[CQ-Contest] “You can’t have a Dayton Hamvention in Las Vegas, Nevada,”

[Barry]

Kelly,

That was true 30+ years ago, but the American population has shifted 
south and west.  Look here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrinking_cities_in_the_United_States
Most midwest US cities have lost 40-60% of their population.

NN3W's point about unions in Vegas is well-taken (I lived near Phila for 
many years, and it was the same union problem there that almost 
bankrupted their convention center), but there are probably better 
places to hold Hamvention.  IMO, DARA should have executed their 
"contingency plan" 20 years ago before HARA became the sesspool that it did.

While I had planned to attend Hamvention 2017 (I usually attend every 2 
years or so), I'll be sitting this one out.

Barry W2UP


On 7/30/2016 10:37, Kelly Taylor wrote:
> Dayton succeeded because it was in the heart of the heaviest concentration of hams in North America. Is that still the case?
>
> If so, then a move to Vegas may well kill it.
>
> The vast majority of hams who attend don't fly first class and stay at the Crowne Plaza and likely couldn't afford air fare and hotels in Vegas, which is no longer the sell-rooms-and-food-and-drinks-at-cost-and-make-it-back-in-the-casino destination it once was. It can be damn expensive. Some casinos no longer even comp players with watered-down drinks.
>
> DARA says they're close to signing for a new location near Trotwood anyway, so it seems the discussion is moot.
>
> 73, kelly, ve4xt
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jul 30, 2016, at 11:17 AM, Tom Haavisto <kamham69 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> To me, it boils down to one thing: organization.
>>
>> DARA has been doing this forever and a day.  At this point, it is a well
>> oiled machine.  Pull the binder off the shelf - all your date benchmarks
>> are already in place, and on down the line.
>>
>> It takes a HUGE amount a work on the part of the organizers - expertese not
>> easily moved to another city - even within Ohio.
>>
>>
>> Could Vegas host a major hamvention?  Sure  But that raises the question -
>> why have they not already done so.
>>
>> In my mind, if/when Dayton ever ceases to exist, I see another (already
>> existing) hamvention taking its place - just grow the infrastructure to
>> take up the extra demand.  To start from scratch would take several years
>> to grow to handle such an event.
>>
>> Last, but not least - it is US - the hams who actually GO to Dayton who
>> make it what it is.  If there were a mass move to "go somewhere else" (no -
>> I don't see this happening) - then it would move.  Me - I go for the
>> friendship, and the host city is secondary (in my mind).
>>
>>
>> Just my two cents worth...
>>
>> Tom - VE3CX
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Sat, Jul 30, 2016 at 9:58 AM, Barry <w2up at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> Why not?
>>>
>>> BTW, the quote is from from Ron Cramer, the General Manager of Hamvention,
>>> as quoted in this article:
>>> http://www.whio.com/news/business/hamvention-to-find-new-home-after-hara-arena-annou/nr7C2/
>>>
>>> To me, Vegas has several advantages:
>>>
>>> 1.  Accessible via cheap, non-stop flights from almost anywhere.
>>> 2.  Better, more predictable weather.  No rain.
>>> 3.  Infinite hotel space.
>>> 4.  Plenty of alternate activities for both hams and spouses.
>>>
>>> With no disrespect to those who live in the Dayton area, it is a
>>> depressing, run-down, small city.  There are plenty of better options,
>>> including Vegas.
>>>
>>> Barry W2UP
>>>
>>> ---
>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest


---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus