[EricH]

Originally Posted by Zaque

Crossing the date line shouldn't effect distance...

No, but it does tend to throw off travel plans (you have to plan for it being a different day on the other side when you get there). That being said, the China and Australia teams (and anybody else in that area) would probably tend to head for the Houston event as being closer than Detroit. (Unless, of course, Detroit was cheaper--if you gotta fly, may as well fly cheap.)