I just think attendance would be greater or increased if it was held in Philadelphia Question is would be if there is a venue or fairground to accommodate the sheer size of York?
I'm pretty sure the expo center in Oaks PA or the convention center in Philadelphia could not contain the entire York Meet. Parking-wise, Oaks is tight and Phila is forgetaboutit. In my opinion, York is a ideal spot in that it is a reasonable drive from the NYC, Phila, D.C. and Baltimore metro areas.
I'm of the opinion that the venue is not the issue. The stupid half-day Thursday, Friday, half-day Saturday schedule is the problem. Want the public to attend? Want kids to attend? You've GOT to have it during normal business hours (10-5 for example) on SATURDAY AND SUNDAY! People have to go to work, kids have to go to school, etc. There is NO WAY the "public" admission thing will be successful with the meet schedule the way it is.
Still want a "TCA Only Day"? Keep Friday as-is, make the rest of it 10-4 (or similar) Saturday and Sunday. Show me any other successful public trade show/event/whatever that has hours as the current York and is growing their attendance.
I totally agree. Would Springfield get 20 thousand with these days and hours? No. If nothing else you certainly would get a few more tca members that do not want to take off work. I always go on Thursday, but I hate the 12pm start. John
As far as the non-member public, the above listed hours would be beneficial on the surface. But there are other factors involved that are difficult to compromise.
*The Meet used to be Full day Friday and till 2pm Saturday. Half of Thursday was added to kill off the local bandit meets that capitalized on all the train buyers showing up in one place, spending their money and then not attending the York Meet because they were tapped out. It seems they were mostly successful in doing this, but it created the odd Meet times.
*There's a constant conflict in what the vendors (Orange and Purple Hall vendors, not the sellers in the member halls) want. The same vendors that complain there's not enough customers complain about having to stay until 2pm on Saturday, let alone having to be there on Sunday if it were open. They talk about wanting to get home so I don't see any of them wanting Sunday hours, even if attendance grew.
*The Fairgrounds themselves restrict what the TCA Eastern Division can do with scheduling. Most of the time they have events scheduled way in advance for Saturday evening and Sundays, so the ED has to get out quick. Holding the York Meet in any major metropolitan area would be an event killer. In Philadelphia for instance, the union demands alone would be cost prohibitive, not to mention the rental costs at the Convention Center. The only other location large enough I know of near Eastern Division territory would be the Timonium, MD. fairgrounds, but they always have something going on and is probably cost prohibitive too and probably can't fit the ED schedule.
*A lot of people don't want to hear it, but the Pennsylvania tax issue is real. If fully opened to the public even the sellers in the member halls would have to pay sales taxes. That would kill the meet. The deal was struck with the state that private sales and trades amongst TCA members would not be taxed. Now the hobby shops and manufacturers want to steer the Meet to their benefit, not the intended purpose of the York Meet by the members for the members.
* I personally would love weekend hours for the Meet, but as Steve said above the Eastern Division has been doing this, with volunteers, for 50 years. They know they can't make everyone happy. The members who attend have been able to adapt and thrive. I used to be an hour drive away from York. Now it's a five hour jet ride, but only a travesty could keep me from attending!