If I may, I'd like to add to the discussion.
I produce a charity event in Orlando, FL each year. I've been doing it for 10+ years, mostly by myself. We only have a few hundred attendees, but the basics are essentially the same.
Our first event was in NY and that one turned out okay as it was pretty small.
The plan was to move the event around the country (and world, which we did) so that more folks could attend.
In 2000 we went to Vegas. Holy crap was that expensive. Not only is it a ******** union town (no offense to the union guys), but $80 to turn on a light switch? If we get past that, there was the $1000+ we had to drop just to get permits and licenses to hold the small one-day event inside the Stardust.
That year it cost us over $7000 to put on the event.
After much discussion, Orlando became the location:
- TONS of hotels and ballrooms for the event. In every price range too.
- Attractions out the ying-yang for those who didn't want to come to our event, or just wanted to jack around for the day until the show that night.
- Beaches within 40 minutes.
- Non-union town.
- Great Chamber Of Commerce with awesome event staff.
- CHEAP airfare from almost every major city in the U.S.
Now it costs us about $2000-$2500/yr. to put on the event, and it's extremely well attended. You will NEVER be able to please everyone, but as long as you show you've thought things out, almost all of them understand.
I am NOT suggesting Orlando as a location for VOI-12.
I merely wanted to point out to folks (and the organizers?) that there's more to putting on event than having a kickazz track near a 4-star hotel.
Though, that is a huge plus for this event.
- Not every Viper owner is a 28 yr. old single male. Most of them have families, so the location needs to have something for the wife/husband/kids to do while we're all shredding tires.
- Track is required; the closer the better.
- Non-track/scenic drive route is required.
- LARGE hotel is required for the dinner(s). The nicer the better.
- Not every Viper owner is a kabillionaire. So there needs to be Super8-type hotels/motels nearby for guys on a stricter budget.
- Easy in/out. Many will come with just the car, but many will also come with trailers. Some will come with semi trailers. And a few will come with several semi trailers. Major highways nearby is a good thing.
I think Indy and Daytona are great options as long as you're not there the week before or during the big races, or bike week (unless you have a running Tomahawk)
Chicago could be cool too. I'd love to meet Abe Froman and visit Shermer High School.
Count me in for VOI-12, regardless of location.
I work with several people that were relocated to Las Vegas after katrina and they all say things are still a mess in New Orleans, but I have never been.
