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<blockquote data-quote="JohnNephew" data-source="post: 119632" data-attributes="member: 2171">I think you may have some misperceptions about the size and distributions of US population and population densities.The state of California, for example, has a large population -- but it's also a large state.&nbsp; Looking at a Census Bureau map, it appears to have the similar population density to Indiana and surrounding states (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, etc.).&nbsp; And those states have the advantage of being a more circular area, rather than a long and thin one.&nbsp; (How long is the drive from SF to San Diego?)Here's one way to look at it: Compare California to Indiana and its two next-door neighbors, Ohio and Illinois.&nbsp; CaliforniaLand Area: 156k sq. milesPopulation: 33.9 millionDensity: 217/sq. mi.Indiana + Illinois + OhioLand Area: 133k sq. milesPopulation: 29.9 million Density: 225/sq. mi.(All my numbers are taken from the 2000 Census -- at <a href="http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/" target="_blank">http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/</a> -- with some rounding for convenience.)Of course, people would come from neighboring states, not just California, but the wider you cast the net the better the Midwest looks.&nbsp; After all, the population density in Nevada is 18.2 persons per square mile (less than 1/10 those Midwestern states'!), and Arizona has a whopping 45.2/sq. mi.&nbsp; In contrast, Indiana neighbors that could be added to the mix are the likes of Michigan with 175, or even the relatively sparsely settled hills of Kentucky with 102!Historically, West Coast game conventions just can't get the size that the Midwest and East Coast can.&nbsp; (Yes, there's the San Diego Comic Con -- but in the east there is the Chicago Comic Con as well as Dragon Con, Gen Con, and Origins.)&nbsp; I'm pretty sure WotC studied the issue before deciding on Indianapolis; I know that GAMA did before choosing Columbus, Ohio, as a permanent site for Origins after a decade of failure in moving it from place to place (including west coast venues like LA and San Jose).</blockquote>

[QUOTE="JohnNephew, post: 119632, member: 2171"] I think you may have some misperceptions about the size and distributions of US population and population densities. The state of California, for example, has a large population -- but it's also a large state. Looking at a Census Bureau map, it appears to have the similar population density to Indiana and surrounding states (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, etc.). And those states have the advantage of being a more circular area, rather than a long and thin one. (How long is the drive from SF to San Diego?) Here's one way to look at it: Compare California to Indiana and its two next-door neighbors, Ohio and Illinois. California Land Area: 156k sq. miles Population: 33.9 million Density: 217/sq. mi. Indiana + Illinois + Ohio Land Area: 133k sq. miles Population: 29.9 million Density: 225/sq. mi. (All my numbers are taken from the 2000 Census -- at [url]http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/[/url] -- with some rounding for convenience.) Of course, people would come from neighboring states, not just California, but the wider you cast the net the better the Midwest looks. After all, the population density in Nevada is 18.2 persons per square mile (less than 1/10 those Midwestern states'!), and Arizona has a whopping 45.2/sq. mi. In contrast, Indiana neighbors that could be added to the mix are the likes of Michigan with 175, or even the relatively sparsely settled hills of Kentucky with 102! Historically, West Coast game conventions just can't get the size that the Midwest and East Coast can. (Yes, there's the San Diego Comic Con -- but in the east there is the Chicago Comic Con as well as Dragon Con, Gen Con, and Origins.) I'm pretty sure WotC studied the issue before deciding on Indianapolis; I know that GAMA did before choosing Columbus, Ohio, as a permanent site for Origins after a decade of failure in moving it from place to place (including west coast venues like LA and San Jose). [/QUOTE]

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