Been looking all over for the attendance numbers for the Xenia Hamfests. They said they expected 30,000. I went in 2017, it looked more like 5000 at most. Am i wrong ? After everyone's experience's in 2017, i gotta think 2018 was lower. I saw one guy who liked the food venders, we got 1 small french fries and 2 drinks, $22. None of the food handlers wore any sanitary gloves, or hair coverings. I was really hopeing DAWA would do good at Xenia, I hope they find a decent place for the Dayton Hamfest. Horse barns and mud pits ain't even close for the best hamfest in the world. 2018 was my first year that i haved missed the event in 32 years. Jim
With your 32 years of experience, you should already know that DARA attendance figures are not released the next day. $22,...............you must be a big tipper.
No kidding $22 .... i gave them a tip, but something they couldn't spend Don't know why i used DAWA, instead of the correct DARA, must have been my Spell checker, that's my story and i am sticking to it. I guess i just miss Hara arena. lots of great times there. Met several DX hams i had Talked to over the years. It was really great when the computer people were there. After they decided to be there on a different date, i went to it. Not crowded at all. Most vendors left early. Thanks for the help Jim
Bottom line: "I didn't go to Dayton, but it was a terrible hamfest and I don't have the figures to prove it!"
The prices are listed for the food, and I did not see any vendor with prices near that. I bought an extra large chicken wrap sandwich for $9. from Janes trailer, last year if I recall it was $8. I was happy with the sandwich, it is Huge. Saturday about 2pm I bought a chicken breast sandwich for $3.50 from a food vendor trailer about 3 spots south of the other one. RB had good prices on food, including 2 eggs and cheese sandwich for $4. Yes some folks left early because of the rain. I was there Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday flea market spot 9062. Thursday, Friday, Saturday because of the rain storms, I had packed up and left before 4 pm, Sunday about 1:30. It did not rain constantly, and I was glad to have an ezup type canopy to be under. Chicken wrap sandwich. Thursday 7:15am. notice I am the first in the parking spots, for my section, I had to move 2 spots West later as I did not notice the markers. Duh. Looking East. Saturday in between rain showers Saturday, April 14, 2018, 2:29:14 PM
There is so much wrong here. DARA was pretty much *forced* to find a new home for this huge event in 2017, and your expectation was pretty much perfection right off the bat. You say that you had hopes that DARA would do well at Xenia, but as they made improvements and "dialed things in" for 2018 -- you didn't show to see them and then gripe about the previous year! IMHO, this year the mud issue was 85% mitigated. I'm sure that DARA will take what they have learned and improve things even more next year. Horse Barns? An exaggeration for sure. Those exhibit halls have concrete floors. I've seen vendors pack up early at Hara when it rained, too. Yes, there was rain this year, but there was plenty of time to cover the flea market when it wasn't raining as well. I covered the flea market at least four times. I spent $7 or $8 for lunch both days this year (Sunday was a travel day). This doesn't include the medium churned ice cream I got later ($4 + $1 tip). It sounds like you want to hate the new venue. Why openly disparage it though? If you don't like the Xenia event, just don't come. 73, Don
First of all....what's WRONG with horse barns? Hams need to get out of the concrete jungle once in a while. That being said, the food was AWESOME, not only in comparison with Hara arena....but just awesome in general. I LOVE the county fair atmosphere, besides. Hara always seemed like something on the way out.....Xenia has the feel of something up-and-coming.....it WILL be better every year.
Ok first there were no prices shown, It was the one in the center of the concrete circle. Also the horse barns in my town have concrete floors.... And Dayton always announced the attendance on Sunday afternoon. It was posted the next day on their site. AND STILL NO ATTENDANCE FIGURES FOR XENIA..... I must be another Hillery coverup..... Lighten up boys, I do really hope DARA finds a decent venue for the greatest hamfest in the world. You really ate that wrap made with bare hands, from a person you didn't know ????????? yuck......
1) The date of the DARA webpage where the 2017 attendance was tallied is June 1, 2017. Check it for yourself here: http://hamvention.org/hamvention-2017-attendance-29296/ 2) DARA *has* found a decent venue for the greatest hamfest in the world. There is a whole other thread consisting of folks that attended BOTH years. The general consensus is one of praise for DARA. 3) You didn't go this year, so you have no knowledge how the food was prepared, or how well DARA handled the event.* *) You are arguing from a position of ignorance. 73, Don
