Good evening Pinside!
The purpose of this new thread is to keep the information flowing about the new Pinball Expo 2018 Rebooted show. I ask that participants try to keep this thread positive and helpful as we try to move this event forward.
I'm excited to mention that I have partnered with Rob Berk and David Fix to help reboot Pinball Expo in 2018! My role is to communicate on social media to get the word out, promote and recruit the freeplay games area, assist David Fix in recruiting vendors, assist both Rob and Dave in planning the show, and several other things. I'm excited about this opportunity and I hope you are too.
If you've been into pinball since 2012 or so, you might not know me at all. And if you have been into pinball all along, you still might not know me. Here's a little about me, so you know my heart behind my willingness to help with the Expo reboot. I've been a collector and restorer since 1998. I made 3 DVD's called Life After Death about pinball restoration with the last one about warehouse finds. I co-hosted the Silverball Podcast with the late Steve Rothschild for years. Both of us along with a couple of others ran The Heartland Pinball & Arcade Supershow from 2004 through 2009 in Southern Illinois (not as many shows besides Expo going on then). I was a monthly columnist for GameRoom Magazine during the Kevin Steele years and for a while during the early ownership from The Pinball Co. I have spoken at Expo 3 times on various topics.
Pinball Expo has always been a special event for me. I started going in 2001 and have been about every other year (on average) since. I have also been to several other shows (Allentown, Dallas, Louisville, & Nashville) but there has always been something special about Pinball Expo. Like many of you, I have seen some changes over the years and they have not always been something I liked. I'm joining in to help make things better.
There has been some buzz about the recent split and about changes in scheduling the show. I have heard a lot of encouraging words from friends both new and old, and I've heard people say they don't care at all. My response is simply this - all of us (Rob, Dave, myself, and many others) want to make this year's Expo the best ever and we will pour a lot of time and energy in making that happen. Sure, there's a lot of shows you can go to in 2018. But if you've been to several different pinball shows, you know that there is only one Pinball Expo with its direct connection to the history of pinball and both past and current pinball people. There will be more to come from my keyboard, but for now - thank you for reading. Before I go, I want to include a release from Rob Berk on the upcoming Pinball Expo 2018 show.
Sincerely - Rob Craig
Dear Friends of Pinball Expo,
At the conclusion of last year’s 33 rd annual Pinball Expo, and with great
consideration, I made the decision to dissolve my partnership with Mike Pacak. I felt the energy and vision that I had for the show was waning and that a change was needed for the survival of Pinball Expo. It took several months to work through the details, but I am happy to announce that in March I acquired full ownership, which means we are on schedule for the 34 th annual Pinball Expo, to be held at the Westin in Wheeling, IL, from October 17-21, 2018.
In the process of planning for a spectacular event, I have secured Dave Fix as the Vendor Hall Chairman, and Rob Craig who will manage our social media plus help us secure games for the free play area. Both have a passion for pinball and will be great additions to our staff!
My mission now is to fill the Vendor Hall and Game Hall to their capacity. I want the energy and excitement for pinball to be at an all-time high! I am committed to giving each attendee, vendor, and speaker my time and effort so that Pinball Expo will be fun for everyone. I welcome your comments.
I look forward to seeing friends, old and new, this October!
Rob Berk, Chairman and Founder