Old Orchard Beach, ME AUTO could be back on.

[CBQ]

For everyone lamenting the cancellation of Old Orchard Beach, the reduced number of contests in the northeast, or your inability to sign up for the Granite State BBQ contest before it sold out, this is YOUR chance to sign up for an auto-qualifier.

The Old Orchard Beach Contest Organizer is reconsidering hosting a contest in Maine this year on June 18th and 19th IF we can demonstrate team interest. This contest would be auto qualifier for The Jack and The American Royal. This would not be a "big money" contest, with a prize pool similar to last year. (Expect it to be in the 4k-5k range, potentially larger depending on the number of teams.)

If you are can COMMIT to competing in this contest if offered, please complete the following survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8W9ZY7Y

Hey, it's a freakin' auto for The Jack. For the past two years this context overlapped other northeast contests, and the organizer was getting discouraged by the low number of teams. The contest only needs 15 to be an auto (it's the only contest in Maine before the cut off date), but the organizer wants to see 25 to continue. It's a nice contest held on grass with water and power provided, and it's only a few minutes from the freeway. The organizer is a former member of the Maine state legislature so she has the connections to get a proclamation quickly.

 

[jread23]

We would do it if it were in July. Too much going on in June and not much in the area in July. Oh well.

 

[WTP-Josh]

Cant commit at this point but will be following !

 

[CBQ]

We would do it if it were in July. Too much going on in June and not much in the area in July. Oh well.

We have a few requests for July, but we can't put it against Lake Placid or Harpoon or Smokin' at the Maples.

That leaves only the 9th-10th and 16th-17th. The 16th-17th is traditionally the weekend for RI. They moved it this year, but it's probably going back to that weekend in the future, leaving really only the 9th/10th as an alternate date, but some New England teams also do Wildwood, NJ on the 8th/9th.

(July 16/17 does have the NEBS contest in Brookline, NH, and some of the teams interested in OOB also like to cook those events.)

Bottom line, it's probably staying in June.

Hopefully you can reconsider the June date, we lost a lot of contests in the northeast this year; trying to keep a few going.

 

[Smokin Hoggz]

We have a few requests for July, but we can't put it against Lake Placid or Harpoon or Smokin' at the Maples.

That leaves only the 9th-10th and 16th-17th. The 16th-17th is traditionally the weekend for RI. They moved it this year, but it's probably going back to that weekend in the future, leaving really only the 9th/10th as an alternate date, but some New England teams also do Wildwood, NJ on the 8th/9th.

(July 16/17 does have the NEBS contest in Brookline, NH, and some of the teams interested in OOB also like to cook those events.)

Bottom line, it's probably staying in June.

Hopefully you can reconsider the June date, we lost a lot of contests in the northeast this year; trying to keep a few going.

Nobody from New England goes to Wildwood, so July 9th is open, and smokin' @ the maples isn't even on the events page for July 30th. Historically this contest has struggled to get to 25 teams, only once has this contest had over 25 teams since it has started. Maybe moving the date would help with this issue. There is just too much going on in June. July would be better!

 

[CBQ]

After getting some feedback from teams, the organizer is now offering a July date for this contest, AND a prize pool of $7,500. Yes, both dates are before the cutoff for The Jack so it's still an auto-qualifier.

If interested, please take the survey. If you already took it, please take it again as we need to know your date preference. PM me if you have questions, or just ask them here.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5K97GWN

 

[CBQ]

Old Orchard Beach, Maine is back on! We got enough teams for the organizer to offer a $7,500 prize pool for the event.

KCBS has approved it as a State Championship: http://www.kcbs.us/event/6546/smokin-at-the-ballpark-bbq-fest

Yes, it's an auto for The Jack.

The application is attached, send it in today to reserve your spot.

 

[Bob S]

Our app is going in the mail tomorrow.