Just saw on my Facebook feed from EDTCA that Aprils York will be Friday and Saturday only. October 2020 will remain 3 days. Interesting turn. Whatever. I'll be there.
Voted by the board of directors based on vender and attendees feedback.
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I’ll be there too. But is this what the future will bring? Time will tell?
That sucks hopefully travelocity will allow me to cancel my non refundable room for Wednesday night (wishful thinking) seeing that I don't have to come in Wednesday now. Wish they would have given a years notice seeing how many of us make travel, vacation time, and accommodation plans a year out.
As sad as this is, many people, including myself saw this coming. Attendance at last April’s meet was really low, and with many big manufactures not being there it’s definitely a sign of the changing times. Debating on just going in October at this point.
So it's really just a 1 day meet in April as I'm sure everyone will still pack up early on Saturday. Hopefully the Bandit meets will all move back a day. I'll still be there though.
-Greg
Will be interesting to see if this makes it better or worse.
I'd suspect some folks (I'm thinking buyers here, but could be sellers too) who come from long distances might decide it's not worth a long drive/plane fare/etc for a day and a half in April.
So much for my thought that the "survey" was one step of many. I guess there is no point in answering the email now... 
Interesting that for members the setup is still shown as Thursday 12-5 for the Friday-Saturday option. I can easily set up my whole single table in the one hour of hall access before the meet starts on Friday, but those who need more time than that will still have to be there on Thursday afternoon, it seems.
While I'm sure I'll still be there, I'm not sure what I'll decide about bringing stuff to have a table. Only an hour on one day to walk around the dealer halls after members' halls close is a big negative for me.
-Dave
Definately makes my 1774 mile one way drive from Texas a difficult decision. Even a less than robust 2.5 day April train show was still worth it. I view the new train show as a 1 day train show and 1/2 day vendor pack up day.
I only pay TCA dues just to go to York. I don't read the quarterly/magaxines, use the library, buy a brick, or do research. If i now only go once a year then the 50.00 tca dues goes on the 67.00 fee for for York admit and rv charge. So 117.00, 6 days driving, and 1 week vacation for a 1 day train show.
It definately changes the decision variables.
This is sad. I’ve been in the TCA since 1987. Postwar was my passion and York (as well as other shows) was my opportunity to build my collection. After 30 years of upgrading my postwar year after year and staring at my trains on the wall, I changed. I wanted to run trains. Sold my postwar trains and now own Legacy and VisionLine Engines. I enjoy these much more. Just like I changed, so did the hobby. Back in the day, it was important to look before buying. I recall being at the Billy Bud pre York show at 5am with flash lights looking at trains. Tables were already set up and vendors and buyers were eager to buy or sell. Now, at 5am I sit in my chair, drink coffee and check out eBay. Yes, everything changes.
I had been debating about going next April. This made my decision for me. I won't be attending the April meet.
Neal Jeter
So "York" will be all day Friday, and 3 or 4 hours on Saturday. I'll see you on a aisle-packed Friday.
Someone needs to update their website because they are still advertising the show being Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with the note mark your calendar for these important dates. That is the problem I have with this. They advertised when the show was going to be and they know people make travel plans months to a year ahead of time. 7 month notice not nearly long enough for many people. Just a quick question will the price of admission be lowered since the show will only be 2 or really 1 day now (since Saturday is just a pack up day after the first hour or so)
Sad to hear this news. But the board of directors had to make the decision and I don't think it was an easy one but it is a financially sound one. Not knowing the exact costs it has to be an sizable amount to put the meet on. I suppose when you look at the big picture York has changed over the past few years. Less people were going and with the departure of some of the manufacturers going to the April meet showed that. So economics and an aging group of members most likely made the decision for the board. I will still go in April. I still enjoy York. It will just bring it back to the way it was. ....Friday/Saturday.............Paul 2
For the spring I'll head out early Thursday and spend the day and return home later Friday. I understand the EDTCA has to make these tough decisions. Rather than giving them grief we should support anything that helps keep the meet going. While the decision may not work for everyone, they must have had enough feedback that it makes sense for most. I can see where April may just go back to members and no dealers.
If attendees and sellers decline due to this change it won't be long before York becomes a once a year meet in October.
The big dealers left the spring meet. How long until they leave the fall meet?
I have to agree with most of the post. They should have planned out a one year notice, As has been said travel and lodging for many is made well in advance of the show. Toss planned vacation time in there as well.
Jim
If the big dealers leave, York will become what it started out as, a local TCA meet. York could be a victim of it’s own success.
For now I’ll attend as always ready to meet friends and maybe even buy some trains.
Now the bandit show at the Wyndham will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday. I don't agree with this move.
Well, I'm glad I didn't make reservations for April yet. 
I wonder what hours they'll have on Friday, if it's a short day like Thursday is now, that will influence some people considering attending.
Works for me.
I'm less than a two hour drive from the meet so have always had some flexibility with logistics. I understand that's not the case for many but I can pretty much customize my attendance (days and hours) based on a number of factors.
As already noted above, change can be challenging but I think many here sensed (just check the old posts) that changes were coming to York.
Didn't see that coming.
It should have been changed to all day Thursday and all day Friday. No one needs Saturday.
Well, I haven't attended an April meet yet, but still want to definitely do it. Just have to adjust to the times I guess. Sure it will conserve some vacation time, but I'd rather burn it on more days of fun than less.
eddie g posted:It should have been changed to all day Thursday and all day Friday. No one needs Saturday.
Eddie
It sounds like they polled the vendors and members with tables and this was what was best for the majority. It won't work for everyone. I suspect Friday will be a 9am open.
I'm sure everyone here has a better idea of how York should be scheduled, ran, and administered. Thankfully it's up to the EDTCA and their membership. As a guest I will let them make the hard decisions and adjust accordingly.
I don't dispute what many are saying on this thread. My only complaint is the quickness that this decision was made and implemented. I know that running a train show is a thankless job. I sit on the board of directors of probably the biggest 2 day train show in Northeast Ohio and if we discuss any changes they will never go into effect for the current year. The reason being is we attract vendors and attendees from all over the country and many book hotel rooms and vacation time a year in advance. If they were to do this I just wish it would have gone into effect April 2021.
All,
I like the change back to Friday and Saturday.
IMO that was the best configuration, Friday was always the big day, and Saturday was ok for the first few hours, with free donuts before opening, and some good “I am not hauling all that home” pricing.
Thursday diluted the Friday crowd and made both days look sparse, also the noon start left covering the meet in one day hard. Plus, Friday was nice to make a three day weekend. Glad Thursday is gone, hopefully for good.
The joint will surely be jumping on Friday’s in April with both (previous years) Thursdays and Fridays visitors combined into one day. Put curb feelers on your scooters!
I hope Fridays is members only.
MYGA!!!!
(Make York Great Again)
Bryan in Ohio posted:I don't dispute what many are saying on this thread. My only complaint is the quickness that this decision was made and implemented. I know that running a train show is a thankless job. I sit on the board of directors of probably the biggest 2 day train show in Northeast Ohio and if we discuss any changes they will never go into effect for the current year. The reason being is we attract vendors and attendees from all over the country and many book hotel rooms and vacation time a year in advance. If they were to do this I just wish it would have gone into effect April 2021.
Without knowing the details, we have no idea why this change was made in this time frame. It could be there was incentive from the fairgrounds or some other outside influence that made this change happen when it did. It could be a simple as a money thing. We can discuss it to the cows come home but unless the EDTCA wants to explain it, we can only guess. I don't care enough to guess. I'll still be there. I imagine the room reservations can be altered for many. Travel not so much. I sympathize but it is what it is.
Craignor posted:I hope Fridays is members only.
I'll be very surprised if they make Friday's members only.
Without knowing the details, we have no idea why this change was made in this time frame. It could be there was incentive from the fairgrounds or some other outside influence that made this change happen when it did. It could be a simple as a money thing. We can discuss it to the cows come home but unless the EDTCA wants to explain it, we can only guess. I don't care enough to guess. I'll still be there. I imagine the room reservations can be altered for many. Travel not so much. I sympathize but it is what it is.
Agreed Marty and I was one of the lucky ones in that travelocity and my hotel allowed me to change my nonrefundable reservation from Wednesday night to Friday night. (I had only really planned on spending Thursday and Friday in York this April so never booked a Friday night room) I called back about 30 minutes ago to confirm with the hotel that travelocity was able to do this and there wouldn't be any fees and the lady at the front desk said they have had 4 cancellations for Wednesday April 22 already that morning. I explained to her what was going on and she said she knew something must have changed for so many cancellations to come in for the same night in such a short time.
I agree there should have been a longer notice. I thought the cost savings would be avoiding the weekend fairgrounds rental by having a Thurs-friday show.
This looks like a sharp death spiral to me. More long distance buyers and vendors will have to rethink the commitment. Probably no effect on people with a 2 hour drive.
I think York will quickly go back to being a great but much smaller, local meet. The size and length of the usual York meet (including hotel meets) made York totally unique. Now one has to consider other one day meets that are much closer and maybe go to York every three years.
BTW, where are all those public attendees that were going to bust the attendance numbers wide open?
Were the "Public Welcome" banners the wrong color?
gunrunnerjohn posted:Well, I'm glad I didn't make reservations for April yet.
I wonder what hours they'll have on Friday, if it's a short day like Thursday is now, that will influence some people considering attending.
Of the options presented, these seem to be the ones that won the survey (of course this is just the April hours - technically it was "Option 3" that is the combination of 2 days in April and 3 in October, but the hours breakdown remains):
DEALERS - FRIDAY 9AM to 6PM & SATURDAY 9AM to 3PM
SET-UP THURSDAY ONLY 9AM to 7PM
MEMBERS - FRIDAY 9AM to 5PM & SATURDAY 9AM to 3PM
SET-UP THURSDAY ONLY 12NOON to 5PM
-Dave
The big dealers left the spring meet. How long until they leave the fall meet?
What big dealers? What did the Lionel display sell?
I like the change. Since York is only a 2-1/2 hr. drive for me, and not being interested in the member halls, I could never justify the expense of staying overnight and so would only attend on Fridays when it was a full day to shop the dealer halls. Unfortunately that meant some of the best items would have already been purchased by the Thursday attendees but fortunately, albeit selfishly for me, that will no longer happen 
Dave45681 posted:gunrunnerjohn posted:Well, I'm glad I didn't make reservations for April yet.
I wonder what hours they'll have on Friday, if it's a short day like Thursday is now, that will influence some people considering attending.
Of the options presented, these seem to be the ones that won the survey (of course this is just the April hours - technically it was "Option 3" that is the combination of 2 days in April and 3 in October, but the hours breakdown remains):
DEALERS - FRIDAY 9AM to 6PM & SATURDAY 9AM to 3PM
SET-UP THURSDAY ONLY 9AM to 7PM
MEMBERS - FRIDAY 9AM to 5PM & SATURDAY 9AM to 3PM
SET-UP THURSDAY ONLY 12NOON to 5PM-Dave
Hopefully Friday and Saturday will be both Members and the Public!
richabr posted:The big dealers left the spring meet. How long until they leave the fall meet?
What big dealers? What did the Lionel display sell?
Well there was that infamous boxcar a few years ago. And various Lionel promotional stuff that didn't sell via dealers.
ogaugeguy posted:Hopefully Friday and Saturday will be both Members and the Public!
For dealer, halls, that would make sense.
For member halls, that's been rehashed many times (here and elsewhere), and these hours won't change the situation there. (really a different topic, so I hope we don't go down that path in this thread)
-Dave
Look at the positive side. Take the $100.00 you’ll save on the Wednesday night room and spend it on train stuff. Everybody wins.
Well, I guess when I pop back to my LTS I'll have to inquire with them about this. I'm sure they haven't made April plans yet, but you never know.
I applaud the change. The show is smaller now, and 1-1/2 days is plenty of time to see it all. Also. perhaps more of the vendors will come if the time commitment is less. (There is plenty to do in the area if you have reservations that can't be changed.)
Perhaps a three day fall event and two day spring event would have been a better alternative, but the ED-TCA Board has the numbers to make the prudent choice.
Standard Gauge fans: Plan to attend the Standard Gauge Module Association "dutch treat" breakfast Friday morning 0730-090 in the Fairgrounds restaurant! Everyone is welcome! Bring "show and tell"!
Kirk Lindvig
The move to Thursdays years ago killed the bandit meets. I usually only spend only one night and that was Thursday. That didn't change when the days changed. Before I went to the bandit meets on Thursday then to the museum and the Thursday's at Fridays. Friday morning opened at 9:00 and I was ready to go. The biggest problem I had when the meet was set-up this way was I didn't always get to all the halls on Friday. If the change helps the dealers and manufacturers then I am all for it.
Scott Smith
I will most likely still arrive on Thursday late afternoon to get there when they open on Friday. Hopefully, there will still be some folks gathering somewhere for dinner. At least I'll save a day off of work as I can arrange to work 6:30/7:00 to 2:30/3:00 to still arrive around dinner time (about a 2 hr drive).
The biggest downer for me at this point is the potential impact this will have on the usual Thursday morning and evening social gatherings (Peter's breakfast and OGR dinner). Hopefully, they can be moved to Friday.
-Greg
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