Just covered this on the Breaking News segment of our podcast:

https://podbay.fm/p/the-classic-pinball-podcast/e/1663538216

My questions is where is the nearest karaoke spot?

Nice, that’s an easier drive for me. Having apex near by will also make it a much easier sell to the family. I’m assuming this hotel’s AC works, so all things are lookin up for pintastic ‘23!

Only adds about 10-20 minutes to my drive so I’m good. Just happy that it’s still on. Not worried about the hotel, I used to sleep next to torpedoes.

Yeah, but I bet the torpedoes were clean.

Kudos to the show organizers for making the tough decision to change venues. This addresses the following...

1) It keeps it in the same general area so drives are relatively the same.
2) It addresses the hotel situation which was the biggest point of contention.
3) It also moves it from a peak summer weekend which was a big gripe from the summer weekend vacationers.

If there's other perks, it's just icing on the cake. Great job and looking forward to attending once again!

The April dates are way too close to Pinfest. It'll be a "choose one or the other" situation for many of us.

Pintastic was one month and a half after Allantown for 7 years. Now we will be one month before Allantown. What is the huge difference?

Awesome news!

Congrats on the new venue! Looking forward to the new show. Interested to see what kind of fun things the team does with the function rooms. You could theme them by era, maybe have a rarities room with low-production run games, or showcase a certain designer.

-Doug

I think with all of the negative comments, it's important we all (including dannunz) remember that most people are really, really liking Pintastic despite the issues. If the hotel is just 10% better than The Host Hotel, it will be fantastic. It can't be perfect, but it's pretty freaking great!

If Pinfest is held the usual first weekend in May, then it's only three weeks after Pintastic. That's half of a month and a half. Big difference. I know many of us will choose one or the other.

That’s 2 awesome shows in one month! Nothing wrong with that IMO.

The BW is a great improvement from Sturbridge. But not to the point that it would take away from the party atmosphere we all have grown to love. That was one of the most difficult parts about picking a new venue.

Maybe just as an attendee. It takes time to recover and prep games between shows, though.

Nice. Well done. This is also close enough to me now I’ll consider bringing a game or two.

There is a lot to do in that area as well.

Exactly that’s why we want to see how being before Allantown effects us over all.

Pot, beer, and pizza sales will be up 500%!

Exciting news. My son and I will be there. We’ve been to every Pintastic so far.

Well you are in luck! Plenty of all of those around here!

Interested in seeing how this plays out. Time line being different puts a different dynamic into play. Sept 2023 is right after school starts, so may interfere with attending. At least kids won't be able to attend, possibly wife as well. That might rule it out for me. We enjoyed the family aspect, despite the accommodations.
Only time will tell for us

Great news, already blocked the dates, thanks guys for the hard work and effort to get this to happen. Excited to see the new layout.

I understand the summer shows made it easier for some families to attend. But it also made it more difficult for many people to attend due to being on vacation. So we can’t win either way. But don’t forget you only miss half day on Thursday and half day on Friday. But can still attend Friday afternoon, evening. All day Saturday and Sunday till 2pm

Thank you, moving to a new venue was not taken lightly. We took our time and walked multiple hotels. Power was a big issue at most hotels. Best Western corporate are pinball fans. They agreed to make a substantial investment in Pintastic. They absorbed the $10,000 plus cost to buy all new distribution cables and boxes to get us the power we need we’re we need it. Those type of things really make me feel like they want to take Pintastic into it’s next chapter.

I will assume if crack pipes have been found in the beds, drinking booze on the property shouldn't be a problem... Sounds good to me. Will check out the September show.

Congrats. Location needed an upgrade. Can’t satisfy everyone.

I'll have to look into that. I have a friend who does karaoke and I noticed John Borg singing on Facebook. So I jokingly asked Borg at Expo if he wanted to do karaoke and he agreed. I was surprised he showed up along with a few other friends. Luckily there was a bar nearby that did karaoke on Friday nights instead of say Tuesday nights. This year it was messed up due to work schedules, flight delays, etc. However still a lot of people hung out at the bar and it was a lot of fun. There is a place 9min away from the new venue called "Funky Murphys" and they do it but I'll have to research it. That being said the new hotel has a large bar and it will be staffed unlike the last place. So my theory is that it's probably better to move karaoke to the hotel itself especially to prevent DUI or to just enjoy yourself more as you're already at the hotel. Again I'll have to look into it because there is a party for game bringers and vendors but it might not be a bad idea to merge the 2 or make it more elaborate. Throw in pinball trivia or something you know? Especially for people who don't want to sing but want to do a group activity.

This hotel presents a wealth of new things we can try or have always wanted to do but were limited by the hotel itself. People may complain about the travel but it's worth it and the hotel is rather good. Get excited for next year.

-Derek Karamanian
A/V Team Leader of Pintastic Pinball & Game Room Expo

That doesn't necessarily exclude us from coming but conversations will need to be had

Just to be clear. I'm happy to host a karaoke party on the first night at the hotel. I have everything we'd need.

There's also a place called Lavender in Sudbury that looks to have some serious karaoke.

The move had to be made, The show could conflict with York which is a month afterwards, that pick one or the other scenario for Vendors and folks coming with loaded up vehicles. The Host Hellhole needed to be dumped, nobody wants mold, bugs, and non-working HVAC. I suspect you will get fewer attendees from the NYC area now, but more from Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire folks will replace them. Good luck with your show and I hope you have great success.

Any pictures of the locations in the hotel where the vender room, freeplay, and extra ball lounge will be?

Is there working and open restaurant for our event inside the hotel? Last time getting something to eat was challenging.

Any cool nightlife in the area we should know about?

Here is the lay out of Pintastic 2023. Yes we will have a full service bar and grill restaurant directly in the middle of the hotel. We also have a dedicated breakfast buffet restaurant that will be included with every nights stay at the hotel. After party will be in the breakfast restaurant as well.

24hr EBL and all club rooms will be in the west wing and open very late if not all night. The band will be set up in the court yard directly across from the restaurant/bar.

As Dave mentioned vendor hall and free play will be in one big room. Our plan is to have the divider wall close off the vendor hall at 9pm. But we will leave the newer games from vendors on the free play side and available to play till 2am.

Tons of great restaurants in the area and the Apex center up the street. Go cart racing, bowling, rope course, bumper cars, laser tag, mini gulf and tons more.

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just booked my room!!! ready to have a great time!!!

You certainly did some great planning. Nice work man.

I am only a small part of all this. My team of 15 staff members make me look good. It takes a village lol

Hi,

This looks awesome! I've never been to a pinball show before, so a few questions.

Is there a benefit to being there Thursday/Friday vs the weekend?
When do sales happen? Throughout the show? I'm assuming you can't take the game until the end of the show?
I live about an hour away - is it worth it to get a hotel for 1 night? Do people play late into the night?
I'm assuming it's family friendly? I have a 12 year old...

Thanks!

I’ve been to every Pintastic with my son. He is 12 now. It’s totally family friendly. People walk around drinking but never seen anyone act out of line. I think Friday is the best day because most all the games are set up and it’s less crowded. I recommending getting a room for at least 1 night. I prefer two nights (Friday/Sat). The room is great to have as a quiet oasis when you need a break. I find my son needs downtime. We go out and play in spurts and chill in the room between. And when you stay the night you can have a couple drinks without worry. Go to the vendor hall in the a.m. to play the newest games, tends to be less crowded. At crowded times long lines form to play the new releases there. Come Sunday we usually just have a slow morning and pack up and leave without going back to the games. A lot of people start taking them down by Sunday. After a full Friday and Saturday we are pinballed out anyhow. Have fun!

Ever consider other kinds of passes for the extra ball lounge? I can’t afford the premium and I’m not a night owl so going after 8:00 doesn’t appeal. I know it’s supposed to be exclusive but some option for daytime play other than a premium pass would be welcome. Even if it’s like for 2 hour blocks and you could limit the number. Thanks for all you and the organizers do, great show over the years.

Part of the idea is to limit the number of people with access. It’s intentional as a perk of the upper level passes. The higher expense passes get perks, and that partiality subsidizes the expense of the show, and can keep day passes cheaper. If they start to give that away cheaper it will impact the whole cost structure of the show, and basically becomes the same as the free play room.

The

This is very true. LE ticket packages go on sale first, are the most expensive, and give you the most access. These things are done for a reason which Dave has pointed out a few key ones. One way to gain access to the EBL during the day is by volunteering your time to the show. Volunteers get tons of cool benefits and access. Best part is it only cost you your time.

I'd like to bring a game or two. Is there a way to have the game placed in the ebl?