Looks like GenCon is leaving the friendly confines of Milwaukee. Ed Bolme forwarded the FAQ regarding the change.

Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 18:02:11 -0800
From: "Edward Bolme" 
To: 
Subject: GenCon Moving FAQ

>From our Events department. Thought you'd want to know.

* * * * *

Why do we need to move from Milwaukee and Wisconsin, the traditional home of
Gen Con?

We had to take a long look at the future growth of both Gen Con and
Milwaukee, and realized that we have outgrown the Midwest Express Center, as
well as the city's available hotel accommodations, parking, etc. There is no
room to accommodate growth, improve the quality of the show, and satisfy our
customers needs if we stay. Gen Con will host approximately 21,000 attendees
at the 2000 show. We will use more than 13,500 hotel room nights for the
week. Milwaukee only has 2,060 rooms within a four-block radius, while
Indianapolis offers 3,500. In order for the convention to grow, we need
larger facilities that will grow with us. There are currently more than
3,000 events offered at Gen Con, but due to space limitations, that number
cannot grow. Indianapolis will allow us to offer more space to manufacturers
and dealers, as well as other sponsored events, by virtue of its larger
capacities and attached properties.

Why Indianapolis?

Gen Con has thrived in the Midwest for 32 years and we wanted to keep it
there for our customers and loyal Gen Con participants. After considering
several alternate cities, Indianapolis was able to provide the convention
facilities suitable for our anticipated growth. It is also a very affordable
destination.

Won't our attendance drop by moving out of Wisconsin?

Indianapolis will only be a four-hour drive from Milwaukee, well within the
one-day drive our average attendee currently makes. By moving the Convention
248 miles to the South, we will make the show more accessible to 2/3 of the
country's population rather than the 1/3 it is exposed to now. Furthermore,
we will bring the show within a days drive of 214 new colleges and
universities. Additionally, moving the convention to Indianapolis makes the
show more accessible to new gamers who have not had the opportunity to
attend Gen Con in the past. Indianapolis is served by more Interstate
highways than any other city in the country, and is called the crossroads of
America. It is the 12th largest city in the country, served by an airport
that offers 175 daily departures and 76 direct and nonstop flights by 18
airlines. The hotel rates we are being offered for 2003 are comparable to
what we are paying in Milwaukee at the present time.

I like the Safehouse and German restaurants in Milwaukee, what is there to
do in Indianapolis?

Indianapolis has created a lively Convention District that includes Hotels,
Restaurants, Theaters, Malls, and Nightclubs all within close proximity to
each other. While Milwaukee offers many of the same attractions, they are
scattered throughout the Downtown, and are not as conveniently located to
the Convention site. By being close to the Convention, the attendee
experiences a feeling of total involvement with the city, fellow gamers, and
the event as a whole. Some of the attractions include, Hard Rock Caf,
Jillian's Game Center/Bowling Alley, Blues Clubs, a Cineplex, and all types
of restaurants from Subway to Ruth Chris' Steak House. Within walking
distance are museums, the zoo, memorials, historical sites, shopping, parks,
and numerous other attractions.

Will the Convention Center be easier to use?

The majority of the facility is located at ground level, and the exhibit
space and adjacent hotel meeting facilities offer substantial room for
growth. We currently use 188,695 sq. ft. of exhibit hall space and
Indianapolis offers 307,000 Sq.ft. Exhibitors will appreciate the ease of
use provided by the numerous loading docks and large staging area. There is
more than three times the amount of usable meeting space onsite in
Indianapolis, and 30,000 more parking spaces in the downtown area. Four of
the largest hotels we will use are directly connected to the Convention
Center. There is much more room for growth in Indianapolis, and more
attendees mean more exhibitors and attractions, which means a better show.

Will we have the Convention at the same time of the year?

Yes, it will continue to be held in August, but we will move it to the third
week in August to position the show closer to Labor Day for those wishing to
tie their vacations to that time period. It will allow a little more time
between Origins and Gen Con. There are no other Conventions in the region
that compete with the August dates at this time.

The future dates of Gen Con are:

Milwaukee
Aug. 10-13, 2000
Aug.   2-5,   2001
Aug.  8-11,  2002

Tentative Dates - Indianapolis
Aug. 21-24, 2003
Aug. 19-22, 2004
Aug. 18-21, 2005
Aug. 17-20, 2006