Matt Murphy posted the following post on Treefrog We will keep you posted as we get more information.
Hello all,
Right now due to a cancellation, I have an opportunity to run a 2-day show on Oct 7/8 with a set up on Friday. We could entertain a Friday evening session or something for dealers only or a gathering of some sort.
It would be at the Kane County Fairgrounds. Not too far from Schaumberg and O’Hare. They are already booked through all of 2023 and so are some other places. If I jump on it now I have the option to run in it the regular weekend in September 2024. If I hesitate both these dates will be gone in a week.
I have talked to others and the thought of doing room trading is just too much work for no return. It is not something I can take on. Selling tickets at the door and selling toys is something I can do. Smoothing things out with a hotel and everyone that has “an issue” at check-in and “a bathtub vs a shower in a room” is something I cannot take on.
I am waiting to hear back from a couple of places. The Hyatt has already booked their ballroom. My father once told me “things get bigger or smaller but never stay the same.” Don was looking for a new venue for years and so was Roger. They aged out.
I would appreciate opinions from people that will actually attend the show or would like to attend or support the show. Thoughts on the changes. I really do not need negative vibes here.
Matt, Kane Co Fairgrounds is an excellent alternative venue for a show with tons of parking and floor space. It already is the site of a general toy and doll show3 times a year in April, June and the end of October. Many local/ regional collectors and dealers will already be familiar with it. St Charles in still very much in the Chicago Metro area. I would come down from Wisconsin for sure if it were to happen.
Matt, thanks for trying to keep the Chicago show going!
The room trading could be organized and operated separately by the dealers.
Matt, I agree with Kirk that the Kane County Fairgrounds is an excellent venue for a show. I would vote for just a one day show on SAT with a set up on Friday for dealers much like the Kalamazoo Shows. The 2 day shows which I have set up at have all been flops on the second day with dealers just itching to leave by noon! Regardless of your final decision, my compliments to you for taking the lead on trying to restore a time-honored tradition for early Autumn in the Midwest.
Saturday Show would be a GO.
Matt, count me in, anything I can do to help ! I live only a 30-35 minute drive North of Kane Cou
nty and I’ve been selling there for years !
You KNOW we will be there. I have a Northwestern University reunion that weekend so can divide my Saturday. You can use crowdfunding to give non-attendees a vote and financial interest in the show. Someone will come up with a hotel close to Kane with a couple dozen rooms. Eber? Remington?
I got a postcard ad in the mail for the West Coast toy soldier show which is next Sunday, Feb.26. It’s at a hotel just a couple blocks from Disneyland.
Unfortunately for me that is 450 miles from where I live, so I won’t be able to attend.
I thought it might be worth mentioning though.