Youre Lucky to be so close!

We really loved Elk Grove!

no.
Expo... is that still a thing?
If so; sorry to hear it.

Just Texas Pride!

Expo is a great show! I'm sure I'll too busy to go this year, but to me it's one of the best pinball shows in the country. Sure in terms of game count it's not as high as others, but the experience you get with all the panels, the people, and being in the heart of the industry really makes this a unique show worth attending. Plus it often gets a nice handful of new pinball debuts/announcements.

Expo is a good show, pacak is a terrible person to run it. After many years, my games won't be there again.

Expo can't wait. but still to far away. summer is still here. ill be there

i will probably be there it will be the first time i go to expo.

Great event, will attend again .

I will probably bring my NFS restored Getaway and possibly a Bally Bumper.

I'm planning to bring a game or two again this year for the free play room

Curious what your disagreed with? After years of helping with the show and personally witnessing/being subjected to pacaks treatment of people, it's not worth my effort to bring games to line his pockets.

I'm considering going to Expo this year since my girlfriend and I are already planning a Chicago trip, but I really don't know much about it because their website is terrible. The only convention I've been to is TPF so that's all I can compare to. As I understand it, Chicago has many fewer games to play and is more speaker focused. Is that accurate? Can anyone who has gone before give me an idea of what to expect? Is it worth it to go all days? I also want to note I am going to TPF again next year so this isn't replacing that. Just want to know if this is worth going to. Thanks

there are definitely fewer games.

for me personally, i take one day to enjoy everything at Expo. This is a show where a lot of "new" game announcements are made. Rumor is that JJP #4 will be unveiled at this years expo. Also, if you have a car then it is worth the drive out to Huntley for the Pinball Life event. If you don't have a car, just find someone that is going and hitch a ride.

Absolutely can't wait. Games for sale
Last Action Hero
Hook
World Cup 94
Corvette ?
And more possibly.

there is a lot of cool one off games there. There web site is very stuck in the past.

Playing a ton of nice pins in free play area is not an Expo thing. It's awesome for new never seen before pins and industry releases. A good number of home brew and prototype stuff too. Thursday and Friday is all you really need.

Trents tournament is pretty busy as well.

If you are ever actually in that area and play the pins my group brings and maintains, I don't know how you could feel this way. Feel free to introduce yourself to me this year and we can play some games. I wear a Pinside name tag every year.

There are probably 50 pins in total in the free play room worth playing for most pinheads.

Expo quantity has continually degreaded in the past 4-5 years. When Andrew took over the hall it was better and getting back on track but I heard that is no longer happening this year. Sounds like Miek just continues to piss off more and more good people that have worked to keep expo alive.

Sad but true that TPF has obviously taken over as the premier/well rounded show.

If people want a show to play quality pins in quantity, then VFW, ReplayFX, and TPF for sure beat out expo.

The only thing keeping expo alive at this stage is the location and history.

also, big thanks to those that continue to bring quality stuff!

the ohio crew and CPM crew bring some great stuff!

Between the Spirit you guys brought out and Total Annihilation, that's pretty much the only thing I did last year at expo. Well worth attending for me.

Some of those people you mention have gotten fed up, or nearly fed up, with Mike and are considering backing off support from what I've heard.

It's still a fun show though.

I am trying to Vend at Expo and cannot get a reply to my inquires. I may just listen to the many others who warned me about Expo and stay away. Sad.

I haven't decided if I'm going or not this year (been to the last 5), but leaning not right now. I'm just not sure it's a "must attend" show anymore.

So, when we lived in the suburbs of Chicago I always brought at least two machines for the free play area and yes dealing with Mike P was enough to rattle even this guy's normally cool demeanor. But, since Andrew and everyone in the red shirts stepped in to manage the free play area, donating games became the enjoyable experience it should have always been.

Since we moved, I've still driven back the past two years and brought one pin (so as to avoid having to drag my trailer 1K miles each way) and we're planning to come back this year too, especially because since it is in Chicago there's so much more than just doing Expo. That said, I'll be really disappointed if the team managing the free play area isn't there this time. That would probably be the last nail in the coffin for us.

Bring your hammer then. I know some of that crew isn't going anymore.

Not a great vendor show, but worth it to make some contacts if you have never been.

Great show for seeing new stuff and hanging with friends.

Chicago expo show 2016 did not seem as fun or interesting as prior years shows. The food in the area and the people are always the best parts of the show but the pinball and vendors just didn't seem engaging or fun. I would suggest the other shows around the country from VFW, Replay FX.

Since I don't care too much about new game announcements until they are at a location I can play, and since I won't know anyone else there to make contacts or friends with, it sounds like I am better off skipping this. I enjoy watching seminars and I do want to tour the stern factory, but it sounds like the actual playing of pinball is rather minimal at Expo. Maybe we'll just skip it and spend that money to go to the hall of fame in Vegas.

There is a lot of pinball at expo, there is more open game room time at expo than anywhere. There are not as many games as some other shows. The game room quality varies, it's up to the people bringing the games.

that would be a waste of a trip. Aside from the few rare title, PHOF is not a place worth making a special trip to. Most games are poorly maintained, pitched aweful, and leaning to a side. PHOF is worth the trip if going to vegas but not as the reason to go to Vegas.

Yes, phof would not be the only reason to be in Vegas, just a stop.

There's not as many games on the floor as a show like TPF, however that's not to say there aren't enough to make it worthwhile. If you'd enjoy the seminars and Stern factory tour, then the amount of games available to play will likely be able to round out your trip into a nice quality experience.

Despite not growing at the rate that other shows have, I'd still say there's enough unique quality content at Expo to make it one of the better shows in the country.

I highly recommend Expo, though my only events to compare it to are Replay and VFW. Expo has enough games, is better for new games and homebrew games (and the chance to talk to their creators.) By playing during events and parties, there is seldom a line for the games. 6 a.m. is a great time to play everything, and a reason to stay in the host hotel. You get a chance to decide if Orbitor 1 or Hercules is the worst game. The charity auction is a nice way to give away the stuff you really don't want to list on Ebay. The tournament is in the hallway, allowing a chance to stand beside the Elwins and Sharps awaiting their turns. The autograph session is amazing--looks like a Topcast interview hall of fame, and the new guys are there, too. Pinball's historical sites,Pinball Life,Stern factory, barcades--- You're in Chicago! The show itself has history, and the promotors have AOL addresses,like I do, so they were there helping me invent the internet before you whippersnappers were born.

Yep, skipping EXPO this year. The only thing I'm REALLY gonna miss is seeing my homies that I hang with every year. I'm headed to the Cleveland show in a month, though, to get my fall show fix. Hope to attend some others next year out of state, like TPF, VFW, MGC & ReplayFX. Cheers, ballers!

I forgot to add the great vendors with long hours, great games that come up from Cincinnati, the fall color in the nature preserve you see out the hotel window, the free parking, walkable restaurants and the nice people you meet at any pinball rendezvous.

WhAt abOuT OHIO sHow? dO you ATTEND tHAT?

Is Marco going to be at Expo with the new Sterns for play? I heard a rumor that they may not come this year.

I'm really trying to decide if I'll make the trip out myself.

The main tourney format and the low payouts in classics really has me saying no at this point.

Best thing about expo are the people attending and all the friendly industry folk in attendance. The latest and greatest games to play along with all the homebrew projects being shown. Of course all the great food nearby does help a bit.

That's in the Spring, usually. I did not attend 2017, but did in 2015 or 16, before it moved locations. Hopefully will be able to attend 2018 Ohio show. AnD yeS, tHats fuNNy WhaT yoU DId tHEre.

That's primarily why I've gone the last ten years or so, but fewer and fewer friends of mine go anymore.

I won't be going this year. There's only so much money in the travel budget and there are too many better shows to go to.

It's too expensive for what it is. You're into the trip for a grand pretty easy, and that's someone that's just driving. I've been once and that was enough for me.

Expo is a walking corpse...it's dead and hasn't realized it yet. I've been going for the last six years and it's going downhill fast. There was an exception in , I believe it was '15, when Mike gave up the pin area to others and it was fantastic. But the vendors are a fraction of what they used to be and good "Show Only" deals seem to be a thing of the past. It used to be that it took a good 2-3 days to fully experience the show. Last year, I was there on Friday and, honestly, I was completely bored after 3 hours. I gave someone my pass for Saturday, as it was worth more for me to go home. Now add in that Pinball Life doesn't have their event (and the bullshit cash grab by Stern last year) and it makes Expo less attractive.

I honestly would love to hear people rate all of the shows. Expo was the preeminent show for years but now I'm not sure it is even in the Top 10.

I had a blast last year! And Pinball Life did still have their open house, they just no longer allow alcohol because they thought it was getting out of control.

LMAO, We went to that show also. My buddy was yelling that exact word to Gary!

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FYI ... I see that the seminar/events page for expo is updated now for 2017. A few things strike my interest on that list.
http://www.pinballexpo.net/seminar.pdf