Fargodome Expansion discusssion

[HerdBot]

Maybe your both right, check out Pitt States new indoor practice facility/300m track/convention center. It is a partnership between private donors, the city, and the students.

http://www.pittstate.edu/news/city-s...-project-ahead
http://www.pittstate.edu/news/work-b...r-event-center

If we could do this, coupled with a remake of the south endzone by bringing the seating up higher with filled in corners, we would all be winners.

Pitt State, a D2 team, has an indoor practice facility for football and NDSU doesn't.

[MAKBison]

I would not say huge, just a different animal.

I don't see Fargo doing BOTH. One of the driving forces for the Fargodome was to replace the Civic. Now there is a push to spend $50 Million to put in what is essentially a new Civic Downtown? BTW, when it comes to Professional Conferences we must be talking HUGE Conferences right? There's plenty of Conference Centers in town that can handle the modest sized ones.

[runtheoption]

Pitt State, a D2 team, has an indoor practice facility for football and NDSU doesn't.

THE Pitt State U.

[Tatanka]

Pitt State, a D2 team, has an indoor practice facility for football and NDSU doesn't.

They also have a shitload of players wearing #99. Assuming one or two of them is a redshirt? Wait, they're all wearing red shirts. Wonder what their 40 times are? They look pretty fluid.

[1998braves64]

Heck of a rendering.... Guy/gal obviously has football knowledge /purple

Sent from my HTC8x Windows Phone.

[OrygunBison]

I am not going to waste a bunch of time breaking this argument down point by point but just have to say that there is an enormous amount of incorrect information in this post. Basic location and surrounding amenities are foundational to successful hosting of a good industry trade conference. That is exactly why Vegas hosts so many of them. It might not inspire perfect attendance at the booths and seminars given the potential distractions outside the venue, but it gets butts on the planes to visit in the first place. It frustrates some vendors but that is the price to pay for a regional or national audience.

Hammers assessment is spot on. Two entirely different types of facilities.

I think your argument is bit off. I say this from the perspective of someone who attends plenty of Industrial trade show/professional conference (as both a participant and sometimes as a vendor) and I also sit on a committee for an organization that plans organizes a professional group's annual conferences.

I can say without a doubt (from an organizations standpoint) Reno followed by LV and Orlando ares shit places to host conferences--too much for the attendee to do and in turn attendees they do not spend enough time looking at the whizzbangs or the consulting services offered by the vendors.

Why is this important--- because the vendors are how the hosting group pays for the conference...actually in a lot of instances these conferences are so profitable that create enough $$$ to run the group's annul operating expenses. A good conference will typical bring $5-7K for a standard booth (more for prime locations) BTW its super expensive for a vendor because you have the conference fee on top of the facility charges (table, chairs, table drape, extension cords, carpet in the booth, electricity, WIFI, etc). The point being, the conference makes it $$$ by inviting vendors who pay for floor space, the facility makes its $$$ by charging the vendors for services and the vendors make their $$$ selling services/products to the conference goer. If a facility does not have space for vendors to pimp their product/services its not a real option for an organization to use as a location.

I should also not that Ironically, location and the towns amenities are not what drives conference attendance..the quality of both the speakers and the vendors show drive attendance. As such, when planning a conference an Organization is looking at the following 1) facility has multiple meetings rooms; 2) Facility has catering services; 3) facility has a place so vendors can demonstrate their product/services 4) the facility has hotel accommodations with in walking distance. 5) the facility has easy access to the city and easy accesses form the airport to the facility. 6) price (which is why LV, Reno and Orlando are popular choices even if tho they suck---cheap beyond belief!!!!

Again, keep in mind, the organization hosting the conference wants the attendees to be in the vending area ever moment they are not listing to a speaker attended a training etc.

A typical day for these of conferences usually goes like this
Morning: eat breakfast at the conference, attend morning session usually consisting of educational courses, certification, Association business (member voting committee work) etc.

The sessions are typically 45min long with a 15min break between each session---refreshments are served in the Vendor area. (for obvious reason)

Lunch: Food is served at the conference and then there is some sort of event coordinated in the vendor area....typically its a vendor quest for a prize (gotta keep those guys happy and the only way they are happy is when faces are coming around their booths).

Afternoon: Several breakout session (multiply options to choose from). again breaks between the session with refreshment served in the Vendor area.

Each day of the conference closes by the organization hosting some sort of event in the vendor area---typically free booze and finger food are available (Again, because the vendors are how the conference makes it money and you best keep them happy).

Anyway, This will go on for 2 or 3 days and the final day of the conference will be kicked off by an evening reception with dinner and entertainment held at the conference location.

My point----, DT does nothing to improve the Domes position to hosts these types of events. Sure it makes it nice for the guy attending the conference---there is atmosphere outside of the conference area. However, like I said, the organization hosting the conference makes it $$$ selling booths to vendors...they want the attendees in the vending area not walking around Downtown. The location of the Dome is actually perfect.

[MAKBison]

Well, I am not going to argue with you, but were not talking about boat shows here, we are talking real live professional organizations were vendors are paying top $$$ to get to face time with the attendees. I can only speak for the international group I belong to...like I said, I sat on the conference committee for 4 years, would not say I am an expert, but I know a little something.

Vegas, Reno and Orlando host a lot of conferences due to the price of the venue, they are about a 3rd the price of what other location cost. Whenever we held a conference their (Reno & Vegas) the feedback was always the same, shit location, too much of hassle walking through the casino floor....conveniently, the hotels always holds the breakout sessions and the exhibition floor so you have to walk through the game areas to get to them...HMMM Orlando is great other than DL, people always skip out on the reception and go to DL.

Amenities are important to the extent that you can get to the location (airport), adequate hotels space and restaurant for evening meal (2 of the 3 nights). however, amenities are not what draws the attendees. The quality of the speakers, and the quality of the exhibit hall are what draw attendees. As a employer sending an employee I want my employee to learn something and or bring back a prodcut,service that is going to make my life easier....A conference is not a vacation, its an extension of work.

as for as the conference host organization...If you do not think the vendors matter and or the dont care about the $$$ they make on admittance...well, not sure what to tell ya Good luck with that!

My thoughts about DT Fargo.....it has the restaurants, but not the hotels. however, none of that matters, cause the DT building would not be large enough to attract a group that would set up exhibition or vendor hall anyways. Just a retread of what already exist...with the addition of extra cost and headache of being a split location.

Changing the subject a bit...does anyone know if the FD is hosting JR nations anymore??? I thought after last year it went back out for bid

I am not going to waste a bunch of time breaking this argument down point by point but just have to say that there is an enormous amount of incorrect information in this post. Basic location and surrounding amenities are foundational to successful hosting of a good industry trade conference. That is exactly why Vegas hosts so many of them. It might not inspire perfect attendance at the booths and seminars given the potential distractions outside the venue, but it gets butts on the planes to visit in the first place. It frustrates some vendors but that is the price to pay for a regional or national audience.

Hammers assessment is spot on. Two entirely different types of facilities.

[OrygunBison]

So if all things are equal inside of two facilities holding a national conference and one is in Aberdeen, SD and the other is in downtown Minneapolis, are you seriously suggesting that the location itself would not make a difference?

Well, I am not going to argue with you, but were not talking about boat shows here, we are talking real live professional organizations were vendors are paying top $$$ to get to face time with the attendees. I can only speak for the international group I belong to...like I said, I sat on the conference committee for 4 years, would not say I am an expert, but I know a little something.

Vegas, Reno and Orlando host a lot of conferences due to the price of the venue, they are about a 3rd the price of what other location cost. Whenever we held a conference their (Reno & Vegas) the feedback was always the same, shit location, too much of hassle walking through the casino floor....conveniently, the hotels always holds the breakout sessions and the exhibition floor so you have to walk through the game areas to get to them...HMMM Orlando is great other than DL, people always skip out on the reception and go to DL.

Amenities are important to the extent that you can get to the location (airport), adequate hotels space and restaurant for evening meal (2 of the 3 nights). however, amenities are not what draws the attendees. The quality of the speakers, and the quality of the exhibit hall are what draw attendees. As a employer sending an employee I want my employee to learn something and or bring back a prodcut,service that is going to make my life easier....A conference is not a vacation, its an extension of work.

as for as the conference host organization...If you do not think the vendors matter and or the dont care about the $$$ they make on admittance...well, not sure what to tell ya Good luck with that!

My thoughts about DT Fargo.....it has the restaurants, but not the hotels. however, none of that matters, cause the DT building would not be large enough to attract a group that would set up exhibition or vendor hall anyways. Just a retread of what already exist...with the addition of extra cost and headache of being a split location.

Changing the subject a bit...does anyone know if the FD is hosting JR nations anymore??? I thought after last year it went back out for bid

[MAKBison]

MPLS hands down---Airport...ease of travel!!!!!! However, I will play....You would look at the cost of the venue and the faculties then you play the perks game. The thing is you are really, changing the argument. The argument is the amenities in DT fargo with a building that is too small vrs the amenities in/around the dome with the right amount of space. BTW Aberdeen will never win over MPLS , but SFalls and Fargo could, if they have the right facilities.

So if all things are equal inside of two facilities holding a national conference and one is in Aberdeen, SD and the other is in downtown Minneapolis, are you seriously suggesting that the location itself would not make a difference?

[IzzyFlexion]

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