I don't expect the public opening increased the attendance by any appreciable amount but does anyone know what the attendance numbers were? If not would you say: decreasing, holding steady or increasing? Thanks, BigRail
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I'd also like to know the actual numbers. I hated to miss the Spring York. I've been on vacation for a few months and frankly,It snuck up on me this time. The double punch of a two day hard drive and bad weather kept me away.Looking forward to attending this fall.
I have heard from anonymous sources that the public attendance only numbered a few hundred. As for the overall number, ED no longer releases that figure.
I wouldn't make anything about the public attendance for the first time. It will take a few meets before anyone can make a educated opinion on what the impact is.
Dennis LaGrua posted:... As for the overall number, ED no longer releases that figure.
While I don't know if the ED officially releases the attendance numbers anywhere, Clem has been publishing the unofficial numbers in his Primer (see page 15 of the Spring 2017 Clem's Primer) for some time now. I suspect we will see the Spring numbers in the Fall 2017 Primer when it is published.
Andy
I don't know about the numbers but people attended, bought trains, talked to friends, and had a great time. That's the most important for me
J Daddy posted:Well Thursday right out of the chute it was very crowded at the Lionel both... for at least the first 30 minutes...
Hey. I see me there. Did you get permission to use my photo?
MartyE posted:I wouldn't make anything about the public attendance for the first time. It will take a few meets before anyone can make a educated opinion on what the impact is.
I think this is very true.
As far as numbers for April, MY GUESS would be a few hundred (what was stated in another post in this thread) based solely on the wristbands I saw. Certainly no more than that.
I think the TCA "membership thermometer" will be the thing to watch. In other words, how many current members will be happy to just attend the dealer halls in the future.
I heard unofficially it was 147 on Friday and a little over 400 on Saturday.
Those are pretty good numbers to start. With some advertising, they might double in the fall with the holidays approaching.
I heard ~500 public attendees and 100 new TCA members.
Farmer_Bill posted:I heard ~500 public attendees and 100 new TCA members.
If these numbers are accurate that is IMO a pretty good showing. Public attendance could very well become a key part of keeping the meet going but overall attendance numbers will tell the story. IMO the challenge that the York meet faces is that it stays at one location in a small city. With lodging, food and travel expenses most people drop quite a bit of cash before they even show up at the front door. In contrast the large train shows move around hitting the major population centers in or around the major cities. I would venture to say that the majority of attendees at these shows reside within an hours drive. Consider that if the York meet were to have their meet at the Philadelphia Convention center would the attendance soar? That is an unanswered question but right now the TCA chapter jurisdiction setup would prevent this option..
In contrast the large train shows move around hitting the major population centers in or around the major cities.
The TCA holds it's national convention in a different place each year and includes a train show. The last time I looked at attendance numbers (a while ago), convention attendance was a rather small fraction of York attendance.
What is stopping York Show vendors from signing up and exhibiting at those traveling shows?
C W Burfle posted:In contrast the large train shows move around hitting the major population centers in or around the major cities.
The TCA holds it's national convention in a different place each year and includes a train show. The last time I looked at attendance numbers (a while ago), convention attendance was a rather small fraction of York attendance.
What is stopping York Show vendors from signing up and exhibiting at those traveling shows?
A number of York dealers also attend area Greenberg and Timonium shows. Some of them attend shows ranging from New England to Virginia Beach. As I've stated MANY times, there are at least 25 shows each year within a 2 hour drive from York (and 6 are within 30 minutes, plus 1 at the York Fairgrounds).
What is easy for us to forget is that "O" is probably 3rd on the list, popularity-wise ("S" is probably 6th). Most "public" shows cater to all gauges. TCA York is mainly "O" and "S".
If the York Meet were held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia the only thing that would soar is the costs and admission prices!
Traindiesel posted:If the York Meet were held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia the only thing that would soar is the costs and admission prices!
Yes.
I cannot imagine how moving the York Meet to Philly would enhance anything - most particularly attendance.
OTOH, a move to Santa Barbara would dazzle all concerned. LOL 
Traindiesel posted:If the York Meet were held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia the only thing that would soar is the costs and admission prices!
Yes, and you would need to find a member of the electric union to plug something in for you. The only plus is, you could take a train directly into the convention hall (Amtrak to 30th St. station and a 8 minute ride on a local to the convention hall).
And a Carpenter's Union member to set up each table.
It was announced at the TCA Convention banquet tonight that 101 new members joined TCA at the York Meet.
Traindiesel posted:It was announced at the TCA Convention banquet tonight that 101 new members joined TCA at the York Meet.
That's good! Do you know how that compares with # of new members joining at prior meets from guests and walk-ins?
Official attendance was a little over 10,000 registrations. Don't know the break down. Source: Debbie Geiser
Paul Edgar
I wonder how many dropped out and went in as public?
rthomps posted:Traindiesel posted:If the York Meet were held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia the only thing that would soar is the costs and admission prices!
Yes.
I cannot imagine how moving the York Meet to Philly would enhance anything - most particularly attendance.
OTOH, a move to Santa Barbara would dazzle all concerned. LOL
If you like Pinot Noir, that would be better. There are fabulous Pinot Noir vineyards along the various wine trails in Santa Barbara county!
Thursday and Friday were both crowded. My educated guess on total attendance would be around 11,000.
Read the presidents message in the latest TCA quarterly. He reports that membership and expenses have stabilized, and the TCA is on firm footings. He writes that the Divisions are as well.
