Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals November 19-20

[sprecks]

I really enjoyed the show and saw some old friends.  Many really rare cars under one roof.  On the down side, I thought the price of admission was a bit much.  30 bucks a head plus 15 for parking is a bit much in my opinion. 

[JH27N0B]

You can save $5 on tickets by ordering online in advance.  It is expensive putting on a show of that caliber, and I do know they lost money last year (that snowstorm Friday night into Sunday was a killer).
Hopefully they were in the black this year!
The parking in the garage across the street is a rip off.  I can tell you a few tricks to save on parking.  First off, many of the restaurants and bars across the way validate parking.  So you can stop for a beer or a bite to eat before or after your visit to the show and get your parking validated.
Also, there is an outlet mall across the street and just to the south.  Parking there is free!  So you can park there and walk over, or I've even heard there is a Rosemont shuttle that you can jump on there, and it drops off in the lobby of the convention center.
There is a big parking lot a couple blocks up the street for the El train station.  I've heard parking there is $5.  Adds to the walking though.
Just a couple hints to keep in mind for the 2017 MCACN.

[anlauto]

Is that $30 bucks a day ? Holy crap What's a weekend pass worth ?

That alone would keep me away

[sprecks]

Is that $30 bucks a day ? Holy crap What's a weekend pass worth ?

That alone would keep me away

Yep 30 bucks a day,  50 for a weekend pass.

[blown motor]

And that's $30US Alan. 

[sprecks]

You can save $5 on tickets by ordering online in advance.  It is expensive putting on a show of that caliber, and I do know they lost money last year (that snowstorm Friday night into Sunday was a killer).
Hopefully they were in the black this year!
The parking in the garage across the street is a rip off.  I can tell you a few tricks to save on parking.  First off, many of the restaurants and bars across the way validate parking.  So you can stop for a beer or a bite to eat before or after your visit to the show and get your parking validated.
Also, there is an outlet mall across the street and just to the south.  Parking there is free!  So you can park there and walk over, or I've even heard there is a Rosemont shuttle that you can jump on there, and it drops off in the lobby of the convention center.
There is a big parking lot a couple blocks up the street for the El train station.  I've heard parking there is $5.  Adds to the walking though.
Just a couple hints to keep in mind for the 2017 MCACN.

I understand it cost a lot to put on the show.  With all of the people that were there at 25-30 bucks a head and hoping they are in the black?  I would suggest finding a different venue.  Muscle car guys and gals are not your black tie group you find at Pebble Beach. 

[anlauto]

And that's $30US Alan. 

$42.00 CDN per day

I'm glad I didn't go.

[JH27N0B]

Funny you should mention Pebble Beach.  MCACN has unofficially named "the Pebble Beach of muscle cars".
And it is.  There is really no other comparable car show in the world.  Each years show takes over a year to get ready.  Bob Ashton and perhaps his wife Vicki also, are pretty much full time employees of the show, spending all year traveling around the country going to shows and auctions, and visiting individual owners, trying to recruit the best of the best to come display their cars in Chicago.  Cars come from all over the country, Canada and even a few from overseas to be at MCACN.
I paid $100 to display only my T/A at the show this year, plus paying to have it trailered there and home, and it was an honor for me to be able to debut it there. Others may think I paid too much just to have a car in a show, but it was well worth it to me.
IIRC World of Wheels at the same facility each year in late winter is $20 admission, but for what I'm interested in, MCACN is 10X more exciting to me for what I want to see even though WOW has 50% more cars on display.
But your results may vary depending on your budget and what you enjoy seeing.  Upstairs of MCACN every year there is a sports memorabilia convention.  I heard people were lined up for an hour even at 10 pm to get autographs from Cubs stars.  And pay $40 for an autograph and 30 seconds to say hi to their hero.  Seems excessive to me, but I'm not a huge sports fan, so who am I to judge?
So in the end, MCACN is a bargain for those who are passionate about seeing cars you'd normally only see in a museum or magazine article, but if you only have a casual interest, then it's not with it.  For me at least, MCACN is always a highlight of the year!

[1 Wild R/T]

I'd love to attend MCACN but it didn't work out again this year..... But I did get to go to Pebble so I guess I'll get by.....   

[Devil]

Show was a resounding success this year, with our gate far surpassing any other year on both Saturday and Sunday.  Had the entire lobby of the convention center full on Saturday morning waiting to get in.  I had to fight my way through to just get to my section.  And my section was packed Saturday until 30 minutes before closing.  It was insane!

The $30 was absolutely worth the price.  I know if you park at the outlet mall it is free for a period of time. 

Check out the pictures of the crowds!





Of course the quieter ones look a bit better.







https://www.flickr.com/photos/hemipwr70/collections/72157672890303434/

Ryan

[JH27N0B]

Great to hear the attendance was large, and I hope everyone enjoyed being at the premier musclecar event in the world!
The success should help assure the show continues for a many years to come. That will keep Bob Ashton busy trying to recruit the best of the best to bring their cars to Chicago!
I know a lot of people would like the show to be closer to wherever they live,  someplace less expensive, or a more convenient date for them.  But truth is, Chicago is an excellent location because it is a major transportation hub of North America, and the location is minutes east of a major hub airport where people can fly in from so many places around the country and even the world without need for connecting flights or a long drive from the airport to a show (or even a need to rent a car).  Also there is ample parking by the convention center.
Cars in the show come from all over the country and Canada, even a few from overseas.  Reliable car transporters brings in over 100 of the cars for the show each year alone!  So again, a transportation hub is a strong requirement for where a show like this needs to be located.
It would be interesting to know what percentage of the attendees at the show travel from outside the Chicago metro area to see the show.  I bet it's a significant percentage!
 

[BS27R1B]

This is a cannot miss show in my opinion even though I have only attended the last two years. Attending for two days is under $100 including parking. What else can you do for a weekend for $100?
MCACN blocks rooms at all the close hotels that cost under $130 a night. Try and book a Hilton or comparable hotel anywhere at that price. Unlike the fleabag hotels at Carlisle that jack their rates these hotels cut their rates. There were discounted rooms available right up to the day before the show.

Drop the excuses, this hobby is not cheap.

The MCACN show is an excellent value!

[anlauto]

I wish I had your money....

[js29no]

I wish I had your money....

           Ya me too!!!! 

[1 Wild R/T]

I wish I had your money....

Quit crying & raise your prices a little bit....   Seriously if you can't spring for a $1000 weekend that at least here in the US would be a legitimate business write off then you need to look at your prices.... You seem to have plenty of work, you need to be compensated...