{"id":5496,"date":"2016-10-03T16:27:28","date_gmt":"2016-10-03T15:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/?p=5496"},"modified":"2017-08-26T00:05:11","modified_gmt":"2017-08-25T23:05:11","slug":"vancouver-flipout-pinball-expo-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/2016\/10\/03\/vancouver-flipout-pinball-expo-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"VANCOUVER FLIPOUT PINBALL EXPO 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The Vancouver Flipout 2016 logo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

America has had a very mature show schedule for some time, with successful new shows being added every year. So when the Vancouver FlipOut Pinball Expo was announced, modeling itself after the large US shows, it was too good to pass up and I booked a trip immediately to attend.<\/p>\n

Putting on a large-scale pinball show in Canada would have many of the same challenges as doing them overseas, or anywhere else out of the US: access to machines for free play, vendors, speakers, and even attendees. The numbers available for all of these would be smaller, so the challenges of putting on a show that aimed to model an American show can\u2019t be understated.<\/p>\n

The show promised to have a large free play area, a large tournament with modern and classic divisions, as well as an afternoon of guest speakers.<\/p>\n

My own home city of Toronto has not had a large pinball show in many years, so I was very envious of Vancouver having this show. There really was only one option \u2013 book my ticket!<\/p>\n

Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada, on the west coast of Canada in the province of British Columbia. It hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics (along with the Whistler\/Blackcomb mountain), and is regularly ranked as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.<\/p>\n

Finally the day arrived and I began my adventure with a 5-hour flight from Toronto to Vancouver. Packing light, I took their public transit, a Sky Train link from the airport that left me a 5-minute walk to the hotel.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Sky Train<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ocean \u2013 check.
\nMountains \u2013 check.
\nTall modern buildings \u2013 check.
\nCloudy sky \u2013 check.<\/p>\n

You know you\u2019re in Vancouver.<\/p>\n

\"Vancouver\"<\/a>
Vancouver<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The show was being held in a Holiday Inn right smack in the middle of downtown Vancouver. You can\u2019t do much better for a central location, with amenities available by foot in every direction.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The location of the show hotel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Being a downtown hotel meant the room rates were going to be higher, but the location was tops and the rooms were modern and updated.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get to the actual show.<\/p>\n

As you approached the hotel, it had clear signage outside so you knew you had the right place, and hopefully it would attract some walk-in traffic as well.<\/p>\n

\"Outside<\/a>
Outside the Holiday Inn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inside, there was a lot more signage, which gave the entire operation a professional and well-polished feel.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The whole hotel was taken over<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Our<\/a>
Our roving reporter Chris Frolic knew he was in the right place<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Show organizers Suzanne and Tommy Floyd were ready to greet the public at the front desk.<\/p>\n

\"Suzanne<\/a>
Suzanne and Tommy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The show was comprised of a dedicated tournament area, two free play areas, and a seminar room. There were also some pinballs in the common area, a The Wizard of Oz <\/em>and The Hobbit<\/em>, as well as a Hercules<\/em> which was located in the main lobby as an eye catcher. The Hercules<\/em> was brought up from the Seattle Pinball Museum by Cindy and Charlie Martin.<\/p>\n

\"Hercules<\/a>
Hercules – the World’s largest pinball game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ticket Prices in Canadian dollars were<\/p>\n