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

[Jim George]

Good points here:

1. Most importantly, the DARA knows how to run the Hamvention, and deserve 
a chance to relocate the facilities.

2. Ohio (and Dayton of course) is perfectly located for a massive flea 
market. That requires driving accessibility for many hundreds of people to 
bring in their treasures and many thousands of others who can drive there 
in one day or less from a large swatch of the East Coast and Midwest.

3. Ohio (and Dayton) appreciate the HamVention. It's a big deal in a 
location that doesn't have that many big deals any longer. There might be 
other locations with better event locals (Columbus, Cincinnati, etc) but 
Dayton has the DARA and that's a proven organizing machine. I don't take 
that capability lightly.

4. Vegas, for all its artificial glint, has plenty of stuff already. The 
Hamvention would be just another event. Vegas is too far from any major 
population centers to ever be able to replicate the vaunted Dayton flea 
markets.

Jim George N3BB

At 11:37 AM 7/30/2016 -0500, 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
> >>
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