Frank's tournament musing

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sann0638
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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by sann0638 »

Obsession possibly a bit strong.

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by Darkson »

Well, you keep bringing it up - it's like listening to plasmoid on Brets from a few years ago.

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by sann0638 »

Interesting perception. I think I have mentioned it about five times ever. And only when it's relevant. Possibly as an admin you are attuned to it.

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by ceetee »

Opportunity for a plug for UKTC? ;-) Predictable I guess… But I’d be chuffed beyond chuffed if some more southern English guys made the relatively easy trip up on the train to York. I think this might currently be our best shot at creating a Lutece type vibe here on our shores!
Venue will need some careful consideration, and not just in terms of geography. Several locations throughout the UK rule themselves out on cost grounds.

To use Pippy's example above, although the trip may be relatively easy, Bath to York is 5 1/2 hours each way and £160 return - not something a lot of us can fork out for a tourney before beer and lodging.

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by Giraffe »

a group of dedicated bloodbowlers striving constantly to bring down the average price for EVERY attendee might work - for example, arranging coaches perhaps.

someone with experience selecting venues for events, an eye for a venue's potential and the time to investigate options including AVERAGE transit costs is essential to the process ... Bearing in mind I'm proposing you get the interested people to commit FIRST, THEN find the best venue based on who is in.

If we can do the catering and bar ourselves, and provide camping and nearby accommodation options with FREE / cost price transit, our venue can be bigger as I believe people will want to sign up for this. Economies of scale again.

The first step might be a survey to gauge interest in the various options that could be provided, when and where punters would like the tourney to be located at, how many would / could volunteer, etc.

Don't want to tread on then UK TC's toes though, so would suggest a.date at.least three.months from both that and NAFC.

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by Glowworm »

sann0638 wrote:Interesting perception. I think I have mentioned it about five times ever. And only when it's relevant. Possibly as an admin you are attuned to it.
+1 I've only seen him mention the "one Forum" once or twice.....

Now Eurobowl was a display of obsessive behaviour! :lol:

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by Pipey »

Guess I ought to clarify that the trip from the South (particularly the South West) to York is not necessarily easy, but definitely rewarding if you pick the right weekend in January ;-)

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by Joemanji »

(York is as well connected as any city in the country. A central train hub with direct trains from Bristol etc, and just off both the A1 and M1 for those driving without the hassle of negotiating big city roads. There is also a super fast train direct from Manchester airport for those who travel from abroad. There will always be someone who find any location awkward, but York is easier than most.)

Great to see the enthusiasm, Lutece is perhaps the best tournament I have been to outside of mega-events like Eurobowl and World Cups. I think there are a couple of main reasons for this : the huge efforts of multiple organisers, and the strength and cohesion of the French community. Having been to Lutece headquarters in Paris this weekend for their individual tournament, I can confirm they are a league like no other. They even had Lutece branded bottle openers! :o

I'm not sure about subsidised travel though. I think you may actually lower your attendance that way, as locals are priced out paying for a coach (or whatever) that is inefficient in cost as people decide to drive themselves anyway. Just host a great event and people will not mind the travel time or expense. After all we are happy to travel to France every year for Lutece, and that is a pig of a journey.

To be honest Frank, you might have most success with your existing brand. Turn Thrud into a team event and find a suitable location and you have an existing base to work from.

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by Giraffe »

I would like to see how many would agree with you Joe. This is why the survey to begin with would answer questions like this.

Personally one of the main restrictions on my tournament attendance is cost.

Even for Thrudball, not having to drive means I can get the all important pre tourney rest and relaxation prior to the mental complexity that is 6 games of bloodbowl. Or get plastered, socialise, play games, talk trash. I know coaches aren't everyone's cup of tea...

It would mean I've less to arrange for myself.

It is easier to sell to 'er indoors if its a community costed ( hence cheaper on average) venture.

It may be possible to rebrand this as a Thrudball Football Festival (TFF), if the BRGANs don't step up to the plate...

...the whole community spirit, charity bias, cheap as chips philosophy could then be justified as to ensure everyone had the maximum cash available for the Auction! :P

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by Glowworm »

Must say I'm with Joe on the travel subsidy thing. Why would I need to pay extra to go to a tournament close to home? I choose to pay the extra for Thrud / NAFC etc.. as that's a necessary evil but I wouldn't want to pay extra to offset someone else's costs, no matter how much I like the individuals concerned!!

Travel is a personal cost, you take that hit if you want to attend....Its the "all-in" once your their that would be worth looking at in my opinion.

The scale of the logistics for transport alone is staggering for 150 coaches (for example) you could only arrange collection from 3-4 "Hubs" (bus stations, rail stations, airports) so people would have to get that far anyway.

Using the lutece as an example, you have to make your own way their.....

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by Giraffe »

But that presumes it will be close to your home, and there's no guarantee of that.

The "extra" you would be paying would be offset by the convenience of it being local, IF when analysis of the spread of coaches attending determines that it is local to you. Unless it was REALLY local, the fuel cost would more or less balance out the coach fee across all attendees. Those who do not care for helping the less fortunate afford the tourney could perhaps have a opt out clause, but then that kind of undermines the whole "all for one, one for all" mentality - where does it end? What about people who want to bring their own lunch?

Also its greener having one vehicle rather than say 30 vehicles.

Anyway, its only a concept - the survey would determine if it was popular enough to be agreed.

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by sann0638 »

This is all good stuff, and has contributed to an interesting thread on the Team England forum about a "strategy for UK BB" - if we're going to have a 3rd "flagship event" (NAFC, UKTC) then as well as a willing band of volunteers there should also be community buy-in: http://teamengland.freeforums.org/post5082.html#p5082

Should be some interesting conversations at ARBBL this weekend!

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by Glowworm »

sann0638 wrote:This is all good stuff, and has contributed to an interesting thread on the Team England forum about a "strategy for UK BB" - if we're going to have a 3rd "flagship event" (NAFC, UKTC) then as well as a willing band of volunteers there should also be community buy-in: http://teamengland.freeforums.org/post5082.html#p5082

Should be some interesting conversations at ARBBL this weekend!
we already have a 3rd "Flagship event"... its called Crumb-Bowl. :D

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Re: Frank's tournament musing

Post by Giraffe »

glowworm wrote:
sann0638 wrote:This is all good stuff, and has contributed to an interesting thread on the Team England forum about a "strategy for UK BB" - if we're going to have a 3rd "flagship event" (NAFC, UKTC) then as well as a willing band of volunteers there should also be community buy-in: http://teamengland.freeforums.org/post5082.html#p5082

Should be some interesting conversations at ARBBL this weekend!
we already have a "Flaccid event"... its called Crumb-Bowl. :D
Fixed that for ya :lol:

Actually, I'm gutted I can't make it this year

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Frank's tournament musing

Post by nazgob »

I would second a vote for Wiltshire/Bristol, but I am biased.

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