2004 Nationals in Charlotte

[dekko]

I am one of 5 members of the LOC, local organizing committee, here in Charlotte and wanted to get some feedback from some of you regarding this upcoming event.

Keep in mind that we have no control over quality of reffing, equipment(boxes and reels as example), but to have some control over other aspects of the event. We can't make it run faster, that's up to the tournament committee, but we would like to hear from those of you who have been to several national events or even those who went to nationals last year in Austin and that was your first and only national event.

Keeps your suggestions useful and tactful and we will do our best to make this a great event for all who attend.

As an example, while in Austin last year I noticed that while it was nice to have bottled water around the room it would have been nice to have them in more places if possible. I don't know if this is possible but I will ask our venue and see what can be done.

Thanks for your help and I hope everyone can come to Charlotte for a great set of events.

[C.J.]

It would be great if you could set up cameras and TVs for instant replay.

And try to book Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake for your half-time show if possible.

[dekko]

Unfortunately, Ms. Jackson has a prior committment and Mr. Timberlake will be out of the country.

I will look into your first suggestion.

[lfortier]

I thought the massage therapist at one of the last nacs was a really good idea- and especially useful after all that fencing, and you have a knot in your shoulder 20 minutes before DEs...

[oiuyt]

Something other than the standard "tourist guide" ads in the registration bag would be nice.... And no, a pencil doesn't really cut it. See if you can get NC-shaped pins or something.

While we're talking about getting giveaways, extra stuff for the finalists is nice. I remember in Overland Park about 4 years ago finalists ended up with a whole pack of "stuff" including a pack of playing cards, a mini-basketball (from one of the satellite campus of the UofM), a box of shortbread cookies (Kansas State), a patch, and maybe something else as well (this, obviously is in addition to the medal provided by the USFA (and the certificates that the USFA USED to give to finalists)). Other NACs/Nationals have done similar prize packs (although generally not with that many items). Yeah, none of the stuff really has any significant value, but it's nice to get. Talk to local schools and companies and see what can get donated for that purpose.

-B :)

[dekko]

We have discussed the possibility of giving out other awards instead of just the typical socks, or whatever. We do have a good lead on good awards that will be very different but nothing definate yet.

As for the goodie bag, we have started to discuss that item but usually that stuff comes from the Chamber of Commerce for city X, name a national event. We have some ideas but will need to see if we can get other items.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

I dunno if you have any control over this, but more sitting room, especially loose chairs. It seemed liek tehre was always a shortage of them at Nationals, and the "dinning area" eventually went the way of the standing tables because all the chairs were being stolen. BTW that Austin was my first nationals...Jos in two weeks though.

[dekko]

When in Austin I took notes about what I saw that I would like to have improved, some the LOC might have control over, some they do not have any control over, like printing pool and DE tables in a font bigger than 10.

As last year's event progressed the convention center apparently stopped putting out chairs mid-way through the event. I don't know why but I did note this as something to inquire about in our venue. I don't know if the chairs cost anything, a bunch or whatever. However, that was something I did notice as an issue I wanted to address for this event.

[scarlet_woman156k]

Please...I BEG of you...no vendors selling foul smelling foods. Such as the roasted, sugar-coated almonds a vendor was selling right next to my strip during pools in Austin. I was on the verge of vomiting...seriously.

Yes, and a massage therapist like someone else suggested. That would be nice. I've taken advantage of that before at previous NACs when it was available.

[whtouche]

I would like to counter-propose that you bring back the candied nuts if at all possible. Those were great, if expensive.

Another good thing to have would be lots of water fountains from which to fill bottles, without necessitating buying another bottle. Clearly that isn't something that you can really engineer into a building that already exists, but I believe at nationals in texas they had spring watercoolers set up all around the venue, which was nice. They tended to dry out quick tho..

[Inquartata]

I found the aroma mouth-watering myself, though I didn't actually partake.

Anyway, yes, the chair thing. And if anything can be done to increase the amount of space available for bags and equipment and wider aisles, that would be great. ( Cordoning off immense amounts of empty space around the strips is all very well, but it makes for cramped quarters everywhere else. )

[Capt. Slo-mo]

If possible, don't get locked into a vending contract that requires you to forbid fencers to bring their own food into the venue. If they require that kind of contract, then scrutinize their offerings very carefully and demand something better than melted cheese-like product over stale chips.

Other than that, major dittos on the extra chairs, extra room around the venue, lots of built in paths thru the strips, the massage therapists and water dispensers.

[Peach]

I echo the vote for water dispensers and chairs. I had some of the nuts that drove everybody nuts, and they were tasty, but since our club had its bags near the vendor I can attest to the penetrating odor.

I know this doesn't benefit everybody, but cool gifts for the medalists even if they're a little hokey really make a nice touch. I still have an "orange-crate" tile from a California NAC, and until recently I was still wearing the Ri-Ra bar sweatshirt from the last Charlotte NAC until I wore it out. Something that has a regional flavor but isn't just a pencil or a coupon. It "sells" the location like nothing else.

I don't think anyone can match the colorful fencing bags that were prizes in a New England NAC a few years ago, though!

[The0ne]

I think a cool thing would to film the finals in each weapon and sell it for cheap. That way fencers can bring something back that is informative, cheap, and cool to show to friends and relatives. . . I never buy stuff (shirts etc.) because they are so freaking expensive, but a video of a good bout. . . That'd be cool!

[bg0687]

It would be great to have more chairs especially. In Overland Park in October there was a ratio of 1 chair for every 30 people in the hall. Also, wider aisles are an essential. People constantly trip over bags and increasing space between fencing areas would make the situation so much better.

[Victor]

Any word yet on where the venue will be?

[edew]

Chairs aren't cheap. Typical of most convention centers which offer the room for a song, but nickel and dime you on everything else, a chair is $1.00 to $5.00 per day. Maybe you can get it for $5.00 for the whole event. Still, 500 chairs or so might set you back some cash.

[edew]

Originally posted by Capt. Slo-mo
If possible, don't get locked into a vending contract that requires you to forbid fencers to bring their own food into the venue. If they require that kind of contract, then scrutinize their offerings very carefully and demand something better than melted cheese-like product over stale chips.

Other than that, major dittos on the extra chairs, extra room around the venue, lots of built in paths thru the strips, the massage therapists and water dispensers.

USFA makes the contract agreement with the convention center. The LOC has no say about such things, other than perhaps bring those issues up at the initial discussion phase. Considering that USFA has used Charlotte in previous years, the contract would be clear to both parties. If USFA doesn't get that fencers should be allowed to bring their own food in, then it's USFA that needs to be smacked with a clue stick.

[JC Fedorczyk]

Yes very curious as to the location since I live here in Charlotte.

[Army Fencer]

Originally posted by Capt. Slo-mo
If possible, don't get locked into a vending contract that requires you to forbid fencers to bring their own food into the venue.

That's been an issue before?? Must have missed that memo.

Dekko-- I appreciate that you're asking for input from us!