Gaylord Venue--Good or Bad?

[teacup]

Vegas baby! I think we can get rooms in July for $59/night on the strip, at least during the weeknights not including the 4th of July. Venue attached to the hotel: Venetian has the Sands right next door. Mandalay Bay has a huge convention center next to it as well. Rio has one as well, but probably not big enough for a SN, maybe a NAC. Caesar's also has a new convention center, I believe.

Vegas has a different way to gouge you of your money. At least you'll enjoy it, perhaps.

Las Vegas may not be selected for nationals because of the kids in the youth events.

Again, it's nationals having two or three groups with different agendas, concerns, wants and needs.

[Natureboy]

OK. I've joined the boards and now to join the fray! I've noticed several times how people have said they feel isolated from the local economy. This is the worst part for fencing, the USFA and promotion of our sport. Let me explain by way of a story.

In Miami, South Beach was crawling with fencers, and it became obvious to local businesses and residents. We happened to be enjoying some time off from the venue and struck up a conversation with a family with 2 young children. When they heard we were fencing, and that the nationals were in town, their boys just lit up! So after we all finished our ice cream we walked the over to the venue. We all watched fencing, my daughters and I explained the rules. When they had to go we had them stop and pick up some brochures with local fencing opportunities. Those boys really wanted to fence! Is this going to happen at the Gaylord? I doubt it.

Events like Miami or San Jose or Louisville or Charlotte all closely participated with the local economy. The people of the area were easily accessible to us and vice a versa. They knew we were there. That kind of event is also easy to promote through local outlets begging for information on interesting free happenings in their area. If we send out a few press releases to the local papers and maybe a stock video promotion from the USFA to the local TV stations and now the community knows you're there! When folks find out they can see an Olympic sport for free, they might even come.

Stick us out of town at a venue the locals don't go to unless they work there; fail to promote us in the local media; fail to influence and participate directly with the local economy and we disappear.

[hello?]

Venue had incredibly bad acoustics.

Very loud, difficult to hear announcements, talk to people, for referees and coaches to communicate with fencers.

Yes! Horrible acoustics for a fencing venue. And food, etc. at the Gaylord are overpriced. Only good thing as far as I can see is that the venue was attached. However, I'd still rather be in Atlanta at the Omni and have all those restaurants within walking distance.

[peet]

The "consider it done" department, on the other hand, is a little useless. I asked for a pair of scissors to cut my scratch shield to size, and they said they couldn't send them to my room for security reasons. Really?

Agreed. We tried for a plate and some forks to eat some food we ordered, and the "consider it done" department forwarded us to room service who would have charged us $3.

We used our hands.

-p

[piste off]

$6 for a beer! In some places in Edinburgh you WILL pay more than that (now that the exchange rate is going back to normal).

I wouldn't fence there judging by the name alone. Gaylord?!? I don't think some people are in touch with popular terms.

OK, scratch Edinburgh off the U.S. Nationals candidate city list...

And what do you guys call cigarettes over there?

R-

[counterattack]

Oh, one thing. I was paying that $12 fee a day for bringing the car in. But if you stay past 10pm they stop collecting it. So the last two days I just watched the end of fencing, then grabbed some food (if you are over 21 the lounge at Texas Station usually had seats, under-21 had loooong waits). By the time I was done it was after 10 and I skated for free. If you are done fencing at 2pm it probably isn't worth it, but my events were both over fairly late.

-ph

[counterattack]

Come to think of it, that was probably not true on weekends. I didn't do it until Sunday night. I'll bet they collect even late on weekends.

-ph

[dberke]

Come to think of it, that was probably not true on weekends. I didn't do it until Sunday night. I'll bet they collect even late on weekends.

-ph

I did a similar thing... I left late a couple of nights and escaped the parking garage for free. The guy in the booth said they were there until midnight.

I did learn another useful piece of info - if you spend $25 or more at the venue (restaurants and retail shops I assume), they'll validate for free. I got a free validation at one of the restaurant bars. The validation (which was a separate ticket you give the guy at the booth) worked 2 days later, so if you can collect them, you should be able to park for free each day.

Dan

[hello?]

One other problem (at least with my room) is that the walls seem to be paper thin. In the morning, I hear absolutely every conversation of people walking by on the hallway...A little worried about the family with very loud little kids (2 or 3 year olds, from the sound of them) who checked in this afternoon.

[catwood1]

The venue acoustics were so fantastically bad! As I think Peet mentioned, when it got really loud, it became very hard to hear blade actions. Many times I couldn't hear the box go off.

Also, to the people with the mics: PLEASE STOP YELLING!!!! Most of the time it was fine, but sometimes people at BC found it important to yell into the mics.

There are few things that suck more than trying to ref Youth WF after 7 strait days of reffing, with someone yelling through a PA system...

[bob46]

Guy on PA system, "Mr. Bob please report to strip 30"

What you hear, "Mr. Bombr mrbplosbe rperot to ooostrioooop 30 *lots of noise afterwards*"

[Applesauce and Foils]

I'm replying without even reading the previous posts, so my opinion will not be somehow tainted. Having said that, if this post is redundant- sorry!

I was only there for the fencing, not staying overnight or anything.

I thought the Gaylord was great! It was a beautiful place, with plenty of room and accomodations for fencers, and spectators. My grandparents were able to come watch me, and move around and sit comfortably, as were the rest of my large family and a friend's family.
The place was well air-conditioned, clean, spacious and fun. We enjoyed walking around the indoor "riverwalk" area after I was done.
So- yes! Book it again!

AF

[Inquartata]

Also, to the people with the mics: PLEASE STOP YELLING!!!! Most of the time it was fine, but sometimes people at BC found it important to yell into the mics.

What you hear, "Mr. Bombr mrbplosbe rperot to ooostrioooop 30 *lots of noise afterwards*"

I think that these two are related phenomena. It is a LOT more difficult to make out anything over the PA at the "lower-numbered strips" end of the room than at the other, and lots of people have complained about that, so the BC may have started yelling to be heard better there---not realizing that it has the opposite effect elsewhere. More or better speakers at one end of the hall, maybe?

Anyway, for Senior Team MS we were on strip 6 or something, and couldn't hear a word they said over the PA. Today for Div 1A MS I was on 46, and the PA boomed like thunder. I saw several refs waiting for announcements to finish before they could proceed.

[fencer92]

We agree that the acoustics were really bad, but the energy within the space was very good. Not too big. The hotel was fantastic, but we didn't stay there. Needed more space.
We loved the town of Grapevine and ate some wonderful food in and around Irving/Grapevine area. The Grapevine CVB have done an excellent job promoting the event and everywhere we went people would inquire where we were from and why we were there. They all had either read or heard something on the news about the event. We have never had that type of response before. Still looking forward to going home!

Fencer's Mom

[notalent]

Yeah, 3 a day for 6 days, at $6 each, and that is why I am back at work... But it was nice sitting in those lounge chairs in the sports book sucking them down...

Now you understand where a refs perdiem goes

[Wizardly]

Good:
* the dome was cool looking, fairly neatly kept, and slightly warmer than comfortable on the inside. It reminded me of the space ship from Wall-E.
* the venue is attached to the hotel. But let's face it, this should be the bare minimum we should expect when the next nearest hotel is miles away.
* the rooms were average. I've stayed in better, I've stayed in worse. The room didn't blow me away and it didn't piss me off. The only remarkable thing about it: two sinks.
* big convention center with water and lots of chairs and places to camp equipment.
* hub airport

Bad:
* room cost. For an average-at-best room, the price was ridiculous. On top of that was a fee above the room rate. I didn't rent a car, so I can't comment on the parking.
* food cost. The food was ridiculously priced! The venue was in bumble-frak, so it's not like the choices were vast and accessible.
* transportation cost. Again, this place was in the middle of NOWHERE, not the middle of Dallas. I think I saw Dallas on the horizon. Want to get around? You're renting a car or calling cab.
* lack of choices. Eating, downtime, entertainment. This is all a reiteration of the last few points so I'll skip the rest.
* in the South. Hot is bad. Dry heat, humidity, it doesn't matter. Hot is bad. The venue was NOT (contrary to what was promised) sufficiently cooled to counter the heat. Granted, it was no Miami, but it wasn't particularly good either. (That next year is in Atlanta is a sick joke).

Bottom line - the Grapevine Summer Nationals is the reason I won't be going to any NACs anytime soon. It ate up my NAC funds. If it's ever held there again I'll skip it. Completely not worth the trip on my income. Sorry to all the equipment vendors out there - if not for the expense I might have actually bought gear there too. Too expensive, too hot, too remote, all for an average experience. The USFA needs to stop shopping the bargain basement cheapest venues at the worst locations and deliver a better experience at better locations.

[catwood1]

The USFA needs to stop shopping the bargain basement cheapest venues at the worst locations and deliver a better experience at better locations.

Hi, this is the USFA. We don't have any money. In fact, we have less than no money. If you have ever done anything for us, we probably still owe you money. If you would like to donate money to us, please please please do so.

Warm regards,
USFA

[Phincer]

DH got back last night-doesn't want to go there again.
Too expensive, too remote, too WallE - as has been stated.

If this had been in San Antonio, at the convention center down near the Riverwalk, I think everyone would have been much happier. It would have been hot-stinkin' hot, but the Riverwalk's restaurants, bars and atmosphere is really fun. And there are hotels in every price range within walking distance.

[AndrewH]

Hot is bad. Dry heat, humidity, it doesn't matter. Hot is bad. The venue was NOT (contrary to what was promised) sufficiently cooled to counter the heat. Granted, it was no Miami, but it wasn't particularly good either. (That next year is in Atlanta is a sick joke).

Um, when has summer nationals ever NOT been in a really hot city? Just off the top of my head:

Miami
Atlanta
Charlotte
Austin
Greensboro
Sacramento

What were you expecting, Cape Cod?

[wahrman]

While San Jose is normally hot, we got lucky with the weather last year. If I wasn't *****ing, it wasn't too bad.