Why is there no Gen-Con East, anyhow?

[WizarDru]

Perhaps this has been answered before, and I've missed it....but this has bugged me for a while. I understand why GenCon got it's start where it did, and the reasons it remains in the region it does. No problem, there. I wouldn't want Gencon to move.

But the announcement of GenCon in SoCal irked me a tad....not because SoCal shouldn't have a GenCon, but because I would expect that the confluence of the New England and Mid-Atlantic states would have more than a sizable population of gamers to make a similar event on the East Coast a success.

Knowing that, by and large, the WotC folks and Peter Adkinson have a general clue about things (flawed switchovers notwithstanding), I'm curious why it hasn't been put forth or done.

Is it because the existing convention circuit on the East Coast is too big and established already? I can believe that, but I expected the same to be true of the west coast. For every DragonCon, there's a San Diego Comic Con. Is it because of the relatively close proximity to WotC's offices in Seattle...are they relatively close? Is it a cost issue? I can understand that, too...but it seems to me that holding a convention in, say, Baltimore's Inner Harbor (which is where I'm going for Otakon 2004 in two weeks time) wouldn't be that expensive (or at least not moreso than Anaheim, CA).

Thoughts or Information?

 

[Calico_Jack73]

I've wondered that myself... :\

 

[DClingman]

Hmmm, well no slight to anyone, but this Florida boy thinks its related to the number of gamers in the midwest. Besides, we do have a number of awesome east coast cons including MegaCon, DragonCon, Tri*Noc*Con and others. You just have to get out there. You might not see as many gamers at DragonCon, but its a great time to be sure.

Dustin

 

[mhensley]

There used to be a Gencon South held in Jacksonville, FL. I went to one probably around 1983. Good times, good times...

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

Cost maybe?

I think as a rule it probably costs more to hold a convention on the East coast. And getting the space when you want it would be hard too, as the east coast is a very popular place for conventions.

I'm just guessing but it seems like a possibility.

 

[WizarDru]

Hmmm, well no slight to anyone, but this Florida boy thinks its related to the number of gamers in the midwest. Besides, we do have a number of awesome east coast cons including MegaCon, DragonCon, Tri*Noc*Con and others. You just have to get out there. You might not see as many gamers at DragonCon, but its a great time to be sure.

Well, that's just the thing: there are plenty of literature and media-based SF conventions, some anime conventions and the like...but few real gaming conventions. I really don't think that the number of gamers on the east coast is the issue. Population density alone should compensate for that....many of Gencon's attendants come long distances to attend: just look at the ENWorld members who are going from Brooklyn, Boston, Maryland, Virginia and up and down the eastern seabord. DragonCon is a big convention, and it does have a gaming schedule, but I would classify it as being in the South, not the East. I'm not sure that Atlanta is considerably closer than Minneapolis, from Philadelphia.

 

[DaveMage]

I'd be happy to attend Gen*Con Florida.

 

[Bretbo]

My memory may be flawed, but I recall Origins was held (at least occasionaly) in Baltimore. I attended a Con called Origins in the late 80's; is it the same Con as the current Origins? It, obviously, moved; does anyone know why?

 

[Buttercup]

I'd say Djeta is correct. I've been to various work related conventions on the East Coast, and the cost is prohibitive. Heck, even San Francisco was cheaper than NYC. This would be a bigger issue for hobby related conventions than for professional organizations, since the attendees have to pay for GenCon out of their own pockets.

 

[drothgery]

It's a lot more practical to drive to Indy from the northeast or the south than it is from the West, so I'd think that if they're only adding one new show, it should be in the region where it's hardest to get to the old one.

Atlanta to Indy is a 8.5 hr drive (according to mapquest).
Boston to Indy is 14.5 hr drive.

LA to Indy is a 31 hour drive.