[TimG]

JanM, on Dec 29 2008, 09:13 PM, said:

How much difference does it make to the "discretionary" players when there isn't one site where all the games are played? I'd think it would be something of a problem, since I suspect that the "discretionary" players are more likely to want to play in the NABC events but then if they get eliminated would tend to want to play in the Regional events rather than kibitz the NABC events. That might have been a problem with Boston.

This may be a problem in some cases, but in Boston the two sites were connected. And, some of the regional events were in the "NABC" hotel.

Then again, maybe people did not know they were connected and this did affect their decision on whether to attend.

[jdonn]

TimG, on Dec 28 2008, 11:44 AM, said:

matmat, on Dec 28 2008, 09:47 AM, said:

wonder if the cell phone ban had any influence on this at all.

Josh wasn't in Boston, was he? That accounts for -1.

Haha. I have to admit that almost nothing makes a difference for me, for example the (stupid) phone thing will never stop me from going. If I have the time to go and feel like paying, I'll go. If not I won't. I don't care very much at all where it is, which I admit is probably an unusual viewpoint. I probably have gone to about 60% since I started attending them. I have also been quite fortunate to once in 2004 and once in 2008 been living within easy commuting distance of the city of the NABC.

[Vilgan]

Our group of friends was considering it. While we only made a difference of like 50-60 tables, I imagine we were not unique in our decision making process.

Reasons for not going to the fall NABC this year:

1) It was Boston
2) Economy
3) Dislike for fall schedule (the events themselves, not the fact it hit thanksgiving)

The main reason we didn't go is the fact it was in Boston. Had it been in a more accessible or nice place there is a good chance we would have gone. Boston in late November? No thank you. Also: the prices in Boston are wretched. Dallas, Nashville, St. Louis, Vegas: all these places we found hotels for $30 to $50 a night. We had no such luck in Boston. It was looking like plane tickets would be $300 a person and hotels for $100 a night (although the hassle made the host hotels seem like a decent deal at $135). Heck, I went to the Hawaii NABC and only spent $950ish for hotel (nice one!) and air fare for the tournament. Paying more to go to Boston in a crappy/nasty time of year just did not appeal.

The economy was definitely an additional thing. We were already pretty unhappy about Boston prices, but the idea of paying a fortune for a national just as everyone's stocks torpedoed pretty much sealed the deal.

The third and less relevant factor was a general dislike of the fall tournament schedule. No national KO events and only 1 pair event in the middle instead of 2. If the fall schedule was a copy of the summer schedule (which it obviously won't be.. I know) we'd definitely give more consideration to fall nationals. As it is, there is already a preference amongst probably half of our group for mostly just considering Spring/Summer nationals.

I dunno, maybe we are unique but I doubt it.. and I bet there were many people who were also turned off by the fact it was Boston who would have gone to a different location.

[JoAnneM]

Unfortunately ACBL has to book most of its tournaments "offseason" to get the best prices, and a venue for 10 days. So, Boston and Pittsurgh in winter, D.C. in the summer, etc.

[cherdano]

Wow, Fall NABC not attractive? Blue Ribbon and Reisinger would be my most favorite events to play in.

[uday]

Best hotel prices for us all or best playing-space prices? I always assumed that the hotels threw in the playing areas "for free."