Carnage 5 location - opinion needed

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:48 am

OK in previous years, ignoring the 1st year in Cambridge, I've always held Carnage in central London. My reasoning behind this is that it's well served by rail links, and even road on a weekend, plenty of potential venues, decent amounts of accomodation nearby and loads of places to eat and drink.

However, recent years have seen me struggle to find a venue large enough for the right price. I am very keen to find a permanent home for Carnage as I don't think it's "nomadic" wanderings around town inspire people to come back as much as I'd want, and I'd rather not have a creeping ticket price every year as venues ramp prices up.

Anyway... I've done some preliminary investigations closer to home. Wimbleon.

I've found two possible venues. Neither does food or drink but presumably we can bring our own in, but being 2 mins walk from Wimbledon station we are well served with all kinds of food places. Not to mention LOTS of bars, restaurants etc. for the night-time - one thing I am keen to do is organise a semi-official "Carnage Curry" at a decent place near the station so we can continue the tourney after the last game on Saturday. In terms of accomodation I've seen a couple of B&Bs within 10 minutes walk although I'm guessing that there will be tons more when I scratch the surface - they have to cater for the tennis crowd SOMEHOW, after all... Finally, it's very well served by the rail and Tube links and fairly straightforward to get to from the M25.

So basically...

Can anyone think of good reasons not to move it to Wimbledon, venue(s) permitting? The biggest issue I can see is perhaps those coming in by car, especially from Anglia/North as it means an extra 30 minutes around the M25, but was wondering what kind of impact that might have.

Please give thoughts/comments...

hoomin_erra · Post by **hoomin_erra** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:59 am

There's a cheap venue near me, and i'm sure if we speak to them, it could become a permenant home for carnage.

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:03 pm

but who the f**k would want to go to scotland

Wilf · Post by **Wilf** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:14 pm

Wimbledon sounds ok to me.

Like you said, only problem would be for people driving. It could put a lot of them off, because even though it is at the weekend, driving into London is enough to put a lot of people off. That and problems for parking etc could be a deterrent.

Best way would be train and tube. People could meet up at Kings X or other suitable stations and make their way in convoy.

Something I thought of the other day, although I don't know how feasible it is on costs. What about some form of prize for the top coach for each race? I know there are 21, and it could prove problematic and expensive, but I for one would have an incentive to try out a different team and it could attract more players keen to get their hands on something. Like me!

hoomin_erra · Post by **hoomin_erra** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:18 pm

Indigo wrote:but who the f**k would want to go to scotland

Everyone?

Wombledown sounds good, but as per Wilf, the parking may be an issue.

grotuk · Post by **grotuk** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:23 pm

Wilf wrote:Something I thought of the other day, although I don't know how feasible it is on costs. What about some form of prize for the top coach for each race? I know there are 21, and it could prove problematic and expensive, but I for one would have an incentive to try out a different team and it could attract more players keen to get their hands on something. Like me!

This is very popular in spain...in tournaments of 40+ players giving unless a diploma is usual. Some bigger ones give buttons (2" aprox) with the logo of the team. I think its a really cool idea...but you need around 20-30 extra pounds spend on that.

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:47 pm

A very interesting idea... and if venue costs are lower, something that may then be feasible especially since I want to make Carnage 5 the biggest/best yet.

As for parking in Wimbledon, it's not a nightmare and easy to park slightly further afield and get a 5 min bus in. Besides if 4 people are driving together and sharing Â£40 on petrol, sharing another Â£10 for an all day parking ticket is not much more.

The more I think about that "top race coach" the more I like it.

Wilf · Post by **Wilf** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:42 pm

Cheers, glad you liked the idea.

The beauty of it, is that it gives coaches something to play for throughout the whole tournament, even if they've had a bit of a shaky start. I don't think it has to be much of a prize - ie not a trophy or anything. Grotuk's post mentions pins, or a coin, limited edition model to match the team, something along those lines would be incentive enough for me.

Any early idea of the date?

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:38 pm

Sometime in September, middle to end I'd estimate.

There's no way I can do a ltd ed model per race, getting one done full stop is hard enough

Will be contacting the venues at end of Monday latest so should know more then.

Wilf · Post by **Wilf** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:47 pm

Yer, sorry, that's probably a bit too much to ask.

How's about getting some of the better converters to come up with a model for each race? That might work - with people who specialise for particular races etc.

rodders · Post by **rodders** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:50 pm

kep it true to wimbledon and move it to milton keynes

Deathwing · Post by **Deathwing** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:07 pm

I like the Flying Horse myself, even if it is twice a year. Cracking jukebox, good atmosphere etc.

Grumbledook · Post by **Grumbledook** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:37 pm

I thought that jukebox sucked it only had 2 songs on it.

Darkson · Post by **Darkson** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:24 pm

You just couldn't reach the buttons for the rest of the songs.

Deathwing · Post by **Deathwing** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:25 pm

Grumbledook wrote:I thought that jukebox sucked it only had 2 songs on it.

Mr Blobby and something else?