Well Raul, or whoever has been to Houston, what is there to do there? I mean, where would (at what place) would they be held? I mean, there arn't a lot of places that can take all those ppl. Also, what 'fun' things can you do there. And, Raul, i know that you said that you can't say how you found out, but could you mabey hint?

Also, if we could figure out at what place the Nats. would be held, they may have a list of all events at that place on their website, and they might have put up that FIRST will be held there.

I guess last year was my last Nationals....

I was just snooping around at possible locations. While looking around Houston, I found this photo, and my reaction was "Oh!, the endless possibilities!" with a place like this.

It depends on how many teams they limit nationals to this year.

Last year my old team (an odd-numbered team) got into nationals because there were some spots left after the qualifying teams had ample time to register. They then left the remaining spots open to all teams to take, so our leader grabbed it right away.

Counting the amount of money it costs to travel farther than Houston rather than Disney, I'd rather have someone else go than me, someone more important.

WOW!
 

WOW WEEDIE, THATS SOME PHOTO:rolleyes:

i'm from houston and the reliant domain (astrodome, astroarena, reliant stadium, etc.) which is the most likely place it will be is right across the freeway from Astroworld and Waterworld with a bridge from the complex's parking lot over the freeway. about 10-15 min from the galleria, 60-90 min from the beach, 45 min from spashtown, less then an hour from 2 airports and since houston is not a major tourist hub, there are reasonible prices (for the most part)

I just did a search on Travelocity. The cheapest roundtrip flight from Richmond to Orlando at around the right time was 207. The cheapest to Houston was 277. I'd think that extra 70 would be offset by the cheaper hotel rates you're bound to get in Houston. Plus, while airfare might be a little more expensive for the Eastern teams, it will be that much cheaper for the Western teams.

thanks weedie, but that isn't a real pic, but at least it shows me the large ammout of space. I personally think that moving the nats. more west would help the west teams in flight costs which would be a good chagne(like Kevin said). As for $70 more, that really isn't a big deal for most teams.

Thanks TomA for telling me what is around Houston. I really didn't know and i'm gald now that i know that are things to do. The hour drive to the airport is a little more than it was in orlando, but i don't think it is that much longer.

I hope they announce soon! i can't wait!

That 70 dollars will probably be saved since your not paying "Disney Inflation" to eat, stay at hotels, or buying souvineers..

and

Yes there is a lot to do in Houston, but my question is: does it really take an hour to get to the airport??? I was in Houston back in the summer of '99 and it took us about 35 to 45 minutes to get from our hotel (a few blocks from the astrodome) to the airport....

If it only takes 30-45 min to get to the airport, then heck, thats pretty much the same as disney. And yes, i'd think that just about everything would be cheeper becasue of no disney. Especially if they hold it close to easter. I'm sure busneisses rase prices around easter, so it would be even worse going to orlando during easter. (Not to mention millions of ppl :)

OK - our rumor source that said Houston also said it will be April 10-12, the week after the last regionals. Has anybody else heard this?

Personally, i'd think that they would give it more than a week after the last regional. BUT... how much after the last regional was it last year?

It depends on what airport you fly into. There are two in Houston, they consider 3, major airports there. Bush and Hobby are the better known. You probably flew into Hobby because it is only supposed to be 7 miles from the central business district of Houston. Bush, the intercontinental airport, is 23 miles north of downtown so if you fly into that one it can take about 30 min. to get to Houston, depending on traffic of course from my experience there. So it really depends on which one you fly into. If you need anymore info you can always go to Houstons airport web page houstonairportsystem.org

~SHANA~

Will they hold Nationals during AP exams, SAT, ACT, or Easter weekend?

Starting the weekend after the last regional...

April 10-12 : ACT Test
April 17-19 : Easter weekend
April 24-26 : nothing that I can think of...
May 1-3 : SAT Test
May 8-10 : AP exams
May 15-17 : AP exams