Any News About The Next US Based International?

Since no one can explain if Boston failed, lets move to the next international planning.

Will any group be planning one and if so were?

Or, did Boston fail so badly US Internationals are now over or is planning moving forward for the next?

Last I heard, the plan was to try to have one in 5 years.

Yes, there was talk of one in 5 years. I can't remember if they are talking about a "full" international, or just something bigger than the annual GASS (APS show). There was talk of having it in the West but not on the coast, but I don't recall if that was supposed to be for 2031 or 2036. To me, that might be code for Vegas.

I overheard (at the show) that FIP recognition was on the chopping block. Way too much money thrown out the window for meagre returns. Also that Chicago preemptively bailed out.

It must be hard to plan that far out when given the aging demographic of your base many of them won't be around,

If Boston broke even it did not fail. I read somewhere they would they were looking at 5 year internationals but still wonder if the one very big shot approach is better than more shows with the goal of smaller less expensive venues.

For the average collectors (the ones the hobby needs), what does the International offer?

This one offered material for every budget from 25 cents to millions. Plus the opportunity to see items that most of us will never own and perhaps never have another chance to see. And images do not do them justice, despite some here thinking that there is no difference. And much can be learned and enjoyed by mixing with many other collectors.

"For the average collectors (the ones the hobby needs), what does the International offer?"

The hobby needs both the average collector and the big shots.

eyeonwall,

The Internationals favor the big shots already and those in organized stamp groups. They have no issue paying the cost. I consider myself an intermediate collector (more breadth than depth). Thus, spending a $1000 and the hassle getting there as a cover charge when I am not likely going to buy a $1000 in stamps does not sound right. I recognize many established collectors value the experience and social aspects but the new collectors do not.

Some have said it is comparable in price to a cruise or other activities but I suspect most would choose a cruise over a stamp show. Many of these are strong "entertainment" but collecting as its core is about buying stamps.

So pick a different show to go to.

Despite all the pearl-clutching, it didn't fail. Sorry!



This is what I've heard from well-placed sources as well. Given the turnover in collectors (read, folks dying off) it has been deemed prudent to start spacing larger shows 5 years apart to try and keep institutional knowledge/memory more fresh and current. The 5 year won't be as large as the 10 year International, but given that Boston seemed a couple days too long for many who went, maybe this is the way to go moving forward.




As for the bellyaching around costs: there are still lots of shows out there. If you can't justify the expense and hassle of an International, keep the griping to a minimum and go to a smaller/closer/cheaper one. I'd love to make it to Westpex some day, but haven't been able to justify the expense of traveling across the country for a show just yet. That doesn't mean I'm grumbling and muttering that such shows shouldn't exist, etc.

At the higher end, it's all about the in-person experience of a top-tier show and all the social gatherings they entail. The majority collectors are not suited for these, whether due to disposition or financial means. That doesn't mean there isn't a market for them, or that a sufficient number of alternatives doesn't exist.

This "Make a big show in 5 years to bridge the 10 year gap" has been around since NY 2016. It was planned for Chicago in 2021 but fell smack into Covid territory so it never happened.

As for ...Thus, spending a $1000 and the hassle getting there as a cover charge when I am not likely going to buy a $1000 in stamps does not sound right... I don't quite see the point. After NY2016, everybody had 10 years to financially prepare for Boston 2026. One pizza less per month and the $1000 hassle to get there would have been paid.

For overseas people, there obviously needed to be more than going to a stamp show to make up for travel costs..I was lucky in that regard that apart for the usual "touristy stuff", I decided to check out the Physics instruments museum at Harvard one day (as a physicist, that was a no-brainer). It was closed, unfortunately, but everyone was cloaked in black capes (red capes for the bosses). Turns out it was graduation day at Harvard and I got to see and hear Conan O'Brien giving an excellent Commencement address...
That paid for half the travel costs :-)