TOPIC: Interesting Gen Con and Indy are in talks to do...

Donald Rients wrote:

edwin wrote: Major Airline hub and sufficient hotel space nearby is what is needed.

And the convention center being walking distance from the hotels is a must for us. Wipes out Chicago as far as I can tell?

Not knowing Chicago, I didn't realize this. I've been thinking for years as to where GC could move to that would try to fix the housing crunch without losing the benefits of its rough location. Chicago seemed the only location that was both large enough and located in the approximate area. Some place like Houston seems much hotter, less driving friendly. Too far East has similar features.

But, I guess, if you can tolerate the housing situation in Indy, it's actually pretty well set up logistically. The airfares aren't great, but I can live with that.

Don't forget food options for attendees. We have seen GenCon bringing in Food trucks to try and help alleviate the waiting for food. There is quite a few things that go into choosing another place. There are people who fly in from Europe and Asia so I am pretty sure GenCon isn't concerned about being in an airline hub city. IMHO there are only a few places I can think if that would even come close such as Las Vegas and Salt Lake.

I would love to see it in Salt Lake, but I don't think there are big enough conference centers to support it... they have good train system to get downtown from further away hotels, but I can't think of a place that would be big enough, as much as I would like it local to me...

a friend asked if this was perhaps a way for someone to "feel out the need" for another hotel in downtown indy.

I'm going to guess this is a move to better their negotiating position and remain flexible. I know Gencon organization was strongly opposed to some of the new laws of the state, going year by year might make it easier to pull out if they don't like where the state is going. Also as others have said, this might make it easier to leverage new hotel space and the like.

Regarding Chicago, I'm not sure how they'd organize it unfortunately. There are 2 big convention centers I can think of. McCormick Place and Donald E. Stephon's in Rosemont. McCormick has public transportation routes, and a space probably large enough to fill it, but Only one attached hotel, otherwise will need to shuttle in somehow. Utilizing both buildings a McCormick place fully would net twice the square footage of ICC if my numbers are correct.

the Stephen's has only 840,000 square feet so that would be too small despite having more nearby hotels.

Its also encouraging that Marion County, Indianapolis just approved a .25% transportation income tax by 57% to fund more buses, more often and later into the night, as well as three Bus Rapid Transit lines.

That would be awesome for linking the outlying hotels and making getting around Indy easier.

Maybe the constant cry of GenCon against Indy's terrible transit has paid off.
Granted that BRT isn't rail, but its a nice first step.

raptorov wrote: Maybe the constant cry of GenCon against Indy's terrible transit has paid off.
Granted that BRT isn't rail, but its a nice first step.

Trust me, it wasn't Gen Cons cry that cause this to happen. If this comes off well, Hamilton and Johnson counties are next up for the vote. Then you will see some happiness...

Hey Mongo, I have actually been at two different conferences in SL and I think the city could handle GenCon