Hey everyone!
My buddies and I decided to attend the Arnold Classic coming up Mar 5-8, 2009 in Columbus, OH. Were gonna be there for all three days. Very excited. Don’t really know what to expect though other than the info provided on their official site.
Anyone whos attended a previous Arnold Classic care to share your thoughts? Did it live up to your expectations? Were the expos fun? Any recommendations or thoughts appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Bring your own bag. You get about 45lbs of free shit at the expo and the plastic bags they give you dont hold up.
Get there early cause by 1pm with like 100,000 ppl there you cant move.
Bring enough cash to buys stuff ($100 should be more than enough) cause you dont wanna have to make the 9 mile trek to an ATM and wait 45 mins in like for it
Bring a camera. Last year got pics with Lou Ferrigno, Ronnie, Jay, and of course all the skantly clad girls 
hahaa
You’ll have a good time
I’ll be there again this year, once again wearing a T-Nation shirt, i just wish they would have a booth there so we could meet authors and TC and Shugart and maybe talk with some people from the forums in person.
Hi
I’ve been to the Arnold 3 times and it’s a zoo.
I went mainly for the strength sports not the bodybuilding but whatever your interests are have a look at the Strongman event. I’ve always found the Bench for cash on the main stage on Saturday a bit of a letdown although it might be different now as I went in the days of the WPO.
Have a look at the expo hall on Friday because Saturday and Sunday are mad; it can take 10 minutes to get down an isle. If you’re going to buy stuff then wait til Sunday as the exhibitors don’t want to take anything away with them so some good deals can be found.
Other stuff-
We stayed in Grove City (Drury Hotel) and drove in. The Regency is next to the convention centre but much more expensive.
Elite fitness is a 30 min drive from Columbus in London Oh and is worth a visit if you’re into that sort of thing.
Hope you find this helpful and have a good time.
Chris
[quote]WS4JB wrote:
I’ll be there again this year, once again wearing a T-Nation shirt, i just wish they would have a booth there so we could meet authors and TC and Shugart and maybe talk with some people from the forums in person.[/quote]
That would be awesome if everyone from this forum who went wore a T-Nation shirt…im gonna order one now. See ya there
[quote]Youch wrote:
Hi
I’ve been to the Arnold 3 times and it’s a zoo.
I went mainly for the strength sports not the bodybuilding but whatever your interests are have a look at the Strongman event. I’ve always found the Bench for cash on the main stage on Saturday a bit of a letdown although it might be different now as I went in the days of the WPO.
Have a look at the expo hall on Friday because Saturday and Sunday are mad; it can take 10 minutes to get down an isle. If you’re going to buy stuff then wait til Sunday as the exhibitors don’t want to take anything away with them so some good deals can be found.
Other stuff-
We stayed in Grove City (Drury Hotel) and drove in. The Regency is next to the convention centre but much more expensive.
Elite fitness is a 30 min drive from Columbus in London Oh and is worth a visit if you’re into that sort of thing.
Hope you find this helpful and have a good time.
Chris
[/quote]
Awesome info thanks,
One of the things im looking forward to the most is Olympic weightlifting…so they have that there right?
And thanks for the Elite fitness comment, were definitely gona check that out.
[quote]tg2hbk4488 wrote:
Bring your own bag. You get about 45lbs of free shit at the expo and the plastic bags they give you dont hold up.
Get there early cause by 1pm with like 100,000 ppl there you cant move.
Bring enough cash to buys stuff ($100 should be more than enough) cause you dont wanna have to make the 9 mile trek to an ATM and wait 45 mins in like for it
Bring a camera. Last year got pics with Lou Ferrigno, Ronnie, Jay, and of course all the skantly clad girls hahaa
You’ll have a good time[/quote]
Thanks,
I guess if there really is so much free stuff it would make sense to ship it back to New York instead of taking it all on a plane.
As RushNRocket said, this will be our first Arnold. Last month we went to the World’s Strongest Man Super Series here in NYC.
We’re definitely more into the powerlifting/strength aspect of the event rather than the bodybuilding, but will appreciate all of it nonetheless.
EliteFTS/Westside is definitely something we’ve already spoken about doing. Unfortunately we’re a little uncertain as to the required age for renting cars in Ohio (we’re all under 25 yrs of age). Does anyone know how old you have to be in Ohio to rent a car? It would help us greatly to drive around, especially to London, rather than having to get a car service.
Also, any recommendations on hotels near the expo?
Columbus Marriott is right across from the tuttle mall and is like 9 or 10 miles from the expo, there are ones close but if i were staying in a hotel id prob stay there. there are shuttles and things like that around.
Full service restaurant/ lounge/ indoor pool/ exercise facility/ passes to local gym/ 10 restaurants within walking/ Tuttle Mall across street/ 11 miles from Cobnvention Center/
ah here you go http://www.arnoldexpo.com/h_hotels.asp
make a phone call, the legal age is 21 to rent but for insurance reasons most require you to be 25.
Budget
(614) 737-5400
1515 Olentangy River Rd
Columbus, OH
[quote]Game_over wrote:
Columbus Marriott is right across from the tuttle mall and is like 9 or 10 miles from the expo, there are ones close but if i were staying in a hotel id prob stay there. there are shuttles and things like that around.
Full service restaurant/ lounge/ indoor pool/ exercise facility/ passes to local gym/ 10 restaurants within walking/ Tuttle Mall across street/ 11 miles from Cobnvention Center/
ah here you go http://www.arnoldexpo.com/h_hotels.asp
make a phone call, the legal age is 21 to rent but for insurance reasons most require you to be 25.
Budget
(614) 737-5400
1515 Olentangy River Rd
Columbus, OH
[/quote]
Thanks man. I called Budget, there is a fee of $25 per day for drivers under the age of 25. Divided by 3, it’s not too shabby.
thats not bad at all at least they let you do it!
Also, to those who’ve been to the Arnold Classic before… I’ve seen that some have met Arnold at the expo. What do you think the chances are of meeting him and snaggin’ a picture with the man?
Very slim to none…you might catch a glimpse of him walking around, but I mean, the man is a govenor, he has security, so unless he approachs you, it is doubtful you will get a pic
He often goes to other sporting events, not tons of BB stuff
He goes to stuff like ballroom dancing and cheerleading…stuff with children and women…gotta look in public eye, but u might see him walkin through the expo. You will know he is there when you see a huge crowd of people walking through and cameras flashing and secruity throwin ppl back haha
[quote]Luca Brasi wrote:
As RushNRocket said, this will be our first Arnold. Last month we went to the World’s Strongest Man Super Series here in NYC.
We’re definitely more into the powerlifting/strength aspect of the event rather than the bodybuilding, but will appreciate all of it nonetheless.
EliteFTS/Westside is definitely something we’ve already spoken about doing. Unfortunately we’re a little uncertain as to the required age for renting cars in Ohio (we’re all under 25 yrs of age). Does anyone know how old you have to be in Ohio to rent a car? It would help us greatly to drive around, especially to London, rather than having to get a car service.
Also, any recommendations on hotels near the expo?[/quote]
Hi there
As I said in my earlier post I found the Drury Hotel in Grove City excellent; I’ve been to Columbus 5 times and we always go there.
Last year it was about $70 a room/day with a pretty good breakfast thrown in.
Cheers
Chris
I’m living in Cincy in the fall, and ive got friends at Ohio State, so I kinda lucked out, i get a free place to stay and party.
I really do think we need to organize some kinda of T-Nation meeting place there this year.
[quote]WS4JB wrote:
I’m living in Cincy in the fall, and ive got friends at Ohio State, so I kinda lucked out, i get a free place to stay and party.
I really do think we need to organize some kinda of T-Nation meeting place there this year.[/quote]
Cincy huh? Good luck with that. I’m from the Bronx, yet the one time I was in Cincy (passing through) I felt uncomfortable LOL
Yeah there should be some type of get together. We should all try and keep this thread alive as long as possible. Bumping it occasionally and of course posting when it comes closer to March. We can all exchange info, post info on what hotels we’ll be at, etc.
[quote]Luca Brasi wrote:
WS4JB wrote:
I’m living in Cincy in the fall, and ive got friends at Ohio State, so I kinda lucked out, i get a free place to stay and party.
I really do think we need to organize some kinda of T-Nation meeting place there this year.
Cincy huh? Good luck with that. I’m from the Bronx, yet the one time I was in Cincy (passing through) I felt uncomfortable LOL
Yeah there should be some type of get together. We should all try and keep this thread alive as long as possible. Bumping it occasionally and of course posting when it comes closer to March. We can all exchange info, post info on what hotels we’ll be at, etc.[/quote]
I may be going this year as well, and think this is a pretty good idea.
Somebody contanct one of the coaches or Biotest corporate and see if there is/where a Biotest booth will be.
I’m sure that would be the easiest place to organize
Plus who knows…if they like the idea enought they may give us free shit for starting the idea!
Ive brought up questions about a booth the last 2 years and never got any kind of response.
Started 2 seperate threads about it.
They’ve shown up to the Olympia in the past, but im not sure if they’ve ever had a booth at the Arnold.
yea… maybe if they see enough support they will have one. If you go the Olympia this year year, stop by the booth and ask them about it