[Deptheads] Re: Moving the Convention

Tue Feb 19 11:02:16 PST 2008

It will be interesting to look at the registration data we get from OrcCon.   We should build a zip code map and see where our current people are coming from. 

  I do not know the Riverside gaming stores, but I am always concerned about the title "gaming store" these days since so many stores that carry gaming stuff only do so as a sideline item to their core business of sports trading cards or toys or video games or whatever.    That said, in the entire WLA area, we only have one true gaming store (Aerohobbies) but many B&N / Borders that do have a shelf of gaming stuff. 

  - R

Evil5757 at aol.com wrote:
        Well,

  honestly, if you look at equidistancing the Convention Site with our gaming population groups, the center hub would probably be the 57/91 interchange.....about 40 miles from everything.  I'm also wondering if we would pick up anyone if we were closer to a major public transportation hub, but knowing the gaming community that would be a VERY small increase.  Everyone drives because of the need to fill your trunk with as much crap as you can before you go to convention.

  This was also brought up during the feedback seminar (which I'll hit on more in my general after action report to everyone), and it was actually suggested about having a convention further East.

  My suggestion here is:

  Research the demographics.  If Riverside is supporting **3** gaming stores at the same time within 3 miles of each other, that tells me their gaming population is significant and we need to reach out to it.

  Research ALL possible convention sites EAST of the 57 freeway and VERIFY their data on square feet, parking, etc.

  Keep in contact with the 3 best options.

  **IF** we get screwed out of a weekend at the Radisson, go East for ONE convention WITH MUCH FANFARE AND COMMUNICATIONS and see what happens.

  John

  In a message dated 2/15/2008 1:22:20 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, spinachcat at yahoo.com writes:
    While LA is a gamer wasteland, I do not know if that is equally true for the Valley and South Bay.   We need to look at demographics, population numbers and game stores to know if going to the OC is best. 

  I am not negative on it, but we need to do research.   LAX is very central for LA / Valley / SB.  If we do move, we will lose known attendees in exchange for the hope of more future new attendees.   Bird in the hand vs. two in the bush... 

  BTW, I have posted our marketing blurbs on IE gaming forums on Yahoo and I have gotten emails for IE gamers who have been very positive on Strategicon and do attend. 

  - R

DB <noldor at gmail.com> wrote:
  Iâ€™d love to see data on how many folks actually fly into LAX to attend the con as opposed to driving in from out of town.  If the number isnâ€™t significant, moving the con east towards IE wouldnâ€™t be a bad idea.

As far as Iâ€™m concerned, L.A. proper is a wasteland for gamers and the con should move closer to suburban areas where gamers are at.  

But barring that â€” john, how do propose we appeal to the IE crowd?  Strategicon disenfranchised a lot of people in the â€˜90s â€” the IE folk are on a lengthy list.

On 2/14/08 11:09 PM, "Evil5757 at aol.com" <Evil5757 at aol.com> wrote:

  A big reason for IE not showing up at GenCon was because very few had free passes.  I know one store in South OC that gave away 50 free passes for GC SoCal that they were given to bring attendance up.  IE stores didn't get any (if so, very few).

Honestly, I really feel the reason IE people don't do Strategicon is because Strategicon abandoned them.  There was no real effort to include IE in the mix.  All expansion was aimed at Long Beach, OC, everywhere along the coast where the main stockholders lived.  We need to give them a reason to drive 70 plus miles to pay to come to our conventions.

At this point, most IE people have other things planned for our weekends because it's their "program."  We need to give them a reason to break out of their "program" and come and try us out.  It will need to be a targeted campaign to be sure, but the GT event WILL have IE attendees, hopefully bringing back word of what we are doing.

John

In a message dated 2/13/2008 4:18:55 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, spinachcat at yahoo.com writes:

Also, OC has a bad history for cons.   Games University was a  really nice little con and most of the people I saw there were the same people  who came to our events.   Also, OC/IE did not turn out in  droves for GenCon SoCal. 

- Robert

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