I have just talked to Tom Wittmann who is back from visiting the Monroeville area. Here are the essentials:

1. The Radisson - All rooms - will be closed by the time of the MAX. The Hotel will eventually be a Hilton.

2. The exhibit hall OK for MAX 2008.

It is NOT being torn down, but has been sold and will be renovated and converted to a commercial use early in 2009. A company that distributes drugs will use it as a regional warehouse to store and repackage drugs. So, no possibility exists of MAX being there again, unfortunately.

3. TJ and TW are working on getting MAX 2009 back into Indianapolis. That is the prime direction at this point.

4. The MAX Hotels - special rates under $100 - are:

Comfort Inn
699 Rodi Rd
Pittsburgh PA 15235
(412) 244-1600

Holiday Inn
2750 Mosside Blvd
Monroeville PA 15146
(412) 372-1022

The promoters asked me to extend their apologies for the inconvenience this will cause table holders and guests to MAX 2008. The decision to sell the hotel and the ExpoMart was totally unexpected.

Dave

I got a phone number wrong. Now corrected

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dave Hohaus,

Dave H.,

Thanks very much for your efforts and continued help.

J.P.

I heard that Baltimore was a good location, I am aware of the mile or so the hotel is from the centre but so is Indianapolis in fact it's further.
Lets just hope that there is a Max show in 2009.

Gary

The hotel in Indy was about 11 miles from the hall, I for one didnt't care for Indy.

I'm not bashing the Indy show- I live there and I'm proud of the city and the downtown area- but I thought having the host hotel so far from the hall was a mistake.

There are two huge hotels currently under construction in downtown Indianapolis which will be in walking distance of the Convention Center. Hopefully, the MAX can utilize them.

There are several others within walking distance of the hall, ranging from a Days Inn to a Conrad.

Is Indianapolis in the US ?

Kidding aside, thanks for the info.

quote:

Originally posted by Pat:
Is Indianapolis in the US ?

Oh, it's in the U.S. alright, but it hasn't made it into the 21st Century though.

Might be done for...The SOS is Taking over and running SWEET...close hotel...closer to airports...Nice central location.

BALTIMORE.
The original location was near the redone
harbor area.Good food etc nearby.
Ideal for European visitors,all the way to West coast.Bang in the middle.My choice!!!
Seiler (Yank in UK)

ORLANDO FLORIDA HAS OVER 100,000 HOTEL ROOMS. Deluxe and reasonable prices large hotels with their own convention areas. One of the largest most modern airports set up for customs of all foreign countries. Half way between the Cape Canaveral launch sites and the Gulf of Mexico. The largest group of retired military in the country. There is no need to even consider Disney World, except if you bring the family and children. The cheapest car rental in the country and places for the whole family to enjoy for a great holiday. This is an area that caters to convention groups. For some reason this message had never been able to be accepted but it is all here for you and your family to have a great show.
Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

Choices of Venue ? This is dictated by location, cost and sensitivity to what we collect.

Location
If you draw a line from Boston to Chicago to Richmond then back to Boston, you have the concentration of customers and dealers in the US. Few want to move outside that triangle, probably because lots drive. Charlotte proved that.

Cost
1. There are probably quite a few venues that we could use, but the cost of renting the hall would put the cost of tables too high.

2. Some possible locations allow only union labor. This adds significantly to hall set up costs and means dealers must pay a union member to haul their goods from their truck to their tables.

3. The reason that the "host" hotel is sometimes far away is cost. In Indianapolis, there were much closer hotels, but the room cost is higher than most people wanted to pay.

Sensitivity
Some venues have no interest in hosting a militaria show that features Nazi items. Sometimes this is decision of the owners and sometimes it is the sensitivity of the community.

Dave

Not that anybody really listens, but why not follow in the footsteps of the S.O.S.? Wouldn't it make sense to use the same venue? Through a little help from the S.O.S., I'm sure all of the same arrangements could be assumed for the Fall by the Max. It's a small community when you get down to it - everyone knows each other, and I'm sure they'd be willing to help out. And most everyone seems to feel the S.O.S. is a fair enough location to have a show . . .

N.C. Wyeth (a.k.a. Bradley Long - just for you Dave!)

The problem with hotels and the convention center at Indy was timing and cost. The downtown hotels would NOT offer a price break for the show, hence the reason for moving to the burbs.
Now that the show kind of proved it viability in Indy (attendence for the hotels was good), the downtown hotels are in a better position to cut the rates.
IF there are new hotels being built, competition will lower the prices and increase the opportunity for better rates.
Ron Weinand

I liked indy Very much...BUT There are MANY places to choose from.I do understand the Chicago Market is horrible as the Unions are in every aspect and make shows 2-3 times the cost of what they would be elsewhere.

What is the Union situation with a city like Detroit...YES thats what I said...Fairly close to everyone that needs to be here and International Airport...The Canada Boys can make a trip down and Suburban areas are pretty tight...don't think I would want to be downtown.

Even Cleveland is not bad...central and has a Good solid economic base.

Looking at a Map of the US its pretty clear that the 2 Toms don't want to travel from home..Baltimore is kinda smack in the middle of the 2 of them...

MAX "coverage" to date

Why not....Minot?

MINOT?....How far are you from MINOT? : )

From the Map...Detroit and Cleveland would fall in line...Milwaukee maybe too...

Pa. is nice for the promoters, central location not too far from home. For the buying collectors, when you add it all up, it's something you can afford or not. Do the math.

quote:

Originally posted by Tom:
MINOT?....How far are you from MINOT? : )

245 miles, according to the Google. I'm only 195 from Grand Forks, which would have an IDEAL venue if Ralph Engelstad was still kicking!

Ya know something like a Minot or another smaller Town might not be a bad Idea...The airport is the only problem but if you can get Connecting flight they may have to start thinking out of the box.

I know they need to make it somewhat easy to get too but Honestly most of these guys would crawl on their knees through broken glass to go and Sometimes the Non direct flights can be a better deal.Well I aint running it : )

indy is a location with tons of hotels..this city is used to huge events.. like colts football..the indy 500 race..the brickyard 400 nascar race. the us nationals largest nhra race on the planet.. these events draw hundreds of thousands of people every year..many many hotels..and nightlife and great downtown restaurants..and easy to find your way around..if they will have the max show at a reasonable price for the promoters......why not

Grand Forks is a buzz with swastica problems right now. Seems they have a ice cream graffiti artist on the UND campus. So you guys can guess all the types that have came to town! ACLU,The Jewish league, you name it. Before I retired I worked for the company who built "the Ralph" as the call the arena now. Swasticas were spray painted on the wall sections that were already in place. I even had guys a work ask me if I had spray painted them??!!!While for me the MAX in Minot or grand forks would be a dream it aint happin' guys. Hell the last show I set up at, every year, in March here at the new Canad Inn/ Event center in dying a slow death. I am the lone TR display guy and with 10 tables of display I get the lions share of stuff(since Robin moved away!! thanks dude, you are missin some choice stuff!!)While I am on the outside of this topic its of little importance anyway. Grand forks huh? The University was up in arms over the UND logo and that the NCAA will no longer allow the teams to host if the logo is not changed. pressure from the native americans and the do gooders. My friend designed the logo and he is an Indian!!! so stick with Minot. We got issues here in" the forks"
Bret Van Sant

quote:

MAX 2009 back into Indianapolis

Thats what I'm voting for! Nice area, easy to get to, tons of hotels!

Baltimore!!!