yeh, id pay and travel for the opportunity to become the champ!

You're right, Edge, the manufacturers would not be, solely, financially responsible for the event.... not if they are smart. I'm sure there are many hotels which would share in the cost. Plus, (don't shoot me) I see no reason why they should not charge admission. Even if it's $5 a day.

Plus, bring back the vendor tents. That's where a lot of the money comes in. There are bunches of vendors who would love to get the exposure that a TOC type event would bring.

We'll just have to wait and see.

A group of 10 from our local club already booked rooms at the sahara under the "TOC" discount, I have not heard from anyone on their end that it is cancelled

This would be my first TOC and I would be very disappointed

I would think the hotel would send you a note, but they may not.

Except for conversation while I was checking in last year, the hotel didn't communicate with me at all.

If you don't want to go to Vegas anyway, I'd pay attention to the cancellation policy and get out by the deadline...My guess is that deadline is sometime in the September-October timeframe.

The cancellation policy at the Sahara is 48hrs notice.

Food and beverage were supplied by the Sahara.

ok, so the event cost around $250,000 to hold. Spectators pay $5.00 to watch. Now how many would we need? Its just not possible. Plus, I work for one of Europes biggest distributers, there is no way we could put up the money to sponsor the event, nor could any other company. Besides, there are other events such as Top Gun, Jet Masters, etc that have just a high profile in the model world. TOC is just one of them, I know being into aerobatics means I give it much more emphasis than the others... as do most of us here. I wonder what the average attendance was at TOC, and what contribution the RC manufacturers made towards the event. Knowing that would allow us to see to what level the event could make a new start.

There's no way the TOC could be run from admission charge alone, but it it were high enough it would certainly help. If you went to a big concert of some sort - like Creed or Faith Hill or whoever - you'd probably spend at least $50 for the tickets, so why not have $50 tickets for the TOC? OK I know this would deter some people, but I think most everyone that goes spends at least several hundred dollars to go (airfare, hotel, food, plus money lost from taking off from work, etc), so what would a measly extra $50 be? Heck, put away just a dollar a week and by the time the next one comes around you'll have your admission money! Anyway that's just MHO.

I do hope someone picks up the event - I never got to go

I beg to differ, I think it could support itself on admissions, not profit much, but it would get by. Last years TOC conservatively attracted 2000 spectators, my guess is there were more than that, EACH day. Seats could sell anywhere from $50 to sit up front, and $10 to sit in the cheap seats, and easily average $18 per head, that's 36k per day folks, before profits from food service and vendors, plus you could easily charge double for Sunday... Hmm... maybe I oughta look into this....

Part about TOC 2002 for myself and my wife was the fact that it was free to see. Only had to deal with the In-laws in St. George, Utah for accommodations.

I think you will find that if admission is more than $5 a head, that you will not see the 2000 per day. This is by observation only though. I sure as heck would not pay the $10 for the cheap seats when I had to contend with the people standing at the fence blocking my view. I would charge $5 to sit in the front and 10$ to sit higher in the bleachers. Then you could actually see everything without having to stand up to see over the people standing on the fence.

My 2 cents. Keep it free. Find another Vegas hotel to sponsor it. Not like they are hurting. Anyone charging $350 to sleep in a 10 X 16 room per night, should have a little capital to cover an event like the TOC.

Cheers

You guys are missing the biggest point of all.

The TOC was Bill Bennett's dream and passion. He LOVED model airplanes. You'll never get another hotel or sponsor to put in the money to have an event like this without that passion because overall, the TOC is just not a money making venture.

Doug Cronkhite

I attended TOC '02 and it was an experience I wont soon forget. Free admission, free shuttle service, great food at reasonable prices, and the best r/c show in the world (IMHO) you cant get a better deal than that. I think to attract the worlds best fliers and cover their costs you are still going to have to put up good prize $$$ as your currency is much stronger and it would cost a fortune for some of these people to attend. And yes there was good turnout at 2000+ per day but only the hard core rcers I think would be willing to pay more than $5-10 per day.

I have to think that as long as there are champions there will be a torniment.

It would be nice if the 183,000$ in prize money could continue to be raised, but what if only 100,000 or even 20K were raised? All the pilots who are invited show up. Even if they are pretty sure they don't have a shot at the 50K top prize.

quist,

Information on the Tucson shootout, also nicknamed the "little TOC" can be found on www.desertaircraft.com/shootout/ It dosen't draw the huge crouds, or pay the big bucks, but many of the champions show up.

Oops, sorry, i didn't quite answer the question.

A date has not been set yet for the "Little TOC" in Tucson, but the fabulous folks from Hobby Barn (one of the sponsors) said it was a great success and will be held again this year.

Good morning everyone,

Let's try not to forget that one of the greatest influences in model aviation has just passed. The TOC was created by this man, and I feel that since he has passed, and to honor his legacy, let the Tournament and all of its greatness pass with him. Even if the event was going to continue, I don't think it would be the same without him here to be a part of it. Mr. Bennett, you will be missed!

Anyway, I just thought I would share my feelings about it.

Ryan Taylor
2002 TOC Competitor

No disrespect, but i dissagree. Personaly, what i hope from life is to accomplish something that lives on longer than i do. Keeping the torniment alive is not something to do in spite of Mr. Bennett leaving us. It is something to do because it honnors the great vision he had for the sport, and it honnors the effort and sacrafice he made to get it started.

Many years ago there was a kind hearted soul we all know as Saint Nick. Without being part of the tradition of Christmas, the memory of that man would have drifted off into obsurity and we would have lost something important. Because we have honnored him in our tradition, he has become more than just a humble and kind man that made life nicer for a few. He is remembered and his kindness has been extended to the lives of Billions. I never knew him, but it is quite possible Mr. Bennett deserves the some of that.