As we prepare our carpools and mass transit plans for the Woodbridge Sectional, we can reflect on why silver points are so difficult to obtain for residents of District 24 (that’s anyone in the 5 boroughs of NYC plus all of Long Island). ACBL limits the number of STaC days that allow our favorite clubs to host silver point events (the last one for the year is Dec 20-22, 2019, then after that Feb 7th 2020). Why don’t we have our version of Allendale and Woodbridge?
The good old days
Apparently, GNYBA used to host sectionals at the iconic New Yorker hotel, at 481 8th Avenue (not just tri-club sectionals that sound a lot like STaCs). When did we have our last one? It was certainly prior to my very short time on the NYC bridge scene!
Of course, we did some online digging. In Feb 2011, the unit held a GNYBA Newcomer Sectional just for 0-199ers, and it averaged 30 tables per day. The next year in Feb 2012, the 199er sectional was at the Manhattan Bridge Club. The most recent ACBL hosted retro tournament flyer pops up in 2014.
But how about a full-fledged, not-at-a-club open sectional complete with knockouts, Swiss teams, charity games, and pairs? Possibly October 2007, with a full 70 teams in the A/X and BC Swiss on Sunday, and 270 session tables for just the weekend.
Venue Ideas?
At the GNYBA board meeting today, the members discussed whether it could be feasible to ever host an ACBL sectional. We would invite all of the folks we normally meet in Tarrytown, Poughkeepsie, NJ, and PA to come here instead!
But it starts with finding a venue, and the budget is always going to be tight. A recent Allendale sectional averaged 50 tables per day, with card fees of $14 per session, 4 people a table for 2 sessions each ($14 * 50 * 4 * 2 = $5600). Players could probably tolerate a moderate Manhattan premium, but even at $22 a session, an optimistic scenario is $8800 a day, and that needs to pay for everything (venue, directors, hospitality, signage, etc).
Anyone have ideas??
You should use the same types of places we use for Junior League events – church halls and community centers. Basically, Allendale type spaces. Low cost (note: for NYC), but you’ll need to bring tables. None of these places will have card tables. They will have chairs. Ideas – Union Settlement (Houston St. Center), Henry Street Settlement may be too small, All Souls (Friendship Hall), St. Paul & St. Andrews (we did an event in the social hall), and Fifth Ave. Presbyterian. Katherine should ask about options at Loyola. I have heard good things about the Masonic Hall on 23rd – that’s a nice space lots of different rooms and options. I planned an event at the Prince Hall Grand Lodge on W. 155th, but that may be too small. If you are serious about this, I would place a blurb in the daily bulletin every day at the Regional with a contact email. Having a board member of parishioner (or freemason?) as the event liaison often reduces the cost and makes them more willing to negotiate.
Nikki, Good idea. If anyone has contacts at possible locations, perhaps they could make an initial inquiry. Steve Levine (steveny13@aol.com) can provide our basic requirements.
My original estimate quoted the budget as daily number, but most venues would give a better price for an entire weekend (sectionals in the past begin Friday afternoon through Sunday evening). Allendale and Woodbridge draw approximately 200 session tables, making the full budget closer to $18000 if we can match the demand using the same card fees as the NYC regionals. Delivering tables, director fees, ACBL fees, hospitality, and marketing eats up at least 1/3 of that?
What about a “pop-up sectional”? With the collapse of retail there are large numbers of vacant storefronts throughout the city. I am not familiar with the economics of the pop-up but when I have walked into pop-ups the space has always been more than adequate. My suggestion FWIW.
Interesting idea on the pop-up location. If you mean using a large vacant retail space, I am worried the landlords are always trying to find a permanent tenant to occupy the space. We would need to set the sectional date and location months in advance. Does that still work?
As we discussed James Southern knows the market and prices and details for pop-up rentals. I hope he will have positive news. My (informal) understanding is that pop-up expenses may be 1/2 those of hotels.