Sam's Club Announcment

[jaestar]

Region 2 coming out of KC would be a tough few weeks...local Sam's Club, American Royal, Sam's Regional and then Sam's Final.

[Tim H]

Bummer... no OHIO contest site for 2013... was hoping for a Cleveland or Columbus site... will probably opt out of the Sam's festivities in 2013... just cannot afford to make the long travel arrangements

[dmprantz]

Originally Posted by Rich Parker

Sam's Club competitions are not ran by KCBS only sanctioned by KCBS. They can do whatever they want.

I don't know that this is completely true. Walmart's marketing team is involved, but the series as run by MMA, who is KCBS' marketing team. Officially KCBS has no direct management of the events, but it happens on their retainer so to speak.

dmp

[Rich Parker]

Originally Posted by dmprantz

I don't know that this is completely true. Walmart's marketing team is involved, but the series as run by MMA, who is KCBS' marketing team. Officially KCBS has no direct management of the events, but it happens on their retainer so to speak.

dmp

Agreed, but doubt KCBS is telling Sam's Club who is putting up $500k where there comps are going to be to an extent other than denying their sanctioning.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by stevrod

Interesting thought, although as BigMista states; Thousands of members in So Cal., All previous have filled early and had waiting lists. Oh and by the way the one west coast event is in the heart of PNWBA territory. Here's an idea, maybe it time to let Sam's continue on their own. KCBS could just license the software and intellectual property. Sam's would then be free to do as they please, KCBS could operate as the members expect, and life goes on. Sam's has done some great things for BBQ awareness, but lets remember Sam's is doing this to build business and profits. We do this for the competition and camaraderie.

It wasn't meant as a slam on Cali. I am speaking on what I know and saw. The KCBS banquet last year in SD was not well represented by the thousands of So Cal members then... and the SD contest took forever to sell out last year. Midwest locals are always the first locals to sell out. The series is not about where all the KCBS members are located. If that was the case why does texas keep getting contests and they are not a KCBS state with numbers? And Tucson is.dnot that far for So Cal teams. Other regions have to travel as well.

[RangerJ]

I think a study of Sams / Wal Mart's history makes some of this obvious to include the "why" of Texas.

Which may not be heavy in KCBS membership but filling the 4 locals over 2 years here was not an issue.

[Rub]

I loved the series last year and had a blast in Bentonville. But it amounts to 58 hours of pulling a trailer for 2 contests should someone in central FL progress through. That part is not fun.

[JD McGee]

Gonna be a busy April in these here parts of the country!

[Funtimebbq]

While at the Jack Daniel's contest this year, we had a visit from Troy Black who told us there would be no CA contest in 2013. His reason was due to the commercial fees he had to pay each year to get his RV into the state. For those of you who have been at contests, you know his RV is wrapped with all the sponsors logos from front ot back. He insisted, the RV was a private coach but the state truck inspection personnel thought otherwise and made him pay fees.

Benny

[azwildcat]

Sounds like California. They never met a tax they didn't like. The Tucson Sam's is 45 min away from us. Just pure luck. Great to have it two years in a row, but even the year before it was just up in Phoenix. We expect a bunch of So Cal teams making the 8 hr drive.

[Uncle Buds BBQ]

Here is a map view of the contests.

http://batchgeo.com/map/397f6bdf60a0...57c4618fdb9a56

[wmaes47]

Originally Posted by Funtimebbq

While at the Jack Daniel's contest this year, we had a visit from Troy Black who told us there would be no CA contest in 2013. His reason was due to the commercial fees he had to pay each year to get his RV into the state. For those of you who have been at contests, you know his RV is wrapped with all the sponsors logos from front ot back. He insisted, the RV was a private coach but the state truck inspection personnel thought otherwise and made him pay fees.

Benny

Benny

I don't believe Troy travels with the motorhome anymore... He sold it...

[BasicPatrick]

Once again no local qualifier in geographic New England. Our closest local is out on long Island. Very disappointing.

This is America and we vote with our dollars.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by azwildcat

Sounds like California. They never met a tax they didn't like. The Tucson Sam's is 45 min away from us. Just pure luck. Great to have it two years in a row, but even the year before it was just up in Phoenix. We expect a bunch of So Cal teams making the 8 hr drive.

I happen to be arriving in Tucson that weekend if you need a hand. I would be happy to come out and do what ever.

[Bentley]

Originally Posted by smoke-n-my-i's

Same thing last year with Greensboro and Apex (just 60 miles apart) on the same weekend.

This would be a no brainer for me...I will choose Apex!