We gonna do another jdrf fundraiser at superdawg again? Hope so, nothin like stuffn Chicago dogs and helpn kids out at the same time. Whatever I can do count me in.

So little time to start saving up the shekels. We’ll be there!

Is galloping ghost going to have a room again with their machines? I thought that went over well and gave families another option. Also took some pressure off the pin room. Hopefully we see a reveal. Although last couple yrs it seems mgc is becoming more of a location for that. I personally would like to see both succeed and grow. Theyre both in driving range for me and being six months apart is ideal.

Anybody got any good crt’s for sale they can bring? G07, 4900, 4600, 7000?...... wouldn’t hurt to pick up a g05 or 6100 either....

Definitely bring him, my boys always enjoy expo. There aren’t many kids, but they get lotsa attention.

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Honestly I think this years mgc had more pins than last yrs expo. With the Marco games that were bought for sure. Although last yr expo there were more pins in the vendor area than previous expos which helped a lot. The free play room at expo though has been.....quiet. Look up pinball expo Chicago 2018 on YouTube, there are several good walkthroughs. Judge for yourself.
Where expo beats mgc is in the vendor hall, as far as pin related merchandise. At expo it’s 95% pin stuff, and a lot of it. At mgc is maybe 5% pin stuff and it’s random. So expo is worth it for me in that respect alone. I always goto both, and enjoy both for different reasons.

Last year doc Mac from galloping ghost brought prob 50 arcades. That’s a guess tho, they had their own room down the hall. Lots of rare cool stuff in the lot. Before he started coming their might be 10 arcades in the free play room. I believe he’ll be there again. I’m a supporter of bringing arcades to a pinball show, it increases the odds of families coming. Dad may be a pinhead, but kids may prefer vids. This way dad gets to come, enjoy his pins, and kids leave him alone playing their vids. Win win. Plus show makes more money for next yr, win win win.
It also exposes more people who haven’t played pins to them. There are people who like both vids and pins, but there are definite cliques, this way it can bring the two together. Which means bigger shows, bigger names, bigger draws.

Im really looking forward to this yr! I think youre right on about last yr in transition.

Your totan was awesome! I mean seriously, played like a dream. Thank you for bringing it, it was my fav at the show. My son even said “ I never got this game, until now,.....I really like it now”

Superdawg is a expo tradition for us!

Just cancelled my Westin reservations, staying at Hawthorn now. Why spend $450 when you can pay $120 and get free breakfast. Westin needs to rethink their rates.

It’s not super close, I have my vehicle so it’s not a prob but it’s beyond walking distance. So Uber, taxi, or buy a bike at goodwill or something. Obviously, that money would offset the savings so....it’s for those with a car, or know someone with a car. My whole family is going so my car will be full. There are lots of hotels in the area for 60-100/night though. At Westin’s 150, it’s definitely a premium, and no free breakfast. I’ve had good luck at holiday inn express which is just down street, although still prob too far to walk, but you do get a hot breakfast.

The biggest advantage to staying on site obviously is you have a private bathroom, and maybe being able to park once and not worry about finding a spot. I remember a yr when they booked a couple weddings the same weekend as expo....that was a disaster for parking.

Yes, obviously if you want to drink then the Westin is your best choice. I’m a non-drinker so that never registered in my thought process. I’m just no fun

Hawthorn is showing 68/night on Expedia right now. I booked at 40/night. That’s basically a free color dmd not stay at Westin.....or I can gorge myself at superdawg with proceeds to jdrf.

I think it is closer!

Oh man, I can taste it already.... I miss that place.

2019 expo gonna be...

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Pinside party?

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How bout a donkey?

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If it helps, I’ll sign autographs for only $25.......

And...don’t forget 6 months to mgc!

that really is ugly carpet...

New stuff is in vendor hall usually

Unbelievable! What a story! Thank you for having it at expo, can’t wait!

Sign is in spanish. Says “110v machine, skill flight” obviously its a warning to folks in spain that the machine had been converted to us voltage.
I speak Castilian spanish, whish is somewhat different from latin american spanish. If you see anymore i can translate.

Enjoy your time together, I’ll be there tonight with my boys. Expo and mgc are the two times whole family has fun together.

So where’s the expo 2020 thread......

If more of us brought games, Berk wouldn’t feel the need to fill the room with “place holders”. I realize lots of attendees are from far away and can’t bring a game. And some are physically unable to move their games anymore. But a lot are close enough to do so and haven’t. Asking one guy to bring over 100 games, is a lot to ask of anybody is all I’m saying.

Please keep doing so, so many kids (and grownups) were amazed at the behind the scenes look. Those wide eyed kids will be tomorrow’s pinball engineers, they are the next generation of pinheads. We need to keep the hobby alive!

Absolutely x 1000.

I’m not privy to the p&l for expo so I have no idea what they can do, But there needs to be more to get the quality games in. Just spit ballin here but what if in addition to the current incentives, they provided a catered lunch each day. Prob only cost $7-8 per owner per day, but stuff like that might tip the scales for some. There aren’t THAT many owners bringing their games. More, higher quality games, will only bring in more people. Would seem like a win-win. Also, what was the cost to ship his games in? Would it have been better and easier for him to increase the rewards for game bringers? Again, would seem like a path of lesser resistance.

I never saw it on. Did look interesting tho...
That brand of compressor likes to blow breakers, wonder if that was the problem. I have one, and it’ll pop a 20a breaker by itself if it’s cold out.

We all had a great time! Got to see all kinds of people near and afar. Stayed at hawthorn down the street and I think we’ll do that again. Saved a ton of money, money that was spent in the vendor hall wanted to buy some chrome candy shooter rods, but they weren’t there. But I did bid on and win 3 in the auction for less than two would’ve cost so I’m quite happy. Some really cool stuff in that auction, a t2 translite that hung in Williams office for instance. Played a lot of pinball, ate at superdawg, met Elvira, talked to Todd, overall a great trip.

Thank you to game bringers, and staff for putting up with us. Everyone was real nice.....

I got there around 9pm on thurs so I missed out on that part.

Hope it’s not Schaumburg, further drive yet

Was it more no one bought anything, or not enough people bought enough. Anotherwords ticket average or ticket count? I gave both my boys $100 to blow in the vendor room and they did so within 15 minutes on friday. I know my youngest also spent some of his own money as well. I went over budget buying shooter rods, a new pcb, gameroom signs, playfield glass, a shower curtain(!), and various small parts including 15 fuses that my machine went through keeping it running between repairs. We spent way more this year, but i justified it by not staying onsite.

Banzai run!

Saw more families again this yr. a number of young kids too. Not long ago it was strictly 40+ men. Good to see ladies and kids taking part.
I think Groupon helped with that. Be interesting to see the ave redemption count. Was Groupon single use, or was it 3-4 tickets per use.

We did use the groupon for 3 (had 1 game there)and promptly spent the savings in the vendor hall.