My wife and I are going to one show in the spring.   We never been to any show, but on MAACA it seems "Allentown" gets the most mention.   Rochester just seems closer and would save a fair bit of driving.

Are they both pretty much the same, or is Allentown much better?   We are pinheads - so the video, jukebox, side of "gameroom" isn't too appealing to use (yet    ).


Thanks for any comments.


Rochester Gameroom Show
April 11-13
Rochester, NY
http://www.rochestergameroomshow.com


Pinball Wizards Convention
May 2-4
Allentown, PA.
Show with multiple tournaments.
http://www.pinballwizardsconv.com


http://www.twingalaxies.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10941

Rochester is a smaller show ...

if your wife is also a shopper there is a large outlet mall 30+ minutes from Allentown (Tannersville) PA also has no tax on clothing.

Quoted from SquidVicious

Rochester is a smaller show ...

if your wife is also a shopper there is a large outlet mall 30+ minutes from Allentown (Tannersville) PA also has no tax on clothing.

My wife is a shopper - quite good @ it too - - need to avoid any place near outlet stores if I wanna have a pinball fund  

My fiancee and I went to Allentown last year. We had a good time and got to meet a lot of cool people, but it didn't really live up to the hype for us. I probably wouldn't make the trip a second time unless it was the only possible show for me to go to.  Never been to Rochester, but I know some of the CGCC and MAACA people will be there.

I've never been to Rochester, but I've been to Allentown 3 times
(...and am going back this year ...)

A-Town has a mix of things...
I truthfully prefer it for the active market area in the parking lot.
I actually spend more time scouring for deals than I do playing pinball.
(...as a "vid guy" I actually find a number of decent deals from "pin heads"
who don't really know what they have... I picked-up 3 working Defender sets for $20 that way ! )

There is also alot of the big pin vendors at the show so you can load up on supplies
and save a bundle on shipping.  There are also alot of "show specials"
(...like the Chrome pin legs I picked-up for $20 a set )

Since "we" traditionally stayed at the Pinball Parlour (an arcade 30 minutes away from the show)
and had our choice of 100+ games all to ourselves from 8:00pm-4:00am,
I actually didn't feel too compelled to wait in line to play
games at the show.

There is also a very very large farmer's market right next to the show,
so you can take a break and grab just about any type of food you can think of.

If you're going to A-town to play some serious pinball, you'll likely be disappointed.
If you're going there hoping to score a great deal, ...it likely won't happen either,
but If you're going for a pinball roadtrip, you'll probably have fun..

I plan on driving-up on the Friday, and coming back late Saturday afternoon.
There really isn't much to see or do on Sunday, and the only people still around
are those hoping to pick-up deals from desperate sellers who don't want to
haul back their pins...

That's my take on it anyways...

Cheers,
Steph

This will be my 3rd A'town show...I had a great time on both trips. Sold a couple each time, bought a couple each time. Played till my wrists were ready to split open. I also agree thats its a great place to get parts or supplies...pre-order with PBR or Marco and save the shipping, etc.... Remember though if you live in Ont., cross back thru Quebec if you have bought machines. You'll save 8%!!!

I've heard that Rochester is much smaller...A'town isn't huge by any stretch, but for what it is its a great time and well done. This year I will definitely also partake in the Pinball Palace!! We need beer though!!!!

I have been to Allentown 2 times and will return again this year .. but I will say I was very disappointed with the quality and playability of the pins at the last show.

So why do I attend.  I buy upwards of 500 in parts at that show each time.  I also get access to items that I would not normally come across without being gouged by UPS or the border, or just not interested in an item until I see it first hand.

I also go because its something different to do related to the hobby; but most importantly I find it fun.  If you have never been I would say go at least once. There is enough variety to the show.  i.e in not all tournament or all flea market that it should make for a great well rounded experience.  Maybe for the one time ... maybe for the first A-Town trip of many.  YMMV.

Keep in mind that if everybody went there to only play pins, there would nothing there..  In my opinion, those who don't bring games forfeit their right to complain about the quality/reliability..  It's ordinary guys bringing their pins that makes this a worthwhile trip.  If you don't like the pins there then bring something better!

Also think about it...  Would you bring your best/collectable machines there for people to play/slam around contantly for about 72 hours????

Mike

I went to Allentown with a few other members last year and had a lot of fun. It's a trip that every pin-head should do at least once.

Having said that, however, the drive is looooooong and we found the show didn't quite live up to the hype. The parts tables were really nice to pick through and it was great to play machines I'd never seen before, but I guess I was expecting more. I dunno.

The Pinball Parlour was something to see and the Farmer's Market was cool as well. The flea market had some interesting stuff, but be sure to get in there on Friday evening.

I took an EM with me that was working great until I moved it to the show and subsequently spent much of Friday night with my head stuck in the cabinet getting it fixed. It sold within minutes of getting it working, but I wasted a lot of valuable time and missed out on a couple of great deals, so I'm not sure I'll be repeating the 'bring-a-game' experience, although I understand what Mr. Mikeman is saying.

I'll be heading to Rochester this year instead. It's much closer (less than half the distance) and is being held at a larger/nicer venue this year. Last year, they had over 350 playable games, which easily rivals Allentown. I don't know what the vid:pin ratio is, but I'm sure the Rochester show will be good enough for me this year.

I find that the shows are great if you go without expectations. Don't look for anything specific and you won't be disappointed. If you just consider it a fun road trip laced with pinball, it can be a blast.

I just got back from OHIO SHOW AND I am planning to go to ROCHESTER,I won't be missing the ROCHESTER show. Last 2 years it's been the best show out there,350 games last year and it was about the same the year before.Good deals on pins and parts,Illinois pinball and marco will be there with a host of others.I talked Gene yestarday and he will be loaded for bear at Rochester,he is taking pre orders for Monster Bash playfields and NGG is on the way.

Thanks for the comments - looks like we'll try for Rochester - just to save driving time.   Would like to bring a pin - as all our pins are 'players' for the most part, but we'll be dropping the kids off en-route, so it won't work out that way..., but there will be room to bring a pin back if opportunity knocks..

Quoted from poolman

he is taking pre orders for Monster Bash playfields and NGG is on the way.

Who's making these for Gene? Does he plan delivery by Rochester?

It would be nice to have a NGG with no slam ramp wear.