Leaving Indy for 2006?

[devilbat]

P.S. I too would like to see a Gencon North held in Toronto. I know we certainly have the capacity compared to tiny little Indianapolis I suspect that cross border requirements would be too large a challenge. Still it would be great.

I'd love to see this as well, but the upcoming requirement of all U.S. citizens to have a passport if leaving the country, among other reasons, would squash the idea early on.

 

[francisca]

BIAS: I live 1.5 hours up the road from Indy. However, I stay in downtown Indy for GenCon, as I would if it moved somewhere else.

Chicago wouldn't be so bad, except for the commute in. The only feasable site is McCormick place. I sure the hell won't be staying in downtown Chicago, and would have to grab a shuttle or something even if I did. Parking around McCormick place sucks. Plus, it's likely to be way more expensive for the exhibitors, all the way around. So, for me, GenCon would probably go from a long weekend to one long day. I could probably crash at any number of friends and relatives in and around Chicago and NW Indiana, but that commute would still suck.

 

[derbacher]

I don't have the GenCon program here in front of me (OK, I threw it away), but I could have sworn that there were dates in there listing it as being in Indy through 2010?

But I've been wrong before.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Really makes you think that the industry isn't doing so bad afterall...

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Possibly Phoenix, AZ?

 

[wingsandsword]

Really makes you think that the industry isn't doing so bad afterall...

Sssh! Don't tell the Gloom & Doom Brigade, they'll just say that it's an illusion and the huge majority of those people weren't there to play RPG's. Remember, they've already discounted Gen Con attendance figures as having absolutely nothing to do with the health of the industry.

P.S. I too would like to see a Gencon North held in Toronto. I know we certainly have the capacity compared to tiny little Indianapolis I suspect that cross border requirements would be too large a challenge. Still it would be great.

Well, besides the coming requirements for passports to travel between the US and Canada, apparently the border isn't too friendly to small businessmen travelling up to the Great White North.

At Gen Con this year, one vendor actually got started on a 10 minute rant while I was at the booth when somebody asked if she'd consider taking her booth to a convention in Canada next year. I then got to hear the story of her being treated horribly by Canadian customs, including having to open every box and package, and catalog everything (which matched up perfectly with the manifest), and it taking hours for a small business vendor going to a convention to make it across the border, and how she swore to never do buisness in Canada again.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I think they would like to maintain a central location of the east coast, once you go too far west you loose people.

 

[IronWolf]

From what I heard the powers that be in Indy were trying to raise thier fees. Old Peter countered by telling them that that was OK as he wasn't certain Indy could handle the convention and that he'd look elsewhere. When the powers that be found out he actually WAS looking elsewhere they cut the rates they were charging and basically begged GenCon LLC not to leave.

What we're seeing is just the backwash from corporate wheeling and dealing. Don't put too much stock in it.

This was one of my first thoughts when I heard about plans to move. I figured Indianapolis must have been trying to do something the Gen Con staff didn't think was right and decided to use some of their weight to threaten leaving to get what they wanted. I for one hope it all works out and that it remains in Indianapolis though.

 

[Psychic Warrior]

Well, besides the coming requirements for passports to travel between the US and Canada, apparently the border isn't too friendly to small businessmen travelling up to the Great White North.

At Gen Con this year, one vendor actually got started on a 10 minute rant while I was at the booth when somebody asked if she'd consider taking her booth to a convention in Canada next year. I then got to hear the story of her being treated horribly by Canadian customs, including having to open every box and package, and catalog everything (which matched up perfectly with the manifest), and it taking hours for a small business vendor going to a convention to make it across the border, and how she swore to never do buisness in Canada again.

Almost sounds as bad as how US customs treats Canadians coming into the US...

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I could have sworn I, too, saw something about GenCon being in Indy next year. For as big as this convention is don't they need to have dates locked in for a few years in advance so merchancts, hotel people etc. can plan?