2004 Nationals in Charlotte

[edew]

Originally posted by JC Fedorczyk
Yes very curious as to the location since I live here in Charlotte.

It's probably not hard for you to miss, then. Look for the largest convention center space in or close around to Charlotte. It ain't gonna be some high school gym.

[Victor]

Venue? I called around, found some helpful people in Charlotte.
Here's the scoop: http://www.charlottemerchmart.com/ev...day=1088654400

Helpful site for the area: http://www.visitcharlotte.org/01_vis...ct=1&subsect=1 Go to the Accomodations Search option. Merch.Mart is just a smidgeon to the east of downtown, from what I've been told.

[mifencer]

I think the water and chairs are a good idea (even though it might be expensive). Since I'm not familiar with the venue and the hotel site, how about making sure that the shuttles run between venue and hotel very frequently.

How about a projector to post the strip assignments on a wall. That way people won't have to crowd around an 8 1/2" X 11" piece of paper.

Changing areas are nice, better than a nasty smelly bathroom floor.

A comfrotable lounge for the referees. Maybe equiped with a radio or a tv (not playing fencing movies) -- so they can relax and be more refreshed.

I always thought having people volunteer to keep time & scores help a lot with not only refereeing but to keep up with a look of an organized and quality nationals.

[dekko]

Let's see if I remember everything I have read and try to answer some questions.

It is the Mechandise Mart for the venue and it is a bit southeast of downtown. From what I understand the Adam's Mark is the host hotel and we are looking into the shuttle situation.

ReRa's is still alive and kicking. I have no doubt another shirt of your choice can be obtained.

We will check on the chair issue but I suspect we have little if any control over that situation.

I also suspect that we, the LOC, can do all the layout design work we want but will get vetoed when the folks show up to set up strips, carpet, stantions, and the like for the strip areas that have become common at national events. Bottom line, they will do what they want and we will be told we can do two things about it; nothing and like it.

I think the nut vendor was a local thing, to Texas, and while the nuts were good the smell was a bit difficult at times. If someone like that is there again I suspect they will be in the hall.

As for the room in the isles, I am not sure how much room the event will be given vs how many strips are wanted to be put down. We do want to find that out and see what can be done. In Austin there was just under 130K sqft and there were 50 strips. I have heard rumors that some want 55-60 strips and I don't know if there is enough room for that. We will find out.

So far I like the suggestions so keep them coming just keep them relevant and useful.

[Victor]

Originally posted by mifencer
I always thought having people volunteer to keep time & scores help a lot with not only refereeing but to keep up with a look of an organized and quality nationals.

The USFA requires a minumum amount of involvement and volunteers before a bid is approved for a major event. The local clubs (bid submitters) have to provide go'fers.

[Rolls]

Something that I would like to see is a map of where each vendor is, and where other places of importance are (bathrooms, weapon inspection, etc.)

While a poster up front would be good. I think flyers that can be taken with you would be better.

Rolls.

[R. Exnicios]

some of this has been said already but I just can't resist putting my 2 cents in. Just ideas that I have heard over the years
from fencing and other events.

-More chairs, more water, sport food etc.
-More space for bags and equipment
-the results and seeding posted in more locations and maybe in a font bigger so we can see it
-a list of places near by to eat, with prices and such
-practice space for coaches
-information for spectators, maybe even people that could explain the sport to spectators
-some thought put into spectators, maybe demos a few times a day that show people what goes on. (educate the spectators)
-access to showers
-copies of the results available (free or a small fee)
-a message center, people can post notes and such "Bob meet us at Joe‚s" you get the idea

-this may be more of a USFA thing but it would be nice that if someone has a problem, bad ref what ever, that there is someone there who will listen and try to help ( as opposed to giving them the cold shoulder or some smart-*** response.)

I think the biggest thing I've noticed over the years is that USFA forgets that the event is for everyone & not just the top athletes. The Div 2 and 3 fencer spends money and helps fund the elite athletes. Yes it is „the summer Nationals‰ but we should also think of it as our National convention.

Don‚t get me wrong nationals have been fun but there are always problems of some sort and just don‚t feel that the USFA caters to the recreational fencers. This would be a great chance for USFA to disseminate information to a large number of fencers.

I could go on and on but I'll stop

Cheers

[DHCJr]

Originally posted by Victor
The USFA requires a minumum amount of involvement and volunteers before a bid is approved for a major event. The local clubs (bid submitters) have to provide go'fers.

Yes the minimum amount is NONE! The Palm Spring NAC is a prime example. The first Palm Spring NAC that anyone from the local division or clubs found out there was going to be a NAC there was when everyone else found out about it. The USFA set this up with no input from, no request for assistant to, and they paid too much for the facility. There are locals who had planned events at the Wyndem and would have been a great help.

Now why would the USFA administration in Colorado want to have a tournament in Palm Spring in January? It is also the most expensive time to hold an event there, so why would the USFA without requiring local support want to hold an event in Southern California during the middle of winter?

[mifencer]

DHCJr,

You're opening a WHOLE can of worms. Yes, I totally agree that the USFA NEEDS to be more organized and efficient. That would save EVERYONE $$$$$$$. I can't say this enough. But it so hard to complain when they have so little staff...

[frenzl]

Originally posted by mifencer

How about a projector to post the strip assignments on a wall. That way people won't have to crowd around an 8 1/2" X 11" piece of paper.

THIS IS A GREAT IDEA!

[Victor]

The big annual Shreveport tourney used a wall projection a year or so ago. Worked very nicely, I remember.

[DHCJr]

Originally posted by mifencer
DHCJr,

You're opening a WHOLE can of worms. Yes, I totally agree that the USFA NEEDS to be more organized and efficient. That would save EVERYONE $$$$$$$. I can't say this enough. But it so hard to complain when they have so little staff...

You missed my point. No I think they do a great job. What I was trying to point out was the misconception that the local division or club is the one that invites the USFA. Look at the Disney World NAC. On the Palm Springs NAC, it probably would have been the same if they asked for help. When the first Palm Springs NAC was held, you were talking about less than a dozen locals and most of the division meets were over 150 miles away. There was no one to do the work of the LOC, but the USFA wanted it there. I have enjoyed the times I have worked the tournament. But as said by dekko, they don't have a lot of say in things and that was what I was trying to reitterate. Sorry if it appeared I was complaining about the USFA.

[hello?]

Is the Adam's Mark the best/most convenient hotel to the venue? Last year, the host hotel was farther and not as good as some of the hotels that were right next to the venue. That was very irritating...

[dekko]

I admit I do not know that area of town as well. I know the Adams Mark is a nice hotel but I am not sure it's the closest.

[hello?]

Thanks...If you find out what's closer/better, let us know! (The online reviews for the hotel make it sound like a not-very-pleasant convention hotel...although it does seem that the USFA rate beats most of the rates offered by hotels.com and the like.)

[edew]

Originally posted by DHCJr
Yes the minimum amount is NONE! The Palm Spring NAC is a prime example. The first Palm Spring NAC that anyone from the local division or clubs found out there was going to be a NAC there was when everyone else found out about it. The USFA set this up with no input from, no request for assistant to, and they paid too much for the facility. There are locals who had planned events at the Wyndem and would have been a great help.

Now why would the USFA administration in Colorado want to have a tournament in Palm Spring in January? It is also the most expensive time to hold an event there, so why would the USFA without requiring local support want to hold an event in Southern California during the middle of winter?

USFA did not pay a great deal of money. I got my information from the closest LOC person, Randy Bean: Palm Springs approached USFA and made them an offer they can't refuse (I know nothing about Michael Massik's trick knee). It was not expensive, probably less than $1K per day, probably significantly less than that.

It's there in January because, well, when you walk down the several main strips of Palm Springs, you see that there aren't too many folks out there. Palm Springs is dead during January, so that's why Palm Springs made that deal.

Palm Springs is geographically Southern California, but not so, climate-wise. It's in the desert. Palm Springs is not much different than New Mexico or Arizona during the winter: cold, dry, dead.

I doubt USFA can afford to get a space in LA or San Diego in January (despite getting it in San Diego last year -- I think that one was also a one-time thing, as we're not likely to return to a paddock to hold tournaments).

I would like USFA to, once per quadrennial, to hold events at nice climate places. I'm still rooting for (and trying to make happen) a Summer Nationals in Hawaii. There's just so much positiives going for it. Let's say, Summer Nationals in Hawaii in 2007!

Airfares? I flew to Hawaii for the Hawaii Open last weekend. Ticket was booked the prior Tuesday (3 days before travel). Cost: $314 round-trip from SFO to HNL.

[dekko]

While I agree your topic may be a worth while discussion and needs to be discussed, not here. If you have a problem with another event and how it was handled by folks in Colorado Springs, take it up with them.

This thread is how to make nationals in Charlotte a better event for all. Please stick to that topic. Thanks.

[Jvanhousen]

With all the talk about making fencing more media/spectator friendly, I'm amazed at how many gold medal bouts at NACs and Nationals are held w/ spectators crammed together on one side of the strip w/ everyone but the front row unable to get a decent view.
How bout an elevated strip, extension lights, bleachers?

[Mo]

Originally posted by dekko
While I agree your topic may be a worth while discussion and needs to be discussed, not here. If you have a problem with another event and how it was handled by folks in Colorado Springs, take it up with them.

This thread is how to make nationals in Charlotte a better event for all. Please stick to that topic. Thanks.

Things that didn't work in one venue will make another venue work better.
This board gets tons of information out by going off topic. That is the way it works.

[Inquartata]

A limited amount of bleachers would be good, especially as they give a good vantage point for watching, however they do take up an awful lot of valuable floor space and they cannot be near all of the strips, so there can be distance issues...

One thing I'd like to see is a posting of completed event results in a timely manner ( ie not some time the next day ) and preferably under plexiglass or something so that people aren't tempted to steal them for their own use...better yet, printed copies for sale for a nominal fee.