Just so people know, the Hyatt Capital Square, which is the USFA host hotel for the Columbus NAC, is not the Hyatt attached to the Convention Center. The attached hotel is the Hyatt Regency. There is also the Crowne Plaza right across the street from the Convention Center, and I think a Red Roof is nearby.
The Hyatt Capital Square is not really within easy walking distance to the venue. I'm from Columbus and just wanted to give people a heads up.
Is it not in the same venue as the JOs last year? If it is, I don't see any reason why they couldn't put the two together like at the JOs last year.
There were hotels across the street from last year's JOs venue, so perhaps that's where people will be staying. Walking about outdoors in December in Columbus isn't my idea of a great time, though.
I believe the venue is the same as the JO's -- the Columbus Convention Center. However, for some reason, USFA National picked an official hotel quite a distance from the venue.
As you said, there are other hotels right across the street (e.g. Crowne Plaza), and the Hyatt Regency Convention Center is actually attached to the venue. There are two Hyatts in Columbus. One -- the official hotel -- is near the capital (probably around a half mile from the Convention Center), and the other is essentially part of the Convention Center. Maybe somebody at the National Office got confused -- I don't know.
Columbus isn't too bad in early December. It doesn't really get cold until January. Of course, I went to college in California, so I can appreciate that for you folks from the Southwest anything under 50 degrees sounds like Antarctica.
The hotel across the street from the venue claims to be out of rooms for the time period, and costs more.
So I made arrangements at the USFA hotel, which also claims to be out of rooms, but the USFA block of rooms was available. They said that free transportation will be provided to the tournament from the hotel (and back, I hope!) The guy piped up with that info without my asking, so I assume they had been told to tell all of us this.
Slightly off-topic question though...I just came back to competitive fencing after spending the past 9 seasons as a coach in the midwest, and I didn't go to NAC's during this time. After 8 months or so, I went from U to B02 (in epee) and I'm fencing the circut this year...any advice anybody has is welcome...but my question is about overland park in april. What airport do you fly into, and how far is that from the venue/hotel, and what transportation is needed? It looks like a car rental would be needed, but I hope not, any comments?
What were the rates at the USFA hotel? I'm thinking of going down there with my 10 year old daughter to rub elbows with the big shots and get some NAC experience.
Greg Z.
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