"HURRICON & RECON have a new home!" Topic

Well guys, it looks like we have a new home! It is the Park Inn by Radisson Resort & Conference Center Orlando in Kissimmee! ( parkinn.com/orlando ) Please note the change in date for RECON 2017 to 4-7 May. (This is one week later than originally planned.) HURRICON 2017 dates will remain 28 Sept-1 Oct. RECON 2018 dates remain 26-29 April and HURRICON 2018 dates remain 27-30 September.

We are VERY excited about moving here! We get to keep the convenient central Florida location. We get a very nice property that was renovated in 2013. And we get an even better rate than we would have had at the Palms! Hotel rooms are only $82 USD a night in 2017 and $83 USD in 2018! And even better, yes, the resort fees are waived! You will be charged your first night when you make your reservation (pretty standard nowadays) but can cancel anytime up to 72 hours before without penalty. We will inform folks when reservations are open.

But, in the meantime, South has a terrific new home for our two conventions and just in time for the holidays!

That is great news. What is the typical attendance for these two conventions? What about dealer support?

I've gone to Siege of Augusta, which is a nice small convention.

Eric

Both are 300+ and we had 17 vendors at our last show HURRICON 2016.

Impressive!

Nicely done. I will be there with all my wares.

I read the update posted in Facebook. Great to hear and I cannot wait. Though I need to find it on a map first. Lol.

Rudy;

Off I-4 and pretty easy to get to. As always looking forward to seeing you!

Looking forward to the new location, good job BOD.

Cudos to the hard work that the BOD is doing to preserve the conventions. I have seen so many shows in other states just fall through the cracks after a set back such as this.

Well and quickly done.

The new location is just outside walking distance from my timeshare but nobody in America walks very far anyway.

I wonder what sort of show I would see if I were to drive by and pop in bearing in mind that I'm usually accustomed to Scottish wargame shows as well as North of England shows.

Jim, check this video of the last Recon:

youtu.be/kYXgvDoufd8

Thanks for the video Mr Tibbles.

I had to stop watching it after about 10 minutes as I was disappointed in some ways. I mean no offence to anyone but when I was hearing the words 'detail' and 'quality' I wasn't seeing what the filmer was seeing.

Don't get me wrong, the guys involved probably put a lot of effort into their games and more than likely had a ball playing out their game but it just wasn't doing it for me.

Have a look at some of the pics in this blog.

murphysheroes.nl/?p=7672

Here are a few, just at random.

Jim Duncan
I wasn't at Recon 2016 so I don't know what games were there. Mr. Tibbles took a video of the first full day of the convention, a Friday. Saturday is the busy day, with many more games. You need to check out pictures from Hurricon 2016, our flagship con. There were huge, very detailed games played. I took a look at the blog you suggested and I didn't see anything that we haven't run at our cons. One day a convention does not make.

Jim ,, I just watched the video and wasn't wowed either . That being said I agree with Nick Pasha ,Saturday is the day . You'll see some of the best games ,by some of the most respected gamers in the US at Recon and Hurricon . Look at some of the picks from the last couple years and I think you'll be a bit more pleased .

@Nick and @Coolyork

Thanks for your understanding and comments.

Being a longstanding attendee at Scottish and North England wargames shows I wasn't expecting a convention in Florida to be similar.

Most shows I go to are one day affairs, 30 to 40 traders and I know most of the regulars personally. Game quality covers all sorts but there usually is a good few class acts which is perhaps why I was disappointed in the video that I saw.

So, the plan is that if I am lucky enough to be in the States (Florida mostly but occasionally Chicago) when a convention is on I should attend on the Saturday if it is a multi-day show.

The other end of the wargames show circuit in the UK is scale. The big English shows are around 150 traders and 6-8000 attendees. I would avoid shows like that, just too big and too noisy.

However Crisis in Antwerp is pretty big too, 130+ traders, heaven knows how many attendees, lots and lots. I attend this show as the beer in Belgium is pretty damn good.

All I need now is a good Pound/Dollar conversion rate.

Marc and staff, Nice job getting this done in record time . Can you give us an idea when we can reserve our rooms , what restaurants are near by and any other details would be most helpful .

Jim Duncan – Recon and Hurricon are small local cons that have not been expanded for that reason. If you want an American con that compares to the large European cons then Historicon or Gencon or Origins are the ones to look at.

Coolyork. Our contracts signed and they just need to process our deposit and some paperwork and they will be releasing our group code to us. There are plenty of restaurants near by though not as good a walking environment as we had due to a major highway. For example there is a Ponderossa and Sizzler across the street but across the highway. I would not try walking across. We are hoping though many gamers will take advantage of the concessions we will have set up right outside the main gaming areas. Yes, there will be a cash bar there as well. We will have areas set up by them so folks can actually sit, chat with friends, and have a meal or something to drink. And yes, there will be tables out there for pick up gaming as well.

Nick. Would disagree with your characterization. We are very much a regional show drawing from throughout the South East as well as gamers as far away as Colorado and Washington State this last go. At 300+ I dont consider ourselves exactly small by US standards. And we are expanding numbers wise albeit slowly.

Marc , Thanks for all the info . I will let all my gaming bodies know whats up . This sounds good and we all look forward to supporting the new digs .

Good Job All!

Looking forward to it. If I can be so bold, let me remind everyone that Rapier is really getting close. February 10th through 12th, 2017. rapiercon.com

Marc , Is the theme still " Africa" ?

It is and Howard Whitehouse is still our special guest!

Marc,
Please ask your vendor coordinator to put me on distribution for both shows. No promises just yet, but I will certainly look at the new Recon venue. Thank you.
Toby Barrett
Thoroughbred Figures

Will do Toby. It is always terrific seeing you at our shows.