Kansas City
in 2016:
A Heroic Bid to Bring the
World Science Fiction Convention
to a Super City in 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I've been hearing about you since 2010, No parties, no web page, no information. Where the heck are you and what's up?
A: We have a web page now! (You are here!) Bidding is expensive, both in money and people points. We announced the 'NOT A BID YET" as soon as we knew we had the facilities, people and hotel space. This is for various reasons. First, it was a courtesy to the fan community. Other groups are constantly scoping out the future for possible bids. Many do not want to run against another bid. By making our intentions known early we gave other groups a clearer picture of the landscape. It also gives the community the opportunity to mount a challenge to us if they perceive KC to be a poor choice, or our group a weak potential committee. Make no mistake, we would prefer to run unopposed, but we recognize that the market and our performance as members of the community will dictate that and we are prepared to run a contested bid.
Q: Is Kansas City the best place to hold a Worldcon?
A: No. Montreal is, in our humble opinion. Or Philadelphia, or Boston, or Denver, and Los Angeles was no slouch. There are many other "best" places to hold a Worldcon. And we surely know Kansas CIty is not at the top of anyone's must-see list. But Kansas CIty has some unique features that none of these other places have and we are proud of what it has to offer. Our stock answer is "We can keep you entertained for a week in Kansas City". Beyond that you have to get to know it and learn to love it like we do. Please see the "Attractions" page for more information.
Q: Well if Kansas City is good for a week what about your Facilities?
A: We got 'em. We have a signed contract with the rights of first refusal. Again we have (or will have) a page with all of the numbers on Bartle Hall and the Kansas City Convention Center. One of the advantages for the Worldcon is that we will have close to 80% of the downtown hotel rooms and 60% of the Convention Hall space. We will be the only game in town. A very big deal in a major media market.
Q: How about the weather? Will I get sucked up by a tornado and taken to Oz?
A: Sorry to disappoint, but Oz apparently only accepts Kansans. We will be in Missouri. Additionally, tornadoes typically occur in Spring and to a lesser extent in fall. We will be in full summer (Labor Day) in Kansas City. The weather will be beautiful.
Q: How come I can't get a discount on my Worldcon Membership by Friending the Bid?
A: This is complicated, and possibly best explained by Dave McCarty in PR1 from Chicon 7. In a nutshell, what we are trying to do by bidding for the Worldcon is to be granted, by the Worldcon and WSFS, the right to to be the Steward of the Worldcon in 2016. We are not, until that right has been granted, allowed to do anything officially for the Worldcon or WSFS. So promising discounts, which is effectively Worldcon's money, seems somewhat disingenuous. It costs a lot to bid, $30,000.00 does not seem unusual. We will be asking for money, you may be assured. At this writing we have not decided whether to hold money in escrow as Chicago did. We will however be exceedingly transparent irrespective of what we do. We are looking very carefully at potential money raising prospects such as raffles, swag, and begging.