![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/shows\/play-expo-2019\/001-play-expo-2019.jpg\")
<\/a>Manchester Central is one large hall with red brick walls and an impressive arched roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although it is a large venue, the floor space doesn’t compare to that available at Event City in Manchester which was breathtakingly-vast. It is, however, a more modern facility in a more attractive location than the Norbreck Castle in Blackpool which, having experienced once, we would be happy never having to return to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As in previous years, Play Expo is a mix of assorted gaming platforms and cultures, encompassing retro 8-bit consoles and computers, the latest PC gaming, game, sci-fi and fantasy artwork, board games, cosplay, arcade videos and, of course, pinballs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tickets for Play Expo could be purchased in advance through the show’s website or on the door. Adult tickets bought at the venue cost \u00a320 per day, with under-16s paying \u00a314. There was also a family ticket (2 adults and 2 kids) for \u00a358, and weekend-long tickets for \u00a334 (adult) and \u00a324 (kids).<\/p>\n\n\n\n We arrived during the set-up on Friday evening to check on the progress ahead of the public opening on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pinball element is organised by the Northern Lights Pinball team who, along with several private collectors, have supplied many of the games, and co-opted other pinball groups and clubs to bring additional machines, amongst them Electric Circus in Birmingham and Flip Out London in Croydon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result is an eclectic mix of the most recent releases, modern classics, some electromechanical and early solid-state, and a number of themed groupings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More pinball machines were arriving on Friday evening and being readied for the public to play them when the show opened at 10am on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Northern Lights Pinball team don’t really hold tournaments, but they will be running a number of single-machine high score competitions across the weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, there will be a raffle or tombola to award prizes and help raise money for the Northern Light Pinball’s chosen charity for 2019, Mustard Tree, helping the homeless and those in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before the Play Expo show opened at 10am on Saturday, a sizable crowd had gathered in the foyer of the Manchester Central centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At 10am sharp, the visitors were allowed into the main hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pinball zone was at the back of the hall, at the opposite end to the main entrance. Even so, it was only a matter of seconds before all the pinballs were in use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There were 49 free play machines on the floor, plus another three used for competitions. The pinballs were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>