No. I like Indy.
But the transportation sucks. Infrastructure is important to convention cities, and Indy is ignoring theirs.
And Gencon isnt interested in helping.
I like Indy, if I can get a downtown hotel.
About Las Vegas, there seems to be a lot of not-quite-my-experience being spread. Please note, I am not suggesting moving GenCon to Vegas.
I play table tennis. At least once, and sometimes twice a year the national organization holds a major tournament in Las Vegas, winter and summer, this time it's July 3-8 at the convention center. The "official" hotel is the LINQ, people also stay at other hotels that are cheaper/more expensive/closer/whatever. Rates at the hotel are $59 a night Sunday-Thursday and $139 Friday-Saturday. This does not include the resort fee or taxes. If you sign up through the national organization you get a free monorail pass. The monorail runs every 4-8 minutes and goes from 7AM till 2-3AM every day but Monday. The ride takes 4-5 minutes. The monorail opens up a whole slew of hotel options. I have never needed to rent a car or take a taxi/Uber.
It's very hot outside in the summer! I am indoors almost the entire time, so I don't really pay attention. Many, many junior and cadet boys and girls play in these events. They appear to be unscarred by the unwholesome atmosphere of Sin City, I think mainly because that are either in the hotel, the convention center or eating in a restaurant.
But I just checked the room rates for the LINQ on the GenCon dates for 2017. I went directly to the website, for two adults on August 17th: $56, 18th: $112, 19th:$112, 20th:$31.
"Family friendly" is a subjective opinion, so keep in mind that your opinion is not an unarguable fact to others.
Source: Trivago 5 minutes ago
I just want to point out that wells, gencon322198, your logic is flawed. Prices in Las Vegas for those dates are cheaper, because Gen Con is not happening in Las Vegas on those dates. To find a more accurate representation, is there a 65,000 attendee event happening in Las Vegas in the summer? If so, what are the rates for that? ~Komori
That's a fair point Komori, although nowhere did I present any logic that the prices for August 16-20, 2017 would be the same if gencon were there. Maybe so, maybe not. I simply refuted someone else's assertion that $59 was a fake price.
Someone should identify a timeframe when a large August convention takes place in LV and see how much price gouging actually takes place. Also keep in mind that Gencon might be able to negotiate low in-block rates in LV.
LV has a casino revenue stream that makes them want to encourage visits with low rates, expecting to make it up in gambling.
FYI:
MAGIC Marketplace Fall Show 2017 Las Vegas Convention Center 8/14/2017 8/16/2017 85,000
Linq prices were $70-$75.
August 14-16 is a Monday-Wednesday, yes with an 80,000+ attendee convention (not turnstile). According to Trivago right now, there are nearly 100 hotels with rooms under $100 per night and within 5 miles of the convention for those days. Some under $50 per night. I'd expect if that convention were on Friday/Sat/Sun that prices would be higher, but given the clear abundance of hotel space in LV, perhaps we'd all still be getting rooms around $100 per night. That's a far cry from Gencon right now.
I'm fairly convinced after doing this research that the Las Vegas housing situation is far superior to Indy for a convention the size of Gencon, assuming no overlap of large conventions. That doesn't speak for factors other than housing (temperature, flight, food, convention space, etc.) But housing is Gencon/Indy's biggest problem right now in my opinion.
I'm troubled that the impression being given on this forum is that no other city in the USA could handle Gencon, including that LV housing is a problem. We need to discuss truth and facts and not push personal agendas.
Evidence: trivago.com right now
P.S. - I'm not an advocate of Las Vegas and like Indy. I'm just facing the reality that Indy hotelling and commuting is inferior for Gencon's current size.
I live in Vegas. And I'd rather the convention be in Indy.
But Indy has enormous hotel issues which could be solved by transportation upgrades or Shuttles. But the people in power dont seem to want to fix it.
Vegas obviously could handle Gencon. Gencon (outside) wont be "special" in Vegas, but so what. Inside the convention it will still be special.
Wow, I'm imagining being able to play D&D all day long, then gamble into the night, stumbling wearily back up to my room in the hotel/casino for a few hours sleep before the next day begins. Heck yes, sign me up!
Just putting my two cents worth in.
I love Indy - and I hope it stays there even past 2020!
Four years of lottery - four years of no attached hotel downtown - THROUGH THE BLOCK. Last year my brother paid the out-of-block HHonors rate for the Hampton downtown. This year he also booked through HHonors because it was just easier all around. (I may have to sleep in a chair but that's okay... :) I still go because I still love it. And face it, if you love it, you'll deal with the inconveniences in life. (such as we did the two years we were at Hamptons at the Airport and East Indy) We just coordinated our trips and things were lovely. :)
As to the stay/go - if it goes to Vegas, I don't. I can't afford the airfare. My brother MIGHT but I dunno if he wants to pay to fly either. THE BIGGEST thing I like about Indy is it's location - it's more centrally located - and I daresay people who live in the EASTERN US probably agree that Vegas is a huge commute. (same with Orlando for the west coast people). And I think that's one of the big draws for other people - that Indy is more central than a lot of other cities (and the one city with any decent convention space)
BTW, McCormick Place (the big convention center in Chicago) has ONE attached hotel (a Hyatt, not cheap). Most hotels are about a mile away... and I wouldn't walk it on a bet... (I used to live in the area)
I like Indy - I hope we stay there...
____________________________________________________ Alec Usticke, Unofficial Gen Con Indy Facebook Discussion Group
I have been reading this same debate for years now...GenCon should STAY...GenCon should GO...and so on and so on. Every year the complaint is the same that there is not enough housing space. It surprises me however that the hotels are only viewed for their housing and not their impact to the convention itself (ie; event space) when debating whether GenCon should move or not. With Gencon Indy every hotel is teeming with events and open play areas. Hotels not only dedicate their rooms, and meeting areas to the con but many even partner with different publishers to give you a themed room key or re-do their restaurants in a fantasy theme. IMHO I do not believe hotels in towns such as Vegas or hotels that are not centrally located to the convention space itself would be willing to dedicate this much effort to a convention. We all attend GenCon for the games and the experience of being immersed in a world of fellow gamers who are excited about the same ideas, items, and hobbies. Moving to a large area such as Vegas would eliminate this immersion and break what I feel is a latch-key aspect to the convention. It is one thing to have this immersion inside the 4 walls of the convention center but the carry-over, the on the street conversations or the board games being played at the eateries down the street are what really make it an experience.
There is simply not enough space downtown anymore for convention attendees to stay. Something needs to be done.
(Side Note: I do thoroughly enjoy the forums and the fact that there are soo many passionate people in the GenCon Community to debate these types of topics. I have not been to many other conventions (board gaming or otherwise) but i am hard pressed to believe their attendees would talk with such fervor and passion about the event itself.)