OutaFocus Posted September 24, 2023 Share Posted September 24, 2023 For 27 years the Smyrna Community Center served as home for the ACME Southern Nationals and during those years our show grew from a local to a regional and to a national show. The 2019, 2021, and 2022 shows averaged 110+ entrants, 550+ models entered, and 23-27 states represented by those who entered. Pretty amazing. Thank you for supporting us and for making our show what it is. Over these years ACME worked to find ways to improve the quality and enjoyment of the show for entrants, vendors, and attendees. 2022 provided some challenges regarding the host hotel as well as at the Community Center. The issues included quality of hotel, the parking situation at the Community Center, and decisions by the City of Smyrna making it impossible to schedule our show on the same weekend year after year. During the show we took a critical view of the items we control and those we do not have direct control over. Our conclusion: physically the Smyrna Community Center could no longer support our show. It limited our ability to expand vendor space as well as to accommodate the number of models on display. It provides challenges people with mobility issues to attend and enjoy the show. The hours of access make it challenging for everyone as vendors try to setup, Early Birds desiring to shop and place their models on display and for ACME to set up for registration and running the show. In order to keep providing the experience you expect from us and the ability to improve our show as we move forward it became apparent – we need a new home capable of meeting our/your current needs as well in the future. So after 27 years the ACME Southern Nationals is moving to the Clarence Brown Convention Center in Cartersville, GA, our new host hotel is the adjacent Courtyard By Marriott. We looked at six different venues and four of them did not meet our requirements, one provided the space but not the atmosphere you expect from ACME. Some of the highlights of our new venue include: 12,000 square feet of event space (triple what we have now) 450 parking spaces on a flat parking lot Separate loading area and parking for vendors Vendors may set up on Friday if desired Separate entrances for Vendors and Early Birds Enlarged display area for models with wider aisles More vendors (we typically turn down 15 vendors/year) Choice of two airports (Chattanooga & Atlanta) Multiple year scheduling The host hotel is 2 years old and directly adjacent to the Convention Center Many family-friendly attractions in the area which are easy to attend/enjoy Along with the change in venue we are changing the date to the last weekend in October. Moving to this weekend provides the least amount of disruption/conflict with other shows as well as issues associated with the World Series. The dates for 2023 are October 27th & 28th. The themes are: 100 years of LeMans; 70 years of Corvette; and NASCAR. We know change is challenging but I guarantee you that all of us at ACME are working and will continue to provide you with an excellent experience with an emphasis on fun and a better way to share your work with others and vice-versa. As we move forward we will provide updates via e-mail as well as via Facebook and on our website. As soon as we have the booking codes for the host hotel you will be the first to receive them via email so you may book your rooms. Thank you for your continuing support and all of us look forward to seeing you in Cartersville. Cartersville is an outer suburb on the northwest side of the Atlanta area, it’s right alongside I-75 with far better access and far fewer traffic issues, especially for the many that travel long distances from the north via I-75. We will periodically update maps to help you navigate to the show from the south and northeast so if you want to avoid the Atlanta traffic you’ll have good options. Conference Center Conference Center – Virtual Tour 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted September 26, 2023 Share Posted September 26, 2023 Maybe I'll see some of you fellers there. As this will definitely be my last year in the South, I'm trying to get a couple cars ready for the show...at least as far as the "primer" table, anyway. If you come, drive carefully. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keef Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 I’m going to try my hardest to get there. Been saying that for years now and something always comes up. I’m going to have to get there this year!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemodeler Posted October 15, 2023 Share Posted October 15, 2023 Been saving my lunch money for this show all summer long, looking forward to the new venue and expanded show! Got my early bird pass and hotel room so all that is left is to get to Cartersville! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Karson Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 ACME SOUTHERN NATIONALS UP IN LIGHTS 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruckerAL Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 First year I'll be there, looking forward to it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catpack68 Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 I wish I could make it there.Maybe next year… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B. Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Due to a busy life (even though I'm retired), I would not have made it this year. When I showed my wife the info about the new venue and the billboard, we put it on the calendar for next year. Have a great show and looking forward to 2024! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Karson Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 MODEL CARS MAGAZINE AWARD ACME 2023 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZTony8 Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 Wish I could make it but our show-the Motor City NNL-is 2 weeks after this and it's impossible to handle last minute aspects of the show if we're out of town. Maybe next year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vamach1 Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 See you all on Saturday. My first time going to the ACME show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 I'm sure it was a resounding success, and look forward to seeing the reports as they start coming in. In the event, I had to miss it, even though I got 4 models far enough along to make it to the "primer" category as on-their-wheels late-stage mockups. I've been sick with something like the flu all week, felt kinda OK this AM, but decided to not expose anyone else to whatever-it-is. Let's see some photos, fellas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vamach1 Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 (edited) Over 900 models were on display. Nice to see Leonard, Dave, Matt and Norman make the trip down from Maryland. I wish I had more time to find more MCM members but the time went by very quickly. It was a very well run event and a lot of vendors selling paints, kits, decals, tools and everything else model related. Here is just a sample of the high level of quality of models at the show. Edited October 31, 2023 by vamach1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 Thank you for sharing your photos. Many beautifully done builds and the paint jobs along with displays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Thibodeau Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 Thanks for the pics. Hope to see all of them at some point. CT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Karson Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 20231028_120102.mp4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vamach1 Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 Thanks Bill for posting the hour plus long video. It was my first time to ACME so I brought 14 models as I’m not sure when I’ll be back since I’m moved to AZ next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatW Posted December 1, 2023 Share Posted December 1, 2023 Superb show! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted December 2, 2023 Share Posted December 2, 2023 Thank you Bill for the great video! I will check out the rest later.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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