Rural areas can't handle 400+ people descending on them, plus they don't have big airports. I don't want to double my travel costs and sleep in a barn.

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What?! No Woodstock-like Go tournaments?

Whoa. Camping and Go. That could be cool. I'll skip the mud part though.

I didn't know you were so picky.

I was thinking more about big city vs. suburban venues. Access by air and rail would obviously be a plus.

If I'm not mistaken there was a very successful congress in Houston which is very humid in addition to being hot. Everything is indoors at the congress and everything is air conditioned in Phoenix. Since Phoenix is close to all sorts of interesting places to visit it might attract people who want to make the congress a family vacation. Also, August in Phoenix is the "off season" so airfares might be cheaper.

But at Go Congresses (at least the EGC's that I went to, I never went to the AGC), I always need my outside time... After all, what could be greater than a nice long run in the evening after playing go all day long? Plus, who wants to stay inside in summer when you could also be enjoying beautiful weather?

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My name is Gijs, from Utrecht, NL.

When in doubt, play the most aggressive move

I wonder how cheaply. I looked at last congress and getting a hotel in the area was cheaper than the dorm options and that was without any discounts.

next week we will officially know if Birmingham is where the 2012 or 2013 is.

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“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem

What is the intented venue? UAB?

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Yes. We will be using the entire campus, and they currently plan on outsourcing labor by mapping and getting deals for local restaurants. We are trying to make room's affordable as well. plus Birmingham has a humongous mall, and other cool attractions(it is a pretty big city).

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“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem

Alright, the trick is that you'll have to give comprehensive recommendations and evaluations of all the Southern food within a 40 mile radius--I need something with which to lobby my wife. We'll look sceptically at Alabama barbeque, but go ahead and tell us about it.

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Occupy Babel!

Everyone looks down on Alabama, because they think we are idiots. The actual reality is that the ideas that make Alabama run are from geniuses not hicks. I dare say I have seen the most Go potential out of Alabama players then most other states, but I digress we will map out all the restaurant with in driving distance. The Restaurants in Birmingham go from from the best southern meals to the best Asian food you could try(that is why the south is known for it's hospitality ). I can promise this will be a great congress and please participate knowing that you are contributing to spreading Go in the south eastern region.

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“I’m here to play go and chew bubble gum, and I’m all out of gum”- misquoted duke nukem

I went to Birmingham in summer once for a motorcycle race at Barber Motorsports Park. Honestly going in summer was awful weather, and I couldn't find much to do there.

I wish you luck organizing the tournament though.

As long as y'all allow white stones and black stones on the same board, I'll be there.

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Balmung, it's nothing to do with hicks. It's just that I'm from North Carolina, and our attitude is that nothing can compare to Eastern North Carolina barbecue.

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Occupy Babel!

This was an inappropriate comment, administrator not withstanding.

really? I don't think so. I think its pretty funny.

there's a lot of civil rights history in Birmingham, and I'll be looking forward to being able to take in some of it.

It seems to me that the comment was truly misguided. Here we have an enthusiatic volunteer, who is trying to generate some excitement. Already, without prompting, he feels the need to defend his state for not being exactly on the jet set circuit.

Then an admin from the part of the country that has given us riots and Rodney King has the gall to suggest, humourously or humourlessly, that he needs some assurances regarding race relations.

Watts funny about that?

Just so people aren't misguided (I know this is going back a few days in the discussion) ... the greatest portion of the registration cost comes from the cost of supporting the Professionals, the next greatest from comps or venues, depending on the locale and the cost of things like room and board.

Also, I am extremely excited at the prospect of a Birmingham congress. I think that it would be great, both for the region and for opening the eyes of Americans who might otherwise overlook the region, to experience what the area has to offer.