Official 2006 RBI/Dee-Nee Thread

[Gantry]

Gentlemen:

Everything is all over the place, so lets discuss a possible gathering for next year.  Lets do it on this page and this page only.  My first task is to gauge interest from the folks who attended and did not attend.  I know many of you from far away probably can't make this a yearly thing, but I think most of us want to get another one organized as soon as possible. 

I am thinking if we do it next year, two places come to mind - Chicago and Las Vegas. 

Chicago is good because of all the folks from around here.  I also have the dee-nee house, which can easily host 10-15 RBI'ers for free lodging.  Mike Beales is also due for his 2006 COTUT in Chicago, which can also be hosted here.  Assuming Mike wants the responsibility, we can do a 32-man tourney if we get enough people. 

Chicago is bad because it's more of a trek for the East Coasters, especially those like Malnu who would drive.  If you flew it's only another hour from Columbus.  Another downside is that it doens't help the west coasters too much in terms of price/travel.  I also live in the suburbs which means the closest hotel is 10 minutes from here.  I'm also 30 minutes from the airport.  We could do a partybus downtown one night though...

Vegas is good because it's Vegas baby!  We can do whatever, whenever and never have to drive.  It's also much less of a burden for the West Coasters, possibly getting more of the Cali bunch to join.  Vegas is also (I think) dirt cheap to fly into and hotels.  So even though we dont' have a free house, we can probably get $50 rooms and split those 3/4 ways.  From this year it's obvious that 3-4 to a room is no big deal at all, there are always places to stay and places to crash.  Keeping the lodging to a minimum is definitely a good thing for people on the fence...

The downside to vegas is that it eliminates just about anyone from east of the mississippi from driving down.  We did have quite a few of those people this year, but some may be willing to fly.  It's proabably much more expensive to have a good time, but that is likely debatable...

First things first, who would be up for a gathering next year?  If so, what places are in and what places are out?  Would we try to do a 3-day holiday weekend or is that too much of a financial and family burden? 

Nothing is set and there is no commitment, but I want to get things discussed as soon as possible.  Because the beauty of this gathering was that JoeD got a date/place early, making many people sign up later....

So lets discuss...  I for one am open for a gathering next year and will go anywhere to attend.  I'd prefer a 3-day weekend and in Chicago for selfish reasons.  Fri/Sat/Sun just wasn't enough.  So I'll defer to the people with real committments to figure out if a 2006 tourney is feasible...

 

[nightwulf]

CurtFlood and I haven't even found our livers yet, and you're already talking next year. Great stuff.

Nightwulf

[Gantry]

I haven't been this inspired in years about dee-nee.  Must prepare for next year... 

[fathedX]

Whatever the plans, I believe it is imperative to get Bonny there.  Bonny, what say you?

Also, not to offend anyone, but would you consider having a weekend and not a tournament?  I can't tell from the wrap-up postings if the RBI was an integral part of the weekend or if it was something of a nuisance.  Although, I suppose having a reason to stay sober for a portion of the weekend is a good idea...

[Flood]

I just found my liver and he told me to go for it.  The wife and I would totally be up for any locale...but I think Vegas would probably be our choice.  It's cheap and fun...and they have plenty of $3 buffets for me to eat at BEFORE DRINKING.  

[Flood]

Whatever the plans, I believe it is imperative to get Bonny there. Bonny, what say you?

Also, not to offend anyone, but would you consider having a weekend and not a tournament? I can't tell from the wrap-up postings if the RBI was an integral part of the weekend or if it was something of a nuisance.

I agree with this...I'd rather have rbi side games going and then pure socialization/intoxication could be enjoyed without sleeping through your first round match.  Oh wait, I guess that's just me.  But I think you have a valid point...

[Stock]

I would probably be willing to do the Chicago thing.
Vegas is awesome, but there are way too many distractions to focus on an RBI theme.  I doubt I would play one RBI game if I were in Vegas.  Plus, flights to Chicago are just as cheap as flights to Vegas and don't book up nearly as fast as Vegas flights (unless you get the flights with shitty times that cut 12-16 hours off your trip).  I am flying into Chicago Wednesday night and got tickets for $244 each.  I have never been able to get to Vegas for under $325.

[T Roogs]

I strongly advise against vegas. Just b/c people in the tourney, and especially those who go deep into it, won't get to experience vegas like hte rest of us will. I mean we'll all be so distracted. There is just too much going on there.

Chicago is obviously great b/c of many people already here, free lodging between gantry's and my apt. Naperville, a surburb of chicago, would be good too. Its less busy, many hotels in the area and a great night scene with good restaurants. A minor league team is nearbye (Kane county cougars, they used to be a oriole affiliate, then a marlin, now I don't know who). Strip clubs are not far from naperville either. I know em all, and the bars, inside and out.

Outside of chicago, I would recommend a smaller, big town. Like milwaukee, memphis, KC even. Somewhere where we could show up with 20 or so guys, and just own the town. I just think a smaller town is better b/c of fewer distractions, things to do. I mean we/you are all there to party/play rbi. and not site see, etc. I guess what I'm saying is that if people are coming to chicago, and especially if they have not been here before, they might be inclined to go 'see' the city. I mean its chicago, the best summer city in the US.

Anyways, along with Gantry and his crew, and myself, we'd be great hosts and put together and fun fknweekend.

[Gantry]

An interesting point about the tourney.  I for one would absolutely prefer to keep RBI going, but perhaps separating the drunk/RBI venues might not a bad idea.  I missed most of Saturday, but on Sunday I almost felt like I was bothering people who were playing by watching and drinking beer by them...

Either way - if you don't want to play RBI, you deifnitely don't have to.  Quite a few people who attended weren't in the tourney...

Keep the discussion going boys... 

[Stock]

Outside of chicago, I would recommend a smaller, big town. Like milwaukee, memphis, KC even. Somewhere where we could show up with 20 or so guys, and just own the town.

Damn, if you guys planned Millerwaukee I would be about 99% in.  I would probably double up on a vacation to visit my parents as well.
I like the idea of a smaller town too!

[Gantry]

I'm all for Milwaukee too.  I was thinking Chicago is a more desirable venue because I can provide free lodging and airport service.  I want to keep the finances as low as possible so we can get more people to attend.  I can also can provide three fridges with free Old Style for all attendees.  What are the airport rates like to a smaller city?  Hotels?

Is cost the bigger factor for most or time? 

[RedBarron]

Memphis is not a bad idea at all.  Beale street gives you the bar scene.  Platinum Plus gives you the titty scene.  There are shit tons of hotels.  It's only 3 hours from my house!

You could have this shindig in timbuktu and I'll do everything possible to be there.

I also like the chicago idea.  It will be easier for me to tell the wifey that I'm going to a cubs game and I'm gonna drop in for an RBI tournament while I'm there.

[Stock]

Although Milw. would be better for me, it would probably be cheaper for others to do the Chicago thing.  Do you guys live in Suburbia or Downtown?
It might be more fun to just hang out at some bars outside of Chicago.....you know... the whole owning a town thing with 20 guys.
I would probably be likely to do Chicago too.

[TbT]

im planning on beales tourney next year for sure, but im down for whatever the dee-nee nation wants to do.  i just want a place with a water park, and probably a baseball game or 2, to catch minor league or otherwise(watching the clippers was a shitcan of fun).

if we wanted to make rbi play into a tourney maybe just have shit on a smaller scale of some kind to workout for time and drunkardness reasons    

[GDavis]

GDavis will be in.  Preferrably Chicago, because I've always wanted to visit there.  May bring a crew next year since I have a few friends that are pissed that they didn't get in on it this time.

[fightonusc]

I guess a big part of the question is whether Dee-Nee Fest 2006 should be based around and an RBI Tournament, or should be a place for people to get together with lots of side games and stuff going on. I would recommend the later, since that tended to promote more people hanging out and not having to be tied to a schedule.

Should this be a puhl? I think so.

[fathedX]

Cost is big.  As I figure, it can get spendy:

Airfare: $300
Lodging: $100
Booze: $200
Taxis: $50
Food: $50
Misc: $100

A hub like Chitown would help with airfare and if lodging is essentially free, things look better.  Anyone care to post their actual costs from the Columbus affair?

[Stock]

I think for those who want to participate in a tourney that should be fine.  Just have fewer games, so it doesn't last as long.

[Lips]

I would be game for either Chicago or Vegas.

If it's in Chicago, I'm just not sure the Dee-Nee house would be a good host, though.  One of the only complaints about this past weekend's hotel was that we had to take 15-20 minute, $25 cab rides everywhere.  The luxury of walking down the street to bars wasn't an option.  Even a 5-minute cab ride would be better.  If we held the tourney/get-together at the Dee-Nee house, the same issue would be there.  Plus, McDonalds was the only quick bite to eat...leading to people ODing on MccyD's.  The Dee-Nee house would be much better in this regard, though.

If we got a hotel in downtown Chicago...that would work much better though.

I like Vegas too.

I wouldn't be against an Internet Friends strict gathering/drunkfest.  RBI could/would be played, but would there have to be a formal tourney?  I don't think so.  Or if we could somehow shorten the tourney, that would be good too.  Maybe RBI, speed-style (ala the Dreamcast ROM setting, etc).  $50-100 less money spent of a tourney is $50-100 more spent on booze, food, airfare, etc...

[T Roogs]

I don't live downtown at the moment. just moved to burbs, but will be down there by sept.
But you gotta understand, a chicago tourney wouldn't be in chicago. it would be in the burbs. gantry, what town you live in?
Getting to chicago from there would require either a really expensive cab ride, or me driving drunk. I know mcklane will only do one, and I know I will only do the other. so that will cause problems. from the sounds of it though, so far a smaller town is cool with most of ya'll. If we did a town like naperville, you people that want to see the city and so forth can fly in a day in advance or two, and see it. Take a mini vacation that's non dee-nee related, more or less.
In the meantime, if any of you fuckers ever show up in chitown anytime for whatever reason and you wanna party it up or know places to go, let me know.
Gantry, do you know naperville? I live close to there. There is the minor league, a water park, bars, restaurants, a river walk, and many parks to take hookers to and bang all within 20 minute drive. I think it could be ideal.