Reno in 2011

Wait .. Reno? Why Reno?

The short answer is because it's an underutilized but well-connected large venue -- perfect for Worldcon and the typical attendee's budget.

What's the long answer?

The Reno Visitor's Bureau is extremely eager to bring in SF business. They need more non-gambling business and will help with the bid. We met with sales managers from both the hotels and the convention center and they also want our business. We would be the biggest convention in town that weekend.

So how does that help my budget?

The Reno Visitor's Bureau notes that it is cheaper to hold a convention in Reno than in most cities. This translates into cheaper room rates for convention attendees. Reno likes fans, and it's a fun place for a vacation with lots of additional side trips. Additionally, it's before school starts for people who teach or have children.

Wait a minute ... that just clicked. Nevada. In August. Why on earth would I want to be in Nevada in August?

Current
temps

Reno

Las
Vegas

Nevada? You mean Las Vegas? Maybe not. But we're talking Reno here. Yes, although summer in Nevada is warm, it is significantly cooler in Reno than in Las Vegas, for those of you used to Vegas summers. In the high desert around Reno, the temperatures will, on average, reach 90°F (32°C) during this part of August, but can range from 73°F (23°C) to 99°F (37°C). And "high desert" in this case means only 4412 ft (~1350 meters) so you don't need oxygen tanks and Sherpas to get there.

Additionally, the Reno bid is only using three main locations, so the time you'll spend outdoors travelling between them is minimal. In addition, the Atlantis (our party hotel) is connected directly to the convention center by an air-conditioned sky bridge -- no need to go outdoors at all.

So who on the bid committee is from Reno?

Arthur Chenin is from Reno, but this would still be primarily a distributed Worldcon committee. Patty Wells, John Lorentz, and Ruth Sachter are from Portland, along with a handful of younger Portland types new to Worldcon bidding. The bid committee contains several people from outside Portland with extensive Worldcon DH and department experience. Arthur rounds out the team with his local knowledge and his contacts with Reno-local fans.

If Patty's not even from Reno, why is she chairing a bid for Reno?

After waiting a decade for her children to grow up and Portland to build hotels around the convention center, Patty looked around and found the kids are mostly grown now, but another set of city litigation regarding the convention center has just begun all over again. The time was right but the locale was not. After a search of venues, she concluded Reno was the best bet. Her experience includes 30 Orycons, 5 division level positions on Worldcons in 3 different divisions, other Worldcon positions, Westercons as chair or in other positions, and working on the program for several Smofcons.

So what form would Patty's Worldcon take?

Patty says, "I want a very fannish Worldcon. The ones I have enjoyed most have emphasized the flair of the city and unified the fans in interesting ways, such as the wonderful miniature golf course at Magicon. I want to bring fans together in ways that celebrate our culture and the things we like. Just a couple of examples of the kind of things I have in mind: a special fannish exhibit honoring Bruce Pelz, my mentor (like so many others in fandom); expanding writer's workshops for increased participation; bringing in SW commercial space exhibits; and generally creating a fun atmosphere for the fans."

I'm a non-smoker and I'm apprehensive about attending a Worldcon associated with casinos. What's the smoking policy?

Our intention as a committee is to cater for the needs of both smokers and non-smokers, and our facility choices and policies reflect that.

It is true that the Nevada smoking laws permit smoking on the casino floor in most casinos. However, the convention center is non-smoking, all restaurants and function rooms are non-smoking, and the hotels have both non-smoking and smoking sleeping rooms, grouped onto separate floors. We've also reserved a block of rooms in a nearby hotel that's completely non-smoking, the Marriott Courtyard. You can find a more complete discussion of this topic on the main facilities page.