WBC 2014

We may have too many rooms at the Host. I'm there Monday - Saturday. Let me know if anyone still need a room.

Looking at the map in this year's Program is leading me to believe that WBC is growing out of the Host's capacity. There's an Overflow Area designated for open gaming and apparently some of the tournament space will be dedicated to open gaming for part of the week as well. Those of us here may want to pick our location so we can avoid wandering unintentionally into a game of Le Havre.

S.

The overflow open gaming area was there last year too. Not many people used it, but it is bigger than the normal and better lit IMO.

I will be there for the week, ready for a game or attempting to tan my incredibly alabaster skin by the pool.

I'll be the very mellow (xanaxed out) lobster hanging out outside or chillin by the bar.

BTW, Sag: you are right. WBC sounds like they'll be changing hotels in 2016.

Mr. Sample: do you know anything, and is it a secret until the WBC meeting?

Contract is up for renewal. Chances are The Host will get it again.

All I know is that the contract is up for 2016, and the final two candidates are the Host and a site TBA ( and will never be known if we do return to the Host ) . I'd put the chances at 50/50 it goes back to the Host. Like it or not, WBC has certain needs ( tons of space, more non round tables than most hotels have, cheap whiny gamers, abundant nearby lodging ) that when combined with the stated goal of staying within the mid Atlantic area, weed out most facilities. Fact of the matter is that there ain't a lot out there that fit the criteria and the convention is at such a size that if it gets much bigger, short of capping attendance you're left dealing with full on urban convention centers. Historicon almost went that route, their membership revolted to a proposed move to the Baltimore downtown area, and now they are in the relatively hard to get to Fredericksburg area. Many of their members would love to return to the Host believe it or not.

I do understand that whatever the next site is, the contract will have an opt out clause if certain conditions are not met.

I like the Host personally. It's just starting to get a bit tight.

While I don't like the Host per se, I do realize it serves its stated purpose ( unlike the idiots who want Four Seasons lodging at Red Roof rates ) . As far as space, if they would shift the dedicated Open gaming area to the Expo Center and use the auditorium for overflow towards the end of the week, I think the space issues would be resolved. However this has been met with a lot of resistance by the dedicated open gamers who feel like they are being marginalized by being asked to walk an extra couple hundred feet.

Tournament space has never been an issue IMO, or not any more than any other con I've been too. Gamers are like packing a suitcase - they'll fill any space you give them.

Gaming at the Host is fine, and the Expo Center is a fine solution to expansion IMHO. I just won't lodge at the Host, or for the most part eat at their hotel. I will drink at the bar.

Any hotel that has to accommodate this many gamers will end up having a love-hate relationship with us at some point. Might as well be the hotel we are used to.

It's a great venue if you're looking to get outside or do some shopping or sightsee. Unfortunately most gamers will gladly give up a trip on a 120 year old locomotive to get one more game of 7 Wonders in, and I think many people there never even come out of the front door.

A downtown venue might give you more to do, but it's more likely the alternative would be Hunt Valley or some other vanilla mid-suburb business park where you have to drive to damn near everything. And the room would be $145 a night.

S.