Jess,
Since I think some of your post was directed at mine let me answer you.
Yes, the Mobile convention center has a total of 317,000 sq. feet, but if you look at their website, you will see that the largest single area is only 50,000 sq.. feet. There are 2 50,000 sq.. foot ballrooms, that have a solid wall between them, plus meeting space and other rentable spaces for the 317,000 sq.. foot total.
Have you looked into BBE or other methods of shipping? Using FedEx, I shipped 6 balls and a 4 ball bag for about $100 each way.
As far as the tournament running 7-8 months, some of that time is construction and deconstruction time needed. If at a convention center, the lanes aren't there and have to be built, tested, etc prior to the USBC Masters or start of the tournament. Then they have to be torn down afterwards, boxed and shipped back. And you can't add any more squads. As it stands now, the last D/S squad starts at 11:30 pm and ends about 2:00 am. The first D/S squad in the morning starts at 7:00 am. That 5 hours is used for routine maintenance, cleaning, etc of the lane machines and oil machines. Second, you say add more lanes, but then you are going to have to look for even bigger centers, over 100,000 sq. feet. Which would hinder the ability to go anywhere other then Reno, which has 80 lanes. Doesn't that defeat your purpose?
As far as Orlando, everything I have heard was the hold-up was due to the credit crisis and the economy. If you have credible sources that this isn't true, would love to hear about it. I don't see how control would be the issue, since it was to be built and owned outside of the USBC, and they would not control it anyway. If that truly is the case, then it isn't a USBC issue, nor it's problem. I wouldn't hold your breath for the Orlando center, I had my doubts from day 1. A 100 lane center on Disney properties.....no true "tourist" would go there, as there is more then enough to do with the attractions already there, you will only get a few tournaments a year there, and even if you allow leagues or open play (which would kinda defeat the purpose of the center IMHO) you still will be hard pressed to make a profit on something that big when you throw in all the cost (Utilities especially).
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Jorge300
