The Ann Arbor Pinball Museum VFW in Green Oaks Township, Michigan will have their first pinball showcase festival Friday May 16th to Sunday May 18th, 2014. The museum has 200 machines on site ranging from 1950s “woodrails” to the latest games from Stern pinball. Every decade, manufacturer and game type is represented at the museum. There are many rare and hard to find games set up and ready to play. All machines are on free play, so one entrance ticket allows almost unlimited play for the day. The VFW pinball museum is a 6600 square foot single floor building with plenty of parking on our rural 10 acre site. There’s something for every pinball fan here.
Showcase Dates and Times.
Our museum charter allows us to be open to the public up to four weekends a year. This is our first showcase, and below are the following days and times.
Friday May 16th, 2014 – 5pm to 10pm $20
Saturday May 17th, 2014 – 10am to 9pm $25
Sunday May 18th, 2014 – 10am to 4pm $20
Our museum charter allows us to be open to the public up to four weekends a year. This is our first showcase, and below are the following days and times.
Friday May 16th, 2014 – 5pm to 10pm $20
Saturday May 17th, 2014 – 10am to 9pm $25
Sunday May 18th, 2014 – 10am to 4pm $20
Tickets.
Tickets for the showcase will be available in advance only. We want to ensure that all attendees have the absolute best possible experience and have plenty of room to mingle and experience the pinball machines. To do this we have a limited number of tickets available for each day. Once the limit is reached, no more tickets will be issued. Hence there may not be any tickets available at the door. Yes it is possible we may have door tickets, however this will be a last minute decision. So if you want to guarantee a ticket, it’s best to get one from our Ticket reservation web page.
Tickets for the showcase will be available in advance only. We want to ensure that all attendees have the absolute best possible experience and have plenty of room to mingle and experience the pinball machines. To do this we have a limited number of tickets available for each day. Once the limit is reached, no more tickets will be issued. Hence there may not be any tickets available at the door. Yes it is possible we may have door tickets, however this will be a last minute decision. So if you want to guarantee a ticket, it’s best to get one from our Ticket reservation web page.
How Many Games will be at the Show case?
There will be 200+ games available for play. We list the game titles in a separate post here. These games are of known quality and caliber, and some are very rare. You’ll know what titles will be at the show ahead, there’s no guessing. Now how does this compare to other shows? Well really pretty good as most shows struggle to get 100 games. But here’s the kicker… most shows have many duplicate titles. At the Ann Arbor Pinball Museum, there are no duplicate titles. Meaning when we say there are 200 games, there are 200 games with unique titles. (There’s aren’t five Addams Family pinballs, for example.) Hence there is more variety and more representation of pinball’s history. This gives the Museum more variety than most other pinball shows.
There will be 200+ games available for play. We list the game titles in a separate post here. These games are of known quality and caliber, and some are very rare. You’ll know what titles will be at the show ahead, there’s no guessing. Now how does this compare to other shows? Well really pretty good as most shows struggle to get 100 games. But here’s the kicker… most shows have many duplicate titles. At the Ann Arbor Pinball Museum, there are no duplicate titles. Meaning when we say there are 200 games, there are 200 games with unique titles. (There’s aren’t five Addams Family pinballs, for example.) Hence there is more variety and more representation of pinball’s history. This gives the Museum more variety than most other pinball shows.
Can you bring a game to the showcase?
Bring a game to the Ann Arbor VFW pinball showcase is welcome but not necessary. If you want to bring a game you’re proud of to show it off, or if you’re trading or selling to a friend and want a place to meet, that would be great. Doors to the hall are at ground level and within 10 feet of a drop off area, and we have many pinball carts available to borrow. We will have a dedicated area set aside for these pinballs. You have complete control of your game, when it comes, and when it leaves. The bad news however is we do not offer any entrance incentives for bring a game. Our goal is to showcase the collector quality games at the museum and any quality machines that the pinball public wants to show. Offering entrance incentives unfortunately attracts too many machines, many not to the high standards of the museum.
Bring a game to the Ann Arbor VFW pinball showcase is welcome but not necessary. If you want to bring a game you’re proud of to show it off, or if you’re trading or selling to a friend and want a place to meet, that would be great. Doors to the hall are at ground level and within 10 feet of a drop off area, and we have many pinball carts available to borrow. We will have a dedicated area set aside for these pinballs. You have complete control of your game, when it comes, and when it leaves. The bad news however is we do not offer any entrance incentives for bring a game. Our goal is to showcase the collector quality games at the museum and any quality machines that the pinball public wants to show. Offering entrance incentives unfortunately attracts too many machines, many not to the high standards of the museum.
Pinball Tournament.
We will have non-WPR early solid state and EM pinball tourneys, but this is not the emphasis of the showcase. De-emphasizing tournaments enhances the overall pinball experience for the majority of typical showcase attendee, since most do not participant in tournaments. However the tournaments are easy and inexpensive to join. There’s no entry fee for any tournament. We will have several machines available for quarter play. Meaning each tournament “try” is 25 cents. The money collected will given back as prizes. Each day of the showcase will be a different tournament. This tournament system is easy and self running, with the emphasis on the casual player and not for the “pros.” If we feel anyone is trying to “gain the system”, we will remove their scores from the tournament. Highest scores two hours prior to the day’s closing time (Friday will be one hour prior) are the winners for that day.
We will have non-WPR early solid state and EM pinball tourneys, but this is not the emphasis of the showcase. De-emphasizing tournaments enhances the overall pinball experience for the majority of typical showcase attendee, since most do not participant in tournaments. However the tournaments are easy and inexpensive to join. There’s no entry fee for any tournament. We will have several machines available for quarter play. Meaning each tournament “try” is 25 cents. The money collected will given back as prizes. Each day of the showcase will be a different tournament. This tournament system is easy and self running, with the emphasis on the casual player and not for the “pros.” If we feel anyone is trying to “gain the system”, we will remove their scores from the tournament. Highest scores two hours prior to the day’s closing time (Friday will be one hour prior) are the winners for that day.
Door Prizes.
On Saturday will will be giving away a pinball machine as a door prize. Getting a showcase ticket ahead for Saturday automatically enters you into the drawing. No additional tickets can be received. We will draw for the machine at 6pm on Saturday. You do not need to be present to win, but it would be helpful.
On Saturday will will be giving away a pinball machine as a door prize. Getting a showcase ticket ahead for Saturday automatically enters you into the drawing. No additional tickets can be received. We will draw for the machine at 6pm on Saturday. You do not need to be present to win, but it would be helpful.
Vendors.
We do have space for vendors who will be showing their products. (Please contact us if you’re interested in doing this.) Right now we have commitments from:
We do have space for vendors who will be showing their products. (Please contact us if you’re interested in doing this.) Right now we have commitments from:
- Pinball Life (pinball parts)
- PinRestore.com (restoration parts and tools)
- BgResto.com (backglass restoration services)
- Wiley Amusements (game sales, Fenton MI)
- Jeff Moorehead (game and parts sales.)
In the outside flea market area also individuals can swap and trade pinball parts. Note the Ann Arbor pinball museum does not sell games or parts, so all we can do is point you to the above vendors.
Set Up Day.
Friday from 10am to 5pm is set up time. If you’re a vendor or bring a game, that’s a great time to do it. This time is only for people involved in helping the show, those that bring games or flea market parts for sale, and for vendors, etc.
Friday from 10am to 5pm is set up time. If you’re a vendor or bring a game, that’s a great time to do it. This time is only for people involved in helping the show, those that bring games or flea market parts for sale, and for vendors, etc.
Nearby Hotel.
Just a few miles away is a Holiday Inn Express that’s a good place to stay if you’re from out of town. We don’t have anything set with them, so you will have to call/email to see about reservations.
Holiday Inn Express
8285 Movie Drive
Brighton, MI 48116
810-225-4300
Just a few miles away is a Holiday Inn Express that’s a good place to stay if you’re from out of town. We don’t have anything set with them, so you will have to call/email to see about reservations.
Holiday Inn Express
8285 Movie Drive
Brighton, MI 48116
810-225-4300
The Location.
The Ann Arbor pinball museum is located on a scenic 10 acres in the countryside north of Ann Arbor at 8891 Spicer rd, Brighton MI 48116. It’s very relaxed and located on a beautiful piece of natural property. The facility is 6600 square feet with a full pinball restoration shop and of course many games. There’s plenty of parking too. There’s even an outside covered flea market area for those that want to trade pinball parts with other enthusiasts, or just want to relax outside among our apple trees.
The Ann Arbor pinball museum is located on a scenic 10 acres in the countryside north of Ann Arbor at 8891 Spicer rd, Brighton MI 48116. It’s very relaxed and located on a beautiful piece of natural property. The facility is 6600 square feet with a full pinball restoration shop and of course many games. There’s plenty of parking too. There’s even an outside covered flea market area for those that want to trade pinball parts with other enthusiasts, or just want to relax outside among our apple trees.