I find it an odd choice of headline, especially since it seems like Mike was more than willing to share that Expo would still continue regardless.

Aw, thanks

Wait, there are? I feel like I should be aware of this!!

I don't agree that there is only room for one Chicago show, but honestly, what is the change happening here? Just that a different show is being run?

For anyone that forgot, Rob ran an "arcade" show (featuring pinball) a couple years ago a month or so before Expo. I wasn't able to attend but I know some people that were. I figure this will be similar. It wouldn't seem like too much of a change to me.

Thanks And who knows, maybe in 2019 we'll need the support in a second MGC show in Chicago too I just want there to be a great show there without the drama.

We have been doing legwork for MGC Chicago (or whatever we'd call it) for years, and it has been discussed with all of the players of the other Chicago-based shows (I guess now four or five of them, not just pinball!). Maybe it's time?

Publicly stating right now, I am 100% supporting you.

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Wow. Okay, more shocking that Rob would just say that it was cancelled when it wasn't, and I would have to believe he knew that.

Can't see how this news can be anything but a good thing. It was painfully clear that Expo needed some much needed upgrades in every area. It was an outdated show that just kept getting worse. Get a new team together to provide better production value, events, organization and really invest into the future of the event instead of the dying shell of a show Expo was becoming.

Best of luck.

I'm surprised that Pinball Expo lasted as long as it did given how many horror stories pop up online EVERY SINGLE YEAR in regards to how Mike treats vendors, volunteers, and attendees. Change is good, as long as it's positive change.

Maybe since Rob and Mike are parting ways the EXPO name can't be used anymore unless some agreement is worked out. Rob was probably just saying, there will be NO expo, but Mike can still carry on with his show, but just called something else. So I guess technically there will be NO expo. I am just guessing here...IDK.

I think Rob was saying that Expo 2018 is cancelled. He is announcing and starting a new show in Sept. It's not his place to announce Mike's new show in Oct (that happens to be the same dates and venue as the old show).

Anyone but me wish it was Rob in Oct at the Westin and Mike in Sept in Schaumburg?

Schaumberg is a WAY WAY better location and venue for this!

I hope Rob can get this all together this year. Expo was dead/dying the past few years and I am excited to see a chance for something new to come from this.

agreed.. stern, jjp, and american pinball can bring games to palooza, then drive a couple miles to level257 to drop off a test game. they are all much closer to schaumburg than wheeling. depending on what terry from PBL decides, the shuttle between shows could be a much shorter ride.

Not really. Chicago weather is almost always great in mid-September (jinx!), and Schaumburg is a better location. Closer to manufacturers, tons of dining options, Level 257 nearby for possible tie-in events, closer to Pinball Life, more centrally located in the 'burbs, plenty of nearby shopping (massive mall, Ikea, Legoland, etc.) for those traveling with families who don't want 24/7 pinball, etc.

To be clear here is what Rob says in the interview: When asked if Pinball Expo is still planning to go on he responds "That's a question even I don't know" along with saying there are lawyers involved regarding the name. He is later asked if Palooza is replacing Expo he responds "In my mind yes."

I was more thinking about tradition and industry support factors in the above comment -

I'm cautiously optimistic about Rob's show. I'd like to hear more. If he gets industry support and hobby support - what else from other shows could or should be incorporated?

You will have a good time. I will personally see to it.

I mean, sure - but the Pinball Expo site still says that it's happening, and it has information for 2018 on it.

http://www.pinballexpo.net/

If there was actually a legal fight over it, shouldn't the web site be pointing to both new shows? It's weird to say that there is no show and then have a page still with the show information showing that there will be. I don't get the timing on this at all.

Unless they just want to cannibalize each other's markets, which I didn't think that would have been the goal?

oh yeah!!!!

and this could happen. Whoever gets industry support will win.

Why wouldn't you contact Mike? Seems to me this was a one sided/ or not the whole story

Could have posted it with a headline of "OMG, check out what this Rob guy said" as is. No 'investigative reporting' necessary then.

Well closer to their regional headquarters at least. It always tans my hide how much further I have to go to get to their world headquarters!

So MGC and TPF?

Expo site is the last place I'd look for up-to-date Expo info. Vast majority of that site still references the 2017 show. As best I can tell they updated two rows of text on the homepage to refer to the 2018 dates.

They have not updated the vendor list in years. There are vendors on their from 15 years ago still who have not operated in years.

I skipped Expo last year, first one in 5 years that I missed. I just didn't care anymore, and from people I talked to I wasn't alone.

Some change sounds great, wish everyone luck, but I'll be honest, I'm pretty unlikely to pay all the money for flights and hotel to come try something out if it's full of uncertainty and infighting. Probably hard pass it all this year and see how it goes. Two shows fighting in the same general area just sounds like two iffy shows to me. Hard to see an upside for pinball in that.

Yep, to be honest there are just to many shows already. To add another show or maybe two to Chicago area would just be to much. resources would be spread to thin and no way all vendors and manufacturers could do ALL the shows.

Awesome news, can't wait to hear his side. Thanks

Not everybody reads Rec Games Pinball. Not everybody reads Pinside.

Many just go for the pinball. Which they will keep doing.

LTG : )

As far as I know, a new show has been talked about seriously for a couple years now. If there really are 2 shows this year, the vendors and the patrons will quickly demonstrate which show they are going to support and will weed out the competition.

I personally feel Schaumburg is the perfect epicenter for all of this and O'Hare is minutes away.

Can't blame you one bit. Hopefully us local guys can help build one of the shows into a worthy destination again.

Pinball palooza, not a great choice IMO.

Something like - Chicago Coin op Exposition
. - Chicago Pinball Fair

Expo to me from reading pin side is the most 'industry like' show and it needs a name that refernces that. Palooza reminds me of the music festivals of the nineties.

Lollapalooza still exists, in Chicago every summer. Maybe that factored into the name decision. I'm still not super crazy about it, though.

just brainstorming:
Chicago Pinball Open
Schaumburg Pinball Showcase
Windy City Pinfest

or since everyone loves alliteration:
Fall Flipper Fair

'Flippers Major International Knowledge Experience'

subtle

I see what you did there.

I was curious about the trademark implications of calling anything a palooza. Turns out you can get away with it:

"I did have a happy thought in my heart to know that it has become part of the American vernaclular, with all these funny paloozas," the festival founder and Jane's Addiction frontman said recently. "I'll share a funny story with you. Early on, as people started to kind of use the palooza aspect of it, typical to lawyers, I was getting calls all day long from a lawyer: 'Somebody's calling themselves 'Clamapalooza' and they're doing clams and oysters. Somebody's doing Waterpalooza; they want to make a bottle out of it. We've gotta stop 'em!' And I was at first really taken aback and I was put on my heels about it. But they were calling me all day long and I stopped and I thought about it. I said: These guys are probably making so much money trying to shut these 'palooza' people down. Better I should let 'em do it. Because I don't intend on paying these lawyers all this money, No. 1. And No. 2, it's actually advertisement for Lollapalooza. So I said, 'You know what? Don't bother 'em. Unless they're calling it Lollapalooza, leave 'em alone and don't call me.' And you know, it really did work out."

That’s what I was thinking,kind of an open ended statement!

Pinpalooza is a terrible name. It reminds me of when everything was called
“xxxxStock” but then 1992 rolled around and now everything was “xxxxPalooza.”

Regardless another thought occurred to me beyond those grouchy rantings

- obviously most people
Will choose one show over the other. Myself, and all the other tournament players (the people nobody cares about doing the thing nobody cares about) will go to the one with the tournament.

So...I wonder which one Tilt Amusements plans on picking for this....whichever one it is will have an automatic 120 or so person advantage over the other, instantly. Which nobody cares about.

....wait for it...

Or DO they?

At this point Trent will be at show at Westin running tournament in october MUCH more to come I never wanted it to come down this way was not my choice on how to split up if we had to..

I’ll go to both yet. More pins more fun. But then again it’s only a three hour and two White Castle drive for me.

What about Rob Berk and his shiny balls......expo.

I heard both...

I am assuming that means you will go to both?

Wherever Pat Lawlor's Toy Story is going to be debuted and Steve Ritchie's unlicensed game is, that's where I'll be.

Which show will have the designer pens?

That's where I'll be.

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crossing my fingers for a good journal book vendor to use said pen

Only matters if any of you rounders have to pay admission to hang around the lobby all weekend. Hopefully the tourney at the new show (if any) won't be so divorced from the rest of the proceedings.

From a vendors perspective the Expo has not been what it used to be. Requests for venue change have been requested but were met with very little success. A venue change has been ignored due to current monetary deals. Moving vendor materials in and out continued to be problematic. Parking at the venue on the weekend continues to be a problem. Some vendors had problems and self ostracized themselves from the Expo.

Vendors pay big bucks for booths and need a ROI. It isn't happening except for getting some limited product visibility. As a result there is declining vendor participation.

What is the purpose of a Pinball Expo -- to make money or to promote pinball or both? Mike P. likes pinball, but has some difficulties relating in a personable manner in some heated instances. Early on Mike was easy to deal with because is was more hobby less business. He was fun but times have changed.

Mike pacak was alot younger then things will be great will tell it all soon