GenCon 2003 in Indy -- Why it will be better

[wolff96]

It's going to rock -- mainly because I'll only be an hour away next year.

My first GenCon! Heh...

Indy is a great city for any major event I've attended there. While I never made it up to GenCon before, I've been to a lot of different sporting events all over the nation, and I travel a lot for work as I imagine a lot of other people do from this board.

And I still think that (barring Japan) Indianapolis is one of the cleanest, friendliest places I've ever been. Oh, and if it's in July, don't miss the corn!

 

[adndgamer]

I've heard lots of bad stuff about how bad (read: boring) driving is in Indiana. I'm gonna dread that drive, but at least I'll make it...

I love Milwaukee -- it's too bad GenCon has to go after all these years.

Normally I would just go for 1 day. But you can bet that I'll be staying for the full 4 days if I have to drive that far.

Doesn't that area of the States have Origins close by? Why do they have to take away Wisconsin's GenCon? Wisconsin is home to D&D!!! (I know, I know -- Indiana will be better, and Milwaukee doesn't want GenCon any more, but it's just so darn inconvenient for me to get to Indiana!)

 

[Duncan Haldane]

People were asking when Gencon is going to be next year.
A quick look at wizard's site for Gencon listed the following:
Indianapolis, future home of the four best days of gaming
Upcoming Show Dates
July 24 – 27, 2003
August 5- 8, 2004
August 11-14, 2005
August 10-13, 2006

Hope this helps you plan the next four years.

As for driving - well, share the load. Hook up with some others and share the cost and driving experience.

As for me, if I can get to Gencon next year (hopefully - I was trying for this year but I've been without a job), I will be flying. There is no way I'm driving there from Australia.

Duncan

 

[MUKid]

St. Louis? Nah.

Somebody somewhere back there mentioned St. Louis as preferable to Indy for GenCon. I'm from Columbia, only 2 hours from St. Louis, and I have to say that I'm much more excited about going to Indy than I would be going to St. Louis. I'm not sure that St. Louis has even as many hotel rooms as Milwaukee, and there's no way that the convention center is as big as Indy's.

Count me in on the "Indy's gonna be great" side of things. We talked to some people at GenCon from the Indy convention center that had a little "It's Gonna Be Cool" booth. What can I say -- it's gonna be cool! Way more hotels, way more food, way more space. So long as the new management doesn't screw things up much more than has been done in the past -- and seriously, is that even possible?

Trust me, it will be great.

 

[alsih2o]

What food is the big thing for Indy? (Milwaukee was bratwurst)

scotch eggs at p.s. o'rourkes! (see previous post)

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Personally, I'd like to hear more about Indianapolis from our EN World Indy people than about smelly gamers.

What food is the big thing for Indy? (Milwaukee was bratwurst)

Someone mentioned ribs, they could be they seem to be on many menus. I work in downtown Indy and there are restaurants that serve just about anything you might want, and they stay open in the evenings. If you miss the Bratwurst check out the Rathskeller which is as authentic german as you can get.

What things are good to do for a few days before? I normally come a week before the CON to play a little golf, watch a baseball game or two and do other things the city has planned. I went to the State Fair, the Miller Brewery Tour, etc. I got little tidbits of info from our Milwaukee contingent that I used.

Let's hear about the other good things that Indianapolis has to offer.

Things to do. Well we have plenty of golf courses, including at least 1 that is on the pro circut occaisionaly. There is AAA baseball in Victory Field often called the best Minor League Ballpark. We have the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that offers tours, and a golf course. If you like racing yourself we have several Karting centers. We also have a large indoor paintball center. We have several museums. For children we have the Children's Museum and Zoo. There are also plenty of Historic Homes and Neighborhoods to check out. If things are scheduled right you might also pick up a game at Conceco Fieldhouse, probably the best Basketball Areana out there it needs to be seen to be believed. The state fair is later in August, and around this time is also the RCA tennis Championships. Just north of town is Connor Praire a reconstructed frontier town with living history. I know there is more but that is what come up off the top of my mind.


Edit: Fixed lines around quote

 

[Mistwell]

Just to clear the record a bit, I am no longer unhappy with Indy as the site for GenCon. People here persuaded me weeks ago that Indy has turned itself into a real convention city, which is what I think the Con needs. I plan on going next year. However, I plan on flying.

All I was disputing was the wild claim that Indy is within reasonable driving distance to half the population of the US. It isn't (and I doubt anywhere in the US is). Sure, you could split the drive up, but then you could split the drive between 5 people and get there from pretty much any state in the lower 48. That wouldn't mean it was reasonable driving distance simply because it could be done. Reasonable is about 8 hours. Beyond that, unless you have additional drivers, it's best to fly there, if nothing else for safety reasons.

Besides, the gas, wear-and-tear on your car, random costs associated with the trip, and your time all add up to more than the cost of a flight for many people, if you are more than 8 hours away (even with additional drivers). If you are just doing the drive for the scenary and the experience along with your friends, that makes sense. But if the only purpose of the drive is to save money, odds are you won't be accomplishing that goal if your have to drive that far.

 

[Chaldfont]

If you have a car, I also highly suggest you check out Broadripple (62nd and College area). That's the hip, club area of town. Many unique bars with good musical acts (Johnny Socko!) and plenty of very good eateries there.

 

[kkoie]

All I was disputing was the wild claim that Indy is within reasonable driving distance to half the population of the US. It isn't (and I doubt anywhere in the US is).

True statement, there really is no location that is reasonable for everyone. But Indianapolis IS reasonable when it comes to flying in. Since it does have its own international airport, it makes flying to Indy easy. Although those who do fly in will need to take a cab or rent a car or something. Since Indy doesn't have any railway like the larger cities do (like Chicago). (I wonder if GenCon will set up some sort of bus system? Did they do something like that for the Star Wars con I wonder? I personally have no clue.)

As far as driving, Indy does have several major highways that link to it, which is helpful.

As for driving in Indiana, true its boring, but name a state in the midwest that isn't? In any event, the longest drive you are probably looking at when you cross the indiana border to Indy is about 2 hours or so (maybe 2 1/2 depending on the route you take).

There is no end to things to do in Indianapolis, if the things mentioned earlier didn't sound good, Indy has a fair number of nightclubs, not to mention a downtown shopping center for those who want to spend even more money than what they will purchase at the Con.

K Koie

 

[Pelosan Emperor]

I would say that one downside of Indy is the lack of good public transportation. A bus system exists, but it's not really that great. If you're planning on doing anything other than GenCon, I would recommend having access to a car.

If you're into Blues music, the best place in town is only a few blocks away from the Convention Center... The Slippery Noodle Inn

It usually takes 3 - 31/2 hours to drive from Indy to Chicago or the Michigan border. It's around 2 hours to either Ohio or Illinois if you're heading directly east or west. I would say it's about the same going south to Louisville, Ky.

PE