Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Wise-Epeeist · 02-10-2008, 04:15 PM

A regional event held at a hotel convention center? I don't see that very often.

Redblade · 02-14-2008, 01:10 PM

The venue is immediately off of the Interstate, where I-35 and I-40 briefly overlap.

If you're coming from Texas on I-35, you'll turn right/east at the interchange and take Exit 127. ... If you're coming from the north, it's also Exit 127, but it looks a little different on the Google map. (I strongly suggest Google; the map is very clear.) ... Driving east on I-40 from the west, it's also Exit 127.

If you're driving west from the east (also I-40), it's a little bit different: Exit 153 onto Reno. But if you miss that exit, just wait to turn around and look for Exit 127 coming from the other direction.

The Bricktown Hotel is at MLK and E. Reno Ave., which is the main street into the Bricktown entertainment district a little more than a mile away (highlighted on Google map as the "Bricktown Ballpark.") That means a *very* short drive from the hotel to lots of restaurants and bars and a multi-screen movie theater on the canal.

The competition itself will be held in a comfortable 10,000 square feet of ballroom space at the hotel. The hotelier was very generous in arranging this for our sport. We hope you enjoy the visit.

Redblade · 02-19-2008, 01:45 PM

HOTEL INFORMATION:
Bricktown Hotel & Convention Center
2001 E. Reno Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73117
(405) 235-1647

I just called to confirm we have a block of rooms set aside for the event. The reservations receptionist said the keyword "FENCING" should let them find the necessary listing in their database. (You might try "OZ" also.) The rooms have been discounted, but I don't know for how long.

Redblade · 03-14-2008, 01:09 AM

(bump - event approaching)

Mr Epee · 03-14-2008, 04:22 AM

Bump... and fencers aren't attending...

Event is expensive an the competition ....

Look at the roster.... is that a competition worth 55 bucks... ????

No.

Is that a competition worth the late fees.... Oh hell no.

What fencers are the host club providing....????

What fencers has the host club sent to other comps throughout the year....

sabregrrrl · 03-14-2008, 02:15 PM

you're wrong.

The host club has a couple of great sabre fencers that regularly compete in local and sectional events. It's also a small club, so they aren't able to provide the great (epee) talent you appear to be looking for....but they put on a great tournament, complete with qualified, competent referees. That's more than can be said for other tournaments.

If everyone has your attitude, then why even bother trying to set up tournaments at all? If everyone that could come did, then tournaments would be bursting at the seams. They aren't. It's because of attitudes like yours.

I am tired of hearing how the "great fencers" won't set foot into a tournament unless it's worth their time. Others like me are trying to build it up as best we can without them. We have to. We're starting to do a good job of it, at least in WS in the Southwest Section. So we'll fence each other like crazy, build up our talent ourselves without help from the "greats" and then kick your butts when you do finally decide to show up.

grrrr.....

teamusaepee · 03-14-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabregrrrl

I am tired of hearing how the "great fencers" won't set foot into a tournament unless it's worth their time. Others like me are trying to build it up as best we can without them. We have to. We're starting to do a good job of it, at least in WS in the Southwest Section. So we'll fence each other like crazy, build up our talent ourselves without help from the "greats" and then kick your butts when you do finally decide to show up.

Ok, well, I am great and I am coming! lol

Seriously, though not every 'great fencer' feels that way... a lot of times it comes down to time and money and busy tournament schedules. Although I do agree that we need a broader base of talent (i.e., rated fencers C and higher - to have more opportunities for everyone in terms of ratings).... that's one reason I have been trying to get higher foil/saber ratings. I usually attend the SSCCs anyway, and I will be able to better contribute to the rating pool.

Don't know why their fees are the highest of any of the SSCC tournaments this year...though I would guess that it is because they are trying to put on a quality tournament that historically has low'er' attendance. They do send people to the other tournaments, they just don't have as many. I do agree that we should try to support the smaller divisions if we can.

Mr Epee · 03-14-2008, 05:15 PM

It's nice and good to talk about the desire to grow tournaments.... but when the expense of an event is out of whack with the experience of the event.... then it is the attitude of the organizers that is damaging the tournament attendence.... not my attitude. Look, I've attended more weak tournaments than you can shake a stick at.... but it'll be a cold day in hell before I pay $55 bucks for a single quality bout. I don't need hotels and convention centers.

As of this moment (after the close of "cheap" registration), we are talking about an event that includes 7 E Rated events and what may turn out to be a baby A event in the Men's Epee.

Should we blame the fencers should we blame the organizers?

Redblade · 03-17-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Epee

It'll be a cold day in hell before I pay $55 bucks for a single quality bout.

I'm sure the organizers -- and all fencers in the Southwest Circuit, for that matter -- will take note of your absence. Thank you for sharing.

Redblade · 03-17-2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabregrrrl

If everyone has your attitude, then why even bother trying to set up tournaments at all? If everyone that could come did, then tournaments would be bursting at the seams. They aren't. It's because of attitudes like yours.

The egos of "great" fencers aside...

It probably doesn't help that there's a major event being held directly to the north (Kansas) on that same weekend; a SWIFA event is sapping the college fencers scheduled at the same time; this is the final SSCC event for the season so a lot of fencers have either given up or are happy with their point totals; and Oklahoma City usually has a hard time attracting peers to travel from the densely packed far-southern Texas.

I'm not sure why someone would feel it necessary to discount or insult the event. Especially when the individual wasn't going to come anyway. It serves no good purpose.

Mr Epee · 03-17-2008, 03:18 PM

Just a couple years back this event was close to 50 entries in the Men's Epee - (with nearly half the fencers being A's/B's, iirc)

The event has been in massive decline and clearly it's not just the best fencers who are avoiding the event. This year's event is more expensive, a third the size, and severely lacks quality competition...

It's sad that you think the answer is to blame egotistical fencers instead of adjusting the event to meet the demands of the market. Let me give you a hint. The answer isn't to blame the consumers.

If this event was announced earlier, and was even close to as strong as it's been traditionally... I would be there in a heart-beat.

As an organizer, you should be thankful when someone tells you why they won't be attending your event. It's valuable information.

I think some amazingly poor decision making went into the orchestration of this year's event.

Redblade · 03-17-2008, 04:02 PM

There are many reasons an event doesn't turn up good numbers. It's petty to place blame, especially when you're not involved in any manner whatsoever.

Mr Epee · 03-17-2008, 04:20 PM

I'm pointing out the apparent disconnect between cost and quality. In my world, the quality of an event is determined by the level of competition. Apparently, the organizers have determined that the quality of an event has to do with having hosting the event at a hotel convention center.

People will pay for quality.

However, the definition of quality is up to the consumer; not the organizers.

I'm offering you a chance to make a strong case for your club's event. Why should a fencer pay the gas, hotel, entry fee and opportunity cost to attend this event? I'm clearly not the only one that doesn't see the value in attending this event... so let's not just make this about me. Ok?

The event is roughly a third the size it has been in the past. Something is seriously wrong with this situation.

What do you think is wrong with this event?

Redblade · 03-17-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Epee

I'm pointing out ...

I'm sure the organizers will take your concerns into consideration. I doubt they will do so in this thread, however. (An e-mail address link is available through AskFRED; you could always contact them directly yourself. Often a very effective approach.)

Perhaps there are more important, more personal matters for you to move on to now? Doubtless there are many other events that would benefit from your attention and expertise.

Mr Epee · 03-17-2008, 05:33 PM

Hey, buddy.

If you couldn't think of any good reasons to attend, you could have just said so.

I'm not sure how you can use this forum to promote an event, and then get all bent when someone questions the merit of the event. AskFred offers the option to discuss the event on this board, and someone thought it was worth discussing. If the event organizers choose not to participate in that discussion, then I think they are missing a major opportunity to sell their event (an event that apparently needs all the help it can get).

While you aren't an event organizer, you are an event advocate. You should jump at the chance to sell the event...

You think this is a great event, right? Explain the benefits. Sell it, baby. Sell it.

oso97 · 03-20-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Epee

Hey, buddy.

If you couldn't think of any good reasons to attend, you could have just said so.

I'm not sure how you can use this forum to promote an event, and then get all bent when someone questions the merit of the event. AskFred offers the option to discuss the event on this board, and someone thought it was worth discussing. If the event organizers choose not to participate in that discussion, then I think they are missing a major opportunity to sell their event (an event that apparently needs all the help it can get).

While you aren't an event organizer, you are an event advocate. You should jump at the chance to sell the event...

You think this is a great event, right? Explain the benefits. Sell it, baby. Sell it.

Easy for me to do, but then I suspect we're focused on different events. Five of the top 6 point holders in SSCC Women's Sabre. The cream of the SWS Women's sabre crowd, as evidenced both by SSCC points and results at National tournaments this season. A tight race between #1 and #2 for the top spot and between #3 and #4 for the #3 spot, guaranteeing that they'll be bringing their "A" game. Knowledge that the referees are going to be honest, professional and good.

Numbers could be better, for the potential of earning ratings, but these girls have all accepted that the ratings system is broken beyond belief and really don't give a **** about letters, beyond what it does for their seeding at national events.