"so I heard a rumor......." Topic

This Cold Wars is the last event at the Host. I am saddened by this news. My kids grew up in that place. I hope they are successful but a pox on them for ruining my "Con". I knew it was time to move but held out hope we could keep one in the Host.

One of the reasons I stopped going to the east coast cons is because the Host is such an awful venue.

Actually, as bad as it was, it is just as nice now.

Hope it isn't true as that will complicate HMGS planning and choice of venues.

Crispy… can't say that any longer.

Hopefully it's not the last being held there, just reshuffling of show locations.

Each of the current sites (Wyndam, LCC & VFCC) has their own own personality. We'll see which location rises to the top.

TRU

Rumors are not binding. And while I find the Host convenient and familiar, I refuse to get upset until a move is confirmed and I know where the convention will be.

That said, I need about six more conventions to get rid of surplus gear. I would take it as a personal favor if HMGS would stop messing with con locations and flea markets long enough for me to accomplish this. Say 2021 and 2022? Then in 2023, they can go back to Timonium or the BCC for all I care.

TRUgamer, my source was a board member who we both spent Saturday afternoon with. Rumor has it Ocean City Maryland will be the 2021 location for Cold Wars.

Ocean City ?!?!?! Sigh…

And thus begins the death spiral of HMGS, if true.

They can't die: I still need to make the trek from Colorado out to see one of the back East conventions.

Grelber

Historygamer, I felt that way when Historicon went to the center of Lancaster. I was plenty suprised to the good. I will say I have been to OCMD and remember a true college town. I would have no idea what "April" or Easter is like down there. The two closest times I can compare to. Also, I do not know the other parameters. Host price….etc, etc.

Well now that the cat is out of the bag……….I heard the same thing as Rotundo; Ocean City Maryland.

So we put up with the Host being a dump for years, then we put up with what, four years of renovations?

The place is finally rounding into shape and now we're done?

Ocean City; no thanks, that's about 8.5 hours from here, basically the same distance as Gettysburg for me.

Total non starter; adios Cold Wars, I'll go out guns blazing in three weeks, one final hurrah.

I'll either circle back to Fall In or else that's all she wrote for me, we went from the convention being at the Host by 3 to CW/Historicon in Fredericksburg/FI to CW/Historicon in Lancaster/FI in Valley Forge, now it's zero for three; Ocean City/Downtown Lancaster/Valley Forge………………

Oh well.

Oh and I also heard what Rotundo did; it's moving to April………again, between three Toy Soldier shows being held every year during that month and Easter on deck, not a good month for me, at least weather issues will be off the table, but it will be a short three months or so between CW and Historicon now……………not sure if that is good or bad………

And one last thing; sorry Robert, you'll have to hump your unwanted trinkets and treasures about another 2 hours further east now, which will cut into your profits, factor in extra gas, tolls, wear and tear on your vehicle/van/tractor trailer truck and such, so mark your items up accordingly for CW 2021…………………..

If it's truly moving it will be my last HMGS Con also. I do not like the other to locations for Fall In and Historicon.

Unbelievable. That'll be the end of Cold Wars for my group, no way they're driving the distance for essentially a 2 day con. Better hope they sign a 1 year test contract.

gosh, could Ocean City be part of the plan to move it ever eastward…Bermuda is the next location? Then onto the Azores!

Eastward Ho!

Is this location easy to get to, by anyone?

Is this location easy to get to, by anyone?

No, unless you live on the peninsula.

Interesting – I could take the Ferry from NJ to DE and drive down missing Philly traffic. Might be good.

> The place is finally rounding into shape and now we're done?

Think of it as gentrification.

And April! Could walk on the beach too.

Dynaman, three hour ride for me. (some seem to be keeping score) lol. My normal room mate for Cons and I spoke of the beach. I am an early riser. I think walking the beach will be invigorating. We are leaning toward participating but our time frame will change as far as each day and how we structure them. Hotel/Motel choice should be vast and fit every budget.

Now all the changes make sense. "Operation Chaos" will justify the move.

Yes grasshopper "Operation Chaos"………

What will be great about the convention is on the way home, I can recreate the German retreat off of the Kuban Peninsula.

Can't you see it… its right in front of you… its all part of a grand plan… eastward ho… no stopping til the convention is in the UK.

Weather report for Ocean City Maryland April 2021……

You murder me Rusty……………….imagine if a storm like that clobbered Ocean City; it would literally be in the ocean, so the name fits…………………

It just seems the focus needs to be increasing attendance. Keeping it at the Host may have been more expensive but not as expensive as losing hundreds of attendees and a bunch of dealers.

I didn't know Ocean City had a convention center. Where would the convention be held?

Not interested in attending one there either. Let's hope it's just a rumor.

Nip it in the bud!

YouTube link

Milhouse, you assume the HMGS had a choice. The New Host may not want us.

I suspect that might be closer to the truth.

mecexpo.com………

Rusty, was that the one on 41st street on the bay side? I went and looked it up. Tough to tell with pictures. I think this has the potential to be very fun. Still, I will just really miss the Host. I personally will do a toast to the loss of a good family memory.

We missed you at dinner Saturday night we laughed for an hour over the once in a life time sights we all witnessed at the Host. I'm going to start a thread

I had to get my kid from work.

We heard the same thing in terms of location. For April, our club will all but certain be a no go for OCMD. We grew up w/ the Host…love the Host…and agree with others that we need to give the new Host/Wyndham a chance. We will likely bag this HMGS con as well. Fall-In is no longer for us. Now CW? It may be time to create our own local gaming day/weekend and tell HMGS to pound sand.

"The New Host may not want us."

Rotundo; not sure why? We sell out the entire hotel and rent out every inch of space, why would they not want that, cash money guaranteed.

If they leave the Host, would they be able to get back in down the road if things don't work out on the Kuban Peninsula?

We'll see……………….

I don't think Ocean City is a terrible idea. Like the conventions in Orlando, the venue provides options for the rest of the family while we are gaming. I have attended one or two shows at the Ocean City convention center, and it is spacious and clean and has good parking.

I think, however, the board is shooting itself in the foot with the constant churn over venue. They should listen less to the TMP trolls and just fix the venue. There is no venue that will not elicit some hate and vitriol from some camp or another. Now that the Host has returned from the dead, my suggestion would be to set the location of Cold Wars and Historicon at the Host and let Fall In be the convention that moves around to be nearer to one camp or another. I think the East conventions worked best years ago when that seemed to be the model.

I didn't like the Gettysburg venue, but that didn't stop me from attending. Those who say they won't attend location X for reasons Y and Z, are just not going to attend. Cest la vis. There will be people who don't like the Host, Ocean City, Valley Forge, or Baltimore. Okay, don't attend when it is in those locations.

Buck Surdu

Double G, total guess here. I would not know and my Mommy taught me "no means no". If a more lucrative group came in or maybe we require much more than others do. Cold Wars was my favorite con simply because I had an income tax check and could "spend out" a little. I started attending Fall In later as my kids grew older and x-mas became less of a burden, or a different kind of burden anyway. I was enticed to the last Fredricksburg H-con. I have now also been to Lancaster "proper" last year. Had some growing pains, but I am thrilled to go this year. The room is stellar, the venue was easy to learn. Had a Host vibe to it. I am good with it now. I do not like Valley Forge. stayed last year. I only like 30 mins away. Think I will commute this year and save $450. USD Still, I will go Friday and Saturday out of simple ease of local. I cannot imagine an eight hour trek with a trailer for you.

After I moved from New York to Florida I continued to travel to Lancaster for Historicon. When the con was moved to Fredericksburg, even though it was closer, I stopped going. My opinion of the Host is my opinion only and I am not trying to change anyone's opinion but I have fond memories of the Host. I worked on staff at Historicon and Cold Wars for years. As assistant games director to Giglio I was responsible for taking care of schedule conflicts and finding space for new games. I knew every nook and cranny of the place and found its charms in hidden places. Over the years services for gamers improved, even if some of the rooms didn't please some people. I spent maybe 5 to 6 hours a day in my room sleeping. The rest of the time I did my job, played and ran games. They were some of the most enjoyable times of my life. Twice a year the Host felt like a home away from home. I enjoyed watching people play games in the lobby, the bar, the hallways. I was exposed to games that rarely showed up in the gaming rooms. The venue we use in Orlando for Hurricon and Recon has some of this and it is starting to feel like a home away from home. But I do miss the host.

Hopefully the BoD will not be quite as cavalier with the decision making as some of the comments reflect here (i.e., if you don't like it don't come). I've gone to cons and GM'd at the Host, Fredericksburg, downtown Lancaster, Gettysburg, Camp Hill (haven't been to VF). OC would be a non-starter for me. So my option is, don't come. That's fine. Hopefully, for the sake of HMGS there won't be too many others that take that option.

Maybe it isn't too late for me to take up strong drink.

If this rumor turns out to be fact then I won't be attending. It is a lot farther for me to go. I usually spend a lot of money in the dealer hall so they might not be too happy with me not attending. However I do wish the con does well though.

I live in Maryland, but I havent been to OC since elementary school. I'm sure there must be people in here who'd know, is the Eastern Shore as speed trap heavy as it used to be reputed to be?

"The New Host may not want us."
Rotundo; not sure why?

Maybe they are looking to upgrade the clientele? People who will not bring in outside food and drink.

It'd add 1.5 hours to the drive across flat, uninteresting Delaware. Endless Delaware.

When do the pitchforks and torches come out, along with the boycott? I never miss a good bonfire.

I'm open to Ocean City MD. Thinking about retiring to Delaware in the next two or three years. Fenwick Island is right across the border. Willing to give it a try.

I was talking to a friend of mine about a possible OC CW. He's familiar with the OC convention center. He goes there annually for the wild fowl carving convention. He said the site is huge, with lots of hotels within walking distance. He said it would easily be big enough for Historicon.

He said April would be fine as that is "off-season" for OC. He said he wouldn't recommend we try HCon there, as, in July, OC is overrun with some strange folk. I asked, "stranger than us?" He said, "oh, yeah."

If this is true (big "if"), can someone explain to me who OC MD is close to, and why it's a convenient location for one of our conventions?

I get all the other locations HMGS has had conventions, even if I didn't always attend, but this one escapes me completely, and I live in MD.

I asked, "stranger than us?" He said, "oh, yeah."

Now that's a stretch.

Living by the other Ocean City (NJ) I can say they are not stranger but there are a LOT more of them and the prices in the area skyrocket in the summer.

"If this is true (big "if"), can someone explain to me who OC MD is close to, and why it's a convenient location for one of our conventions?
I get all the other locations HMGS has had conventions, even if I didn't always attend, but this one escapes me completely, and I live in MD."

Yeah, right there with you, a total head scratcher.

The move to Baltimore was to take the convention to the "next level."
The move to VFCC was out of necessity when the move to Baltimore fell through.
The move to Fredericksburg was to move one convention closer to the southern gamers who had stopped attending.
The move back to the Host was because Fredericksburg did not work out, which was a real shame, I loved that venue/area.
The move to downtown Lancaster; I have no idea really, I did not attend, so I can't comment.
The move of Fall In to the VFCC; again, no idea why other than to spread them out a bit?
THIS move;…………….just no clue. Maybe this is to try to draw on the transient/section 8/Hobo Joe/out of season carnival workers who reside in the hotels during off season in OC……………..that's all I've got.