Arm chair quarterbacks...amazes me. I have never been to Dayton but would love to go. I cannot because I am a teacher but one day I will go when I am able. But that is not important what people need to understand is that putting on an event like Dayton is not something you just decide to move. It is a tremendous undertaking to promote any event. If not, we would all be promoting rock stars across the country and making millions. The fact is that most of us have no clue what it takes to put on an event even half the size. The reason it stays in Dayton is because D.A.R.A. has learned how to do it, have the volunteers, not just to work it, but who know how to plan it and negotiate the requirements. I am willing to bet a dollar to a donut that if D.A.R.A. posted on eHam today that they were getting out of the business and would be willing to give the event to whatever club could handle it, there were be no club capable of standing up and saying they could do it. Don't believe me, just try organizing even a small event like a special operating event. Just try it and see what happens. Pick a historical site near your location and plan a special event station with the requirements that you operate 24 x 7 for a 3 day period on 3 bands. Make sure you have operators to cover all shifts as well as PR people present to explain what is going on. You can either sell concessions yourself or hire someone else to do it for you - you keep the profits. Don't forget to promote your event to get people to come out. You decide if you want to charge admission or not. Try to get one major vendor to come and if you have the nerve, tell them you are going to charge them to attend. Now, most of us have no clue where to start. Maybe we think we do, but we do not. And even if we do, most of us do not the time, energy, or gonads to take it on.
So get off your high horses folks. This has been discussed and disgusted over and over. The D.A.R.A folks have looked at other venues and for whatever reason have not found anything suitable at this time. Give em a break! If you don't want to go - don't go! If you want to put them out of business - do it by putting on a better show. If it makes you feel better by coming here and bad-mouthing them, please stop. It serves no purpose, is not constructive, and only gives new Hams a bad impression. It is time the trolls on this subject either put up or shut up.
Thanks D.A.R.A. you folks are a class act. I appreciate all you do for the ham radio community.