & socialize away from game setup. I mean, who else is going to level everything if I'm not there?

Related topic, there's a separate pre-Expo tourney at Enterrium that night, so most of the games will be off-limits to Bumper Blast attendees. Less than ideal scheduling. I hope all the Expo lifers don't roll in expecting to like, actually play all the machines at Bumper Blast.

Got my room a month ago, but yeah, like someone else said, rooms ALWAYS open up. Don't think Tues has ever been part of Expo rate though.
LOOKOUT FUCKERS!

This will "probably " be the new permanent dates now. Rob Berk will know.
Glad it's NOT on Halloween this year.

My dude. You gonna make this year?

It was pretty loose last year... would expect lots of socializing

This will be my first year at expo. I’m getting super excited and looking forward to hopefully putting a face to all these pinside handles!

Anyone know if pinball life will be having an open house this year?

Definitely screwed up dates. The Tournament also still shows as running Thursday to Sunday, while the Show dates are Wednesday to Saturday. No posting on the IFPA site yet as to the real schedule. Hard to book flights when you don't know when things will start and end.

Those days are gone. PBL is packed & bustling, no space for it.

Understatement of the week

Anyone see that the in-person Stern tour is off and instead a JJP tour is on?

Virtual Stern tour on Friday (no charge), and a JJP tour in-person is now on Thursday.

Looks like Stern doesn't want people in the factory. Hmmmmm, I wonder why?

I'd have preferred the Stern tour in person, but it'll still be fun.

Anyone know if they will open up more rooms at the host hotel?

Is the expo worth it to go for those that have went? Considering going but haven’t seen a schedule of events. The website has last years.

I haven’t been before.

Yeah, Tuesday had 17 rooms available initially at the expo rate, I hesitated a couple weeks to finalize plans and it was sold out when I did book.

I'll call back and see if they added more.

The fact that you've never been could be a plus, since it's a shadow of what it once was. Last year was one of the worst - most of the games in the free play area were Berks broken collection, and the move to a new venue goes from a carpeted, homier feel to the concrete floor warehouse feel that the MGC show now has, too. The hotel itself is nice, though.

Couldn’t agree more.

I was setup to do the Stern tour as well. I am definitely bummed it got switched to JJP. Better than nothing but a bummer none the less.

I had a weird feeling they would cancel it when I booked and the first line was pending COVID cases. I get the COVID thing, but it almost felt like laying the ground work for a quick back peddle.

It says "new for 2022 no charge for seminars" is this true?

Yes, true.

I'd have liked reserved seating for advanced ticket holders, but that's how it goes.
This is my 1st Expo, really looking forward to it. Even though people are saying it's not what it used to be..... I'm really excited to visit. I'm going to try TPF next year and see which is better. At least there's plenty of stuff to do in Chicago so if it gets boring, can zip out and do something else for awhile. I'm going to Six Flags during this trip for sure..... and sample a lot of pizza. HA!!

I'd be really curious if someone could give a little history about Expo and why it declined over time.

For those who aren't familiar with Chicago (like me)..... any recommendations of things to do/see/eat in the area?
I had on my list: Six Flags, Galloping Ghost, a Chicago tour, a whole bunch of pizza joints, try a Chicago Beef, try a Chicago dog, and Cheeseburger Cheeseburger Cheeseburger for sure..... not sure what else. There's a zoo........

Seminars were always free for some of us
Just joshin ya I don't go to seminars.

for pizza...
Lou Malnati's or you want to get very local...Pequods in Morton Grove

I just tried Iron Age Korean BBQ in Glenview...its was great!

Big Ange's Eatery is great BBQ and it's near the expo...

Good food in Chicago for sure!

Deep dish:
Lou Malnati's
Burt's Place
Pequod's

Thin crust tavern style:
Marie's
Vito and Nick's

FIRE UP THE CHAINSAW

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I've been going to EXPO since 1990 or so, and it looks like I'll be able to attend Saturday this year. Always had a great time and looking forward to it.

I learned the best way to do Downtown is to Park & Ride the Blue Line from Rosemont to the Clark/Lake Station. It's under $10 and gets you into the heart of Downtown Chicago. Navy Pier, the Billy Goat, Boat tours, Hancock building etc. are all walking distance.