Since Gen Con is moving to Indiana, what will Wisconsin be left with?

[adndgamer]

I know there're a number of Wisconsin gamers on these boards...

What will we poor Wisconsinites do when Gen Con leaves? Some of us will find it difficult to travel to Indiana (of course, the same could be argued that many have trouble making it to Milwaukee..) to attend Gen Con. Will there be any other big cons filling its place?

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Will there be any other big cons filling its place?

No.

Most people that would make up a big con will be in Indianapolis. Any con that tries to fill the void will be (relatively) small.

The Milwaukee "business community" does not want GenCon (or anything similar) in Milwaukee. Well, their stupidity and short-sightedness is, unfortunately, our loss.

On the up side, as much as I want to hate Indy-yawn-apolis, I keep hearing good things about it as a "convention-friendly" city. Just don't know if I'll spend the money to go to GenCon in 2003+ - I'm cheap and that housing and food really adds to the cost.

If I don't go, we can have NOT(Gen)Con at my house in 2003. We'll have a vendor room (a card table in the living room where I will sell "Castle Greyhawk" and a ton of unpainted minis), a gaming area (the dining room table), and speakers (4 total - two attached to the computer, and two attached to the stereo). Then we'll auction off my "Deities & Demigods" (w/Cthulhu) for the auction, have an autograph session with Paddy McFest (official mascot of Milwaukee Irish Fest--he's the only celebrity I know). And badges will have your names on them!

 

[CrazyMage]

We'll have to console ourselves with lots of beer, brats and cheese.
Mmmmm, cheese...

On the other hand, it really does stink.

 

[Black Omega]

Re: Re: Since Gen Con is moving to Indiana, what will Wisconsin be left with?

The Milwaukee "business community" does not want GenCon (or anything similar) in Milwaukee. Well, their stupidity and short-sightedness is, unfortunately, our loss.

Sad but true. Unfriendly, arrogent. And the way they were gouging people traveling to the con was ridiculous. That part ofthe con I won't be missing at all.

On the up side, as much as I want to hate Indy-yawn-apolis, I keep hearing good things about it as a "convention-friendly" city. Just don't know if I'll spend the money to go to GenCon in 2003+ - I'm cheap and that housing and food really adds to the cost.

Heard some nasty comments from Milwaukee people. Though the most venomous tended to boil down to "Wah! We have to pay for room and food like everyone else now, wah!" Tradition aside, Indy should be a much better place for Gencon.

 

[Mixmaster]

I've been going to GenCon since 1980 and I think I've only missed one or two years since it moved to Milwaukee.

I am going to really miss Milwaukee.

Why??

Bratwursts: esp Usingers. I haven't found anything as good anywhere.

The State Fair: A New Yorker looking at pig and cow judging, cheese tasting, the wine garden, the cream puffs, the corn.

Milwaukee Brewers: Their old ballpark was charming, and their new ballpark is nice also.

Brown Deer GC: A PGA level course without having to mortgage my house for green fees.

State Street Brewery: Scotch eggs & Root beer are the best.

Butch's Casino Steak House (also the Clock when it was around):
great Black Angus steaks.

Havana Cigar Bar: Mojitos & salsa dancing; what a combination.

Miller Brewing Plant & Harley Davidson: Fun, fun, fun. (and I don't have a motorcycle or drink beer (much)).

It's a change of scenery, of people (friendly & nice), of weather (rarely hot or rainy, sunny with deep blue skies).

I don't come just for GEN CON anymore, I make it for a wk-10 days. I've never been disappointed and I'm always saddened when I have to leave.

I will miss you Milwaukee. Thank you for having me all these years.

 

[Doc_Souark]

never been

The few times I've had the money to go to GenCon something always messed it up, Indianapolis is closer to me by about 6 hours or so. Not 2003 but maybe the next one I'll be able to go unless a certin pair of Troll Lords need a flunky to carry their bags that is . I work cheap Steve !

Just what did the business community have against Gencon and gamers anyway ? Seems like they would like the 100,000 + extra folks in town( and their money), or was it we were too weird for them ?

 

[Roland Delacroix]

Yeah, I've heard they wanted to drive GenCon out but I can't see why they'd want to get rid of all that income. Whats up?

 

[Dinkeldog]

It's too bad they didn't just move it to Chicago. It moves from a day trip to a dedicated weekend for most of the Chicago crowd.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Re: never been

The few times I've had the money to go to GenCon something always messed it up, Indianapolis is closer to me by about 6 hours or so. Not 2003 but maybe the next one I'll be able to go unless a certin pair of Troll Lords need a flunky to carry their bags that is . I work cheap Steve !

Just what did the business community have against Gencon and gamers anyway ? Seems like they would like the 100,000 + extra folks in town( and their money), or was it we were too weird for them ?

GenCon isn't the "image" they wanted to portray.

And I don't think it was really 100,000 people. More like 30,000?

I believe with the economy going like gangbusters a few years ago, they seized the opportunity to let it slip away, thinking they didn't need the business. For business people, they certainly didn't seem to understand

• the cyclical nature of the economy
• the benefit of a loyal customer base
• the importance of a diverse customer base (i.e., not all conventions need to be "business professionals" or huge nationally known groups (like the VFW))

A few years ago, they (the Midwest Express Center nimrods) lost a local ethnic festival. They have no sense of tradition, the fools.

 

[Dracolich]

Well, as a Tennessean I'm happy. I never been to Gencon cause it was too far to drive. But, Indy is a lot closer and I definately plan to attend in 2003.