In my mind, as a 17-year Expo attendee, there is no choice between two shows. There is only the Schaumburg show. I'm local and even I won't support whatever's left of Expo. Rob was smart to schedule this a month before Expo, not after. Be first, be better. Zero chance folks will fly or haul games to Chicago in back to back months, for a shell of a show that's been perceived as dying for years.

Swear to god when I was eating breakfast this morning, I thought to to myself, "pinball has been too quiet lately. There needs to be a new game announcement, industry shakeup, something." Am I living the Truman show?

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.

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.

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

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

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."

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.

I’ve lived in the area and attended Expo for two decades. Schaumburg > Wheeling.

You think he just now started looking for a venue? Hotels with ballrooms are a dime a dozen around here. I’m guessing he has one in mind, if not already booked.

Wheeling is such a great town for events that they built a 150,000 square foot convention center with a 4-star hotel there in 2006. Wait, never mind, that was Schaumburg.

I’m not researching the square footage of every hotel in the area, but if you have more free time than I do, knock yourself out. I started with the obvious one: http://www.schaumburgconventioncenter.com/

I'm trying to convince Berk to move it to the Super 8 at the intersection of I-90 and 31.

i woULD pay GOOD money$$$ to SEe THAT ..

It's fun to correctly guess who downvoted a post (not my post, FWIW).

I was there! One of the few.

That was a video game show, barely promoted, and in expensive parking hell aka Rosemont. Hopefully the new show won't share any of that.

They may be headquartered elsewhere, but nearly all the creative talent still lives in the Chicago area. JJP's design office is 10 minutes from Schaumburg. American Pinball is here. Scott Danesi lives in the 'burbs. Spooky is two hours away.

And of course, Stern.

Did you read the latest update? Expo goes on, minus one person.

As time goes by I'm sure Mike will be welcome back at Expo. I could understand why Rob might not want him there this year (if that is indeed the case). Seems like every person who bumps into Mike would want to rehash the drama, even if Mike was just minding his business. Not a good vibe.

In happier news, Trent's tourney will be back and better than ever. Stern circuit, automated queueing, the whole shebang.
...

Flipout 2018 will be at the Westin on the original dates of Pinball Expo. Oct 18-21.

Format is the same as last year with seeding on Thursday and the B bracket starting Friday morning.

This year we will be using Never Drains queueing system for classics AND Thursday seeding in the main. #ABL

I recommend getting there early Thursday to make sure you get all your seeding games in.

We are a Stern Pro Circuit tournament this year. Hope everyone can make it again this year!

As usual the A division champion will get a new Stern pinball!

Questions and comments contact Trent at [email redacted].

I don't care about the true story (aka drama); just want a good local pinball show that doesn't yell at its volunteers.

Seems like Cinci is out, but I plan to bring at least one game, and encourage my fellow ex-mafiosi to do the same.

Some of you guys are way too invested in the squabbling of a couple senior citizens. The show doesn't exist without us. Let's make it a good one.

I'll be there, but I prefer my local show.