Early Summer Nat'ls reserve info / schedule

[Redblade]

A few links that might prove helpful in your plans for Summer Nationals...

http://www.gwcc.com/calendar/gwcc.html the Georgia World Congress Center events calendar, which shows our event overlaps with a volleyball tourney. Additional info about the GWCC can be back-linked through that page. ... And at http://www.atlanta.net/Visitors/calendarevents.html you can find more events in the area, as well as back-page to info about the city in general.

http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/sch...index-rail.htm Basic map of the MARTA system. You might remember that the USFA event page for Sum.Nats at http://www.usfencing.org/do/contentItem?contentId=638 notes that the MARTA provides light rail between the venue and the preferred hotel (Marriott Marquis).

I've also been told that MARTA hooks up at the airport (on the map noted above, that's rail station S7), which should dramatically cut down on car concerns once you get into town -- just a short walk to reach the rail. However I'm unfamiliar with the area myself, so details here might need to be edited later.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp...%3d&cat=Hotels a Mapquest focus on the venue address and the hotels nearby. My random survey of hotel front desk staff said a MARTA rail station was within one or two blocks. Your own efforts may turn up other details. ... At the bottom of that page, additional page links will extend your hotel search radius.

[little_old_me]

So, any idea when we'll find out specific dates for specific events? I'm working on getting a summer internship and will need to let my employer know what day I'll need off soon. (I'm within a few hours of Atlanta, so it's a day trip for me)

[KD5MDK]

Now that the number of strips is known, it shouldn't be too long.

[Frank Pratt]

I've also been told that MARTA hooks up at the airport (on the map noted above, that's rail station S7), which should dramatically cut down on car concerns once you get into town -- just a short walk to reach the rail. However I'm unfamiliar with the area myself, so details here might need to be edited later.

It does. The airport MARTA station is just off of the baggage claim area. It's just as easy (if not easier) to catch a train as it is to get a taxi or hotel shuttle. There are stations all over the city, and busses that you can take you from the train stations parts of the city that are not served by the trains.

Given MARTA and everything that's in and around the GWCC, I'm thinking that most fencers who come to Atlanta for the Nationals will comfortably be able to do without a rental car (depending on how far away from the metro area you want to go for sightseeing.) There are tons of things to do near the GWCC, including a tour of CNN's Headquarters. I think all of the tourist stuff was discussed in a previous thread.

[Dax]

Yeah, Marta is nice for the atlanta area. I live 30 mins north of ATL so its an easy trip for me aswell. But yeah, most people wont even need a rent-a-car. Atlanta is a big city, and theres plenty of stuff to do and eat.

[Sciurus-Rex]

I forget from last year: How soon might we expect individual weapon event schedules to be posted from the USFA? It would be nice to be able to get airline tickets lined up at a good price and schedule time off at work.

Oh, and FYI, I called some of the hotels nearby to try to reserve a room for a large chunk of days (easy enough to refine that period later to only the dates I really need). I ran into several who said they were full up already. It'll probably be hit and miss.

Sciurus-"The Earlier The Better"-Rex

[Inquartata]

But they may be "full up" because THS and other travel agents have booked large blocks of rooms already, in anticipation of selling them to us ( and others ).

[Sciurus-Rex]

But they may be "full up" because THS and other travel agents have booked large blocks of rooms already, in anticipation of selling them to us ( and others ).

May be. May just be.
May be that monkeys will fly out of your butt and carry you there, too.

... You know. Just speculating. I s'pose I should have confirmed the monkeys thing before I suggested it.

Which is more likely -- travel agents holding blocks of rooms for fencers across the several hotels I checked, or monkeys flying out of Inq's butt and taking him to an event?

[KD5MDK]

50-50, I'd say.

[fatfencer]

Is there any and if so how good is it. Will it be as nice as Sacramento was last year or crappy like the rest of Atlanta in the Summer?

I'm all for the recall. BTW. It's this kind of mindless thing to schedule the National Championships in hell that makes me think there needs to be a recall. (Yes, Yes I've heard the "it's cheaper" argument and it impresses me about as much as my chest protector rant does CvilleFencer).

Nancy Anderson needs to replace the as a smilie. I'm sure she's not personally responsible for the scheduling but she's like an avatar for the USFA. In that sense I think shes personally responsible.

But...I'll take all of the above back IF....IF....IF there is extremely good airconditioning at the venue.

Fatfencer

[Redblade]

REMINDER:

This thread is about Summer Nats travel details. Recall chatter is not appreciated and should not be posted here; it only muddies up the information people are trying to share to help each other.

[JMcC]

Atlanta venue seemed well airconditioned for an NAC held there for the 04/05 season. But admittedly that was in the second week of October.
Given its size (it's huge) and vintage (fairly new,) I suspect the AC will be up to the task even in July.

[JMcC]

Forgot to add;
MARTA rail to and from the airport worked like a champ for us. As I recall, with stops along the way, it took about 30-45 minutes.
You'll just need to determine which stop to get off at for your chosen hotel.

[Frank Pratt]

Is there any and if so how good is it. Will it be as nice as Sacramento was last year or crappy like the rest of Atlanta in the Summer?

I didn't hear of any problems at the Div. I Nationals or the 1996 Olympic Fencing (and Judo, and TKD) competitions, all of which were held at the GWCC during Spring and Summer months, respectively. I doubt that there will be any problems.

The rest of Atlanta (and the Southeast) will indeed be very hot and crappy outside. That's pretty much a guarantee, barring another unpredicted ice age.

[JEC]

Does anybody knows an early schedule for the programs? Even if it is a tentative schedule.

[foilwatcher]

I checked THS a few days ago, and they are already showing out of rooms at the Marriott, and diverting you to the Hilton for $99

[ChrisBrasel]

I've read a few people's reviews on MARTA, it's nice but not at all that sweet. Be prepared to get to the station way way earlier than when your event starts. Trains are supposed to run every 5 minutes, but sometimes you are waiting up to 10. With gear, there is space usually at the end of each train for luggage and some of the older ones have the space in the middle of the train. So with our large equipment bags I usually find myself standing most of my ride around Atlanta. It's 1.75 per trip, so stock up on quarters to make your trip alot more hassle-free, the machines are known to have problems.

If it is late at night, be prepared to wait even longer, about 15-20 minutes per train. And it is usually pretty warm on the trains.

Alright, I'm not *****ing, I'm just trying to make it alittle easier and hope that people will be early so nobody misses their events and such. All I'm saying is be prepared. See everyone there.

[indigoscot]

all,

i got an email from the usfa today regarding dates for the events at summer nationals. they *promise* to have the dates up no later than march 15th, but earlier if they can managed it. the reason for the delay is the board meeting happening after jos.

thanks, and everyone keep their fingers crossed!

g

p.s they didn't just randomly email me, i emailed them first!! <g>

[sjpfencer220]

this is about the ac question. i went there for the div1/yoth in april '04 and the y14/cadet in october '05 and even though it wasnt the middle of summer, the air conditioning was just fine. hopefully nothing has gone drastically wrong since then. ps if anyone who can do something to speed the process up is reading this, then it would be really nice if u could post the summer nationals schedule soon.

[KD5MDK]

Today is a travel day for most people involved in Reno. I know there was a meeting of the tournament committee this weekend at NAC E, but don't know how close to finished they came.