Schmitz Posted July 31, 2016 Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 (edited) Don, I appreciate your comment. Your link didn't take me anywhere so it seems to be down, but I would suggest that you are looking at city populations and not metropolitan areas. Pete, not sure what happened with the link, it was to a Census Bureau page, I'll try again: https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/2010popdistribution.html There are some better maps out there, but be careful if you go web surfing, as a few of them seem to be used as bait on spam sites. Take a look at your list of metro-areas and consider that Boston-NewYork-Philadelphia-Arlington-DC is basically one big metro-area, and that is 4 of the top-10 on your list. Chicago is the #3 metro area, and comparable to LA all by itself. More importantly, in between are a few top-25 cities that are better places to actually hold a Nats; LA/SF are handicapped by having nowhere big to draw from except each other (guess we could shoot for a Nats in San Luis Obispo). Don Edited July 31, 2016 by Schmitz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteJ Posted August 1, 2016 Report Share Posted August 1, 2016 Don, What I found interesting was that the LA was divided from the San Bernardino-Riverside area. I've driven around both and I'll be darned if I can pick out a separation. Your Boston-New York-Philly-DC area is very similar to the Ventura-LA-Irvine-Pasadena- San Bernardino-Riverside-Carlsbad-Escondido - San Diego- Chula Vista area. The only thing separating any of that area is Camp Pendleton. Truth be told you could also throw Tijuana into the mix as we do draw some modelers from there for our events. I suspect that numbers would be similar. Oh, and I have spent a lot of time in both areas. I have a sister in Philly, Daughter in Baltimore and my wife's family is from Baltimore. I don't know how many times I have driven up and down the east coast. My Mother was a Vermonter so I am also familiar with New England. I've lived in SoCal now for 28 years so I think I can draw some valid comparisons to both areas. As I mentioned, probably the best location for San Francisco, LA San Diego is Las Vegas. Between 4 and 8 hours drive from any place and certainly an easy draw for those Metro location. On top of that Vegas is inexpensive in so many ways(food and lodging), has a wide variety of entertainment both family and other and it is within driving distance of all of California, Utah, Nevada and Colorado. All the hotels and resorts really are very experience in handling conventions. There are a ton of options from the opulent to the economical. It is really a great location for a model contest. I hope they pick it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmitz Posted August 1, 2016 Report Share Posted August 1, 2016 (edited) As I mentioned, probably the best location for San Francisco, LA San Diego is Las Vegas. Between 4 and 8 hours drive from any place and certainly an easy draw for those Metro location. ... All the hotels and resorts really are very experience in handling conventions. I've been to Las Vegas a couple times (once with my family on the way to seeing relatives in AZ, and once when work was paying for it) and I'm sure it will work. I'm not much of a gambler, so the casinos didn't really excite me (and the shows and restaurants outside of the casinos were not all that cheap). As you said, one of the great things about places like Vegas and Orlando is that there are lots of venues that can hold a convention, and lots of restaurants and attractions, and that competition keeps the prices down. I'm not sure that truly makes for a good convention as the theme-parks and casinos distract people from the show. I've taken my family to Orlando for a Nats twice, and I spent less time at the show or talking models at the hotel bar just because I was spending time with my wife and kids. I get it that combining a Nats with a family vacation is the only way a lot of people can make it, but I have to say I really liked the Loveland show where the hotel (and a small shopping plaza) was all you could see in all directions. Don Edited August 1, 2016 by Schmitz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roktman Posted August 1, 2016 Report Share Posted August 1, 2016 As I mentioned, probably the best location for San Francisco, LA San Diego is Las Vegas. Between 4 and 8 hours drive from any place and certainly an easy draw for those Metro location. ... All the hotels and resorts really are very experience in handling conventions. I've been to Las Vegas a couple times (once with my family on the way to seeing relatives in AZ, and once when work was paying for it) and I'm sure it will work. I'm not much of a gambler, so the casinos didn't really excite me (and the shows and restaurants outside of the casinos were not all that cheap). As you said, one of the great things about places like Vegas and Orlando is that there are lots of venues that can hold a convention, and lots of restaurants and attractions, and that competition keeps the prices down. I'm not sure that truly makes for a good convention as the theme-parks and casinos distract people from the show. I've taken my family to Orlando for a Nats twice, and I spent less time at the show or talking models at the hotel bar just because I was spending time with my wife and kids. I get it that combining a Nats with a family vacation is the only way a lot of people can make it, but I have to say I really liked the Loveland show where the hotel (and a small shopping plaza) was all you could see in all directions. Don While I have a old friend in Mission Viejo, CA and relatives in Gilbert AZ., I'm actually hoping that it's in Vegas myself. I was going to take my wife to Vegas for her 40th birthday - Sept. 23, 2001. But unfortunately 9/11 happened and as a surviving firefighter, I wasn't going anywhere but Ground Zero. We cancelled our Bellagio suite (yep I was doing it up) as well as all the shows (we're not gamblers either), and with a son born 1.5 years later, we never made it there. Bit as you said Loveland was nice too. we found the outrageously detailed model train museum a town or two to the east, and even thought we were incredibly lost traveling dirt roads to see the Twin Buttes! we got there and saw them. So I guess I' rooting for any city, town village outside of the NY/NJ metro area where I grew up and live. I'm sure I can find attractions to keep the family happy, besides the Con, anywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmhayward Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 Chattanooga could be interesting. Great area of the Country. Vegas would be a good one, but we would have to not take pictures and pretend nothing happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmhayward Posted August 7, 2016 Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 from the the facebook feed. 2018 went to Arizona i.e. Phoenix is assume 2019 Chattanooga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmorrissette Posted August 7, 2016 Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 Correct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmhayward Posted August 7, 2016 Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 (edited) Already planning my OCD based building for 2019. Aiming to enter three, but if I get one actually completed, mission accomplished. Edited August 7, 2016 by pmhayward 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandallCox Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Columbia did an excellent job. The location in a college town, with literally dozens, if not a hundred eating establishments within three blocks, was a real gem. i think weve all been to a few where nothing was close or open, save the overpriced hotel kitchen. Columbia, you can host this anytime, in my book!!! Well done. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteJ Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Hummm, two years to get ready for Phoenix? Ok, I think I can get at least one model ready by then. Got a couple in the works that should be worthy. See y'all there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRechlicz Posted August 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 What are the dates for the Pheonix and Chattanooga conventions? Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 I don't recall the exact dates, but Phoenix is late July (before school), and the Chattanooga dates are early August I believe. GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcorley Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 IIRC.... Phoenix is July 25-28 Chattanooga is Aug 7-10But don't quote me, there were five bids and multiple dates for 4 (I think only Las Vegas had a 2018 only bid, but San Antonio might have - it's all a sleep deprived blur after judging the night before) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvanschoonhoven Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 The dates for the shows are: Phoenix July 31 - August 4 2018 Chattanooga August 7 - 10 2019 Corrected the dates. Still suffering from convention lag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RONBO Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Chattanooga 2019 I think is the correct dates. A month of National conventions that would be a kick butt fun. But at my age I am not sure I could handle all that excitement. Tho I am willing to give it a shot. Just like France take the whole month of August off. Model stuff all day and night for 30 days. Just kidding here. Ronbo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmhayward Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 A European vacation of modelling. Does that mean we can lay on a beach in a Speedo and model while working on a tan....I'm in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Nardone Posted August 9, 2016 Report Share Posted August 9, 2016 Columbia did an excellent job. The location in a college town, with literally dozens, if not a hundred eating establishments within three blocks, was a real gem. i think weve all been to a few where nothing was close or open, save the overpriced hotel kitchen. Columbia, you can host this anytime, in my book!!! Well done. Thanks so much. I have another post to another thread--we had lots of help. One thing that I told the rest of the committee when we won the bid was that most IPMS guys would love the fact that we were walking distance from The World of Beer, The Flying Saucer, Moriarty's Irish Pub, The Liberty Tap Room, The Hickory Tavern, and many other beer joints... :) Ralph 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Aldrich Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 Mrs. Treadhead is already planning Phoenix. She wanted to do Omaha again but we have to be in Maine during the convention dates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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