Milwaukee Journal Sentinel GenCon article

[Ghostwind]

I think folks will be pleased with Indianapolis after they've had the chance to experience GenCon there. Indy has always been very friendly towards dealing with large crowds. Just ask anyone who goes to NCAA tournament games there, especially Final Four. There are lots of things to do that are nearby and some really first rate hotel accomodatons. All in all, I think most folks will be quite satisfied with Indianapolis next year.

 

[General Lopez]

Where is the convention going to be held in Indianapolis? What are the best hotels to stay in down there that connect to the convention. Just planning for next year.

 

[Nikchick]

Ha! You think Indianapolis could handle that size fair?

Eventually, if GenCon is going to become the best it can become, this convention will have to move to a convetion city, like San Diego, Anaheim, or Las Vegas (all convention cities that I know about, living on the west coast, though I am sure there are convention cities on the east coast as well).

Indianapolis is just a stop-gap measure, in my opinion.

Having actually been to Essen and having seen some of WotC's numbers (I'm on the Board of Directors for GAMA, and attended meetings with the Wizards of the Coast event staff during the transition from WotC managing the show to GAMA managing the show) I completely disagree with Mistwell on this one.

Indianapolis was not chosen on a whim and, imho, the reasons for going with Indianapolis are sound and do offer the opportunity for growth. Essen is no San Diego, Anaheim, or Las Vegas and it's still able to host over 100,000 rabid game-playing Germans. Central location and reasonable costs for exhibitors go a long way.

Tradition be damned, if people have to stay 37 miles away from the event, the function has outgrown its location. Better to move it!

Just my humble opinion,
Nicole

 

[Vanye]

Well, I know I'm happy about the move, since it will be an easy drive for me.

But personal convenience aside, if Milwaukee isn't big enough to handle GenCon anymore, staying would actually be a bad business decision.

The one thing that I've always had a problem with is that GenCon is ALWAYS at the time the State Fair is. Or at least it has been the last six years, when I started going. I don't know if they didn't want to hold it later, when more kids might be in school, or if there were other reasons not to do it, but when the State Fair is going on, that's going to be eating into the available hotel space too....

 

[Ghostwind]

Indianapolis Information Sources

Where is the convention going to be held in Indianapolis? What are the best hotels to stay in down there that connect to the convention. Just planning for next year.

Check out these sites for information on Indianapolis:

http://www.indy.org
http://www.iccrd.com/

 

[machine]

I'm sure Indianapolis has a paper that will write a story or two about the event there.

Uh, I'm not so sure about the 'friendly' Indianapolis newspaper thing... My 'left-leaning side' has reservations on the Star saying nice things about gaming given it's right-leaning political stance, IMO.

I will be attending GenCon in 2003 as it is only a 3 hour drive from my home, I can find a hotel there, and I'm fairly familiar with the downtown area.

 

[Mistwell]

Mistwell:

Indy is becoming a convention city, if it isn't already. They made a conscious decision about 20 years ago to improve facilities to handle large conventions and other gatherings of people. The Indy 500 each year has - what - 400,000 attending? I think Indianapolis can handle it. Heck, even if Gencon reached 50,000 people attending, I would be beside myself.

Fair enough. Like I said earlier, I am not really familiar with Indy. I've been to St. Louis, and think it would make a bad location. I've heard all about Louisville, and didn't think it would make a very good location either. But if Indy has become a convention city, because of the yearly race, then more power to moving it there. I might actually go, if the airport has reasonable direct flights from the west coast.

 

[buzzard]

Uh, I'm not so sure about the 'friendly' Indianapolis newspaper thing... My 'left-leaning side' has reservations on the Star saying nice things about gaming given it's right-leaning political stance, IMO.

Ahh yes, the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (TM).
Be careful, they might come for your children as well.

Buzzard

 

[Fiery James]

I think, really, the only fair compromise is to move the whold damn thing to Toronto.

Who wouldn't love that?

(I can only imagine being able to sleep at my house each night!)

- James

 

[alsih2o]

my brother owns a cigar and martinin bar in indianapolis called p.s. o'rourkes...he has promised a discount for anyone who shows up there next year jnowing my real name,,,

i told him gamers were coming to town, he said "creative folk with basic math sklls? send 'em on!"

he doesn't game, but he is rp friendly!