The Palmetto Regional's New Location

[JohnFogarty]

I just heard from a team member in the upstate, who was told by his mentor that the Palmetto regional might be moving to Myrtle Beach this year? I don't know if anyone who's connected to Palmetto Partners uses CD, but I'd just like to hear the SC's team's thoughts on this.
1. No engineering schools in Myrtle that I can think of off hand.
2. I was told this is because the Canadians wanted a beach competition....
that can't be it....
3. Tourism?
4. it's just a rumor and since no official event location is on the first website so I should just shut up.

[JohnFogarty]

....http://www.myrtlebeachconventioncenter.com/calendar.php
oh but I just confirmed it. Scroll to Feb/March 2013.
Thanks to the rumor competition schedule posts.

[Billfred]

The way I heard the story was that Myrtle Beach was willing to give the regional the convention center for free.

I have a personal preference for holding events in arenas--convention centers don't quite have the same feel--but you can bet that we'll be down there going for the threepeat!

[HumblePie]

Straight from a member of the Palmetto Planning Committee, I heard that while the original contract with the N. Charleston Coliseum was for 3 years, next year's dates conflict with an SC Stingrays hockey game. The game(s), against the Florida Everblades is (are) typically well attended and the hockey team wouldn't budge. Plan B was to shift to Myrtle Beach for 2013. Plans (so far) are to return to N. Charleston in 2014.

[JohnFogarty]

Originally Posted by Billfred

The way I heard the story was that Myrtle Beach was willing to give the regional the convention center for free.

I have a personal preference for holding events in arenas--convention centers don't quite have the same feel--but you can bet that we'll be down there going for the threepeat!

I see, hmm well it should be interesting.

I much rather like arenas than convention centers as well, however I've seen some convention centers that are arenas. So I have no idea what the Myrtle Beach convention center looks like...

Are you guys going to break the Omaha luck USC had?
I'm not speculating anything anymore considering a week one competition unnerves me a bit in whether or not we'll be at our "A" game.

[Gary Dillard]

The way I heard it, every city that has hosted the Palmetto Regional (what does this make, 6?) has asked the South Carolina teams politely not to come back so they have to keep moving

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by John_1102

I see, hmm well it should be interesting.

I much rather like arenas than convention centers as well, however I've seen some convention centers that are arenas. So I have no idea what the Myrtle Beach convention center looks like...

Are you guys going to break the Omaha luck USC had?
I'm not speculating anything anymore considering a week one competition unnerves me a bit in whether or not we'll be at our "A" game.

We're sure as heck gonna try! Our first-regional-of-the-year streak is hit or miss:

2009: Bayou (Semis, Rookie Inspiration)
2010: Bayou (No elims, J&J GP)
2011: Peachtree (Champions)
2012: Peachtree (Quarters)

The only time we really fell on our face at our first event was 2010 at Bayou; that was rough. 2011 saw us get better all of a sudden at eliminations (even I don't know how all the issues just stopped), and 2012 was surprisingly steady past a stupid first-match sit-out for bumpers (no comment ).

Originally Posted by Gary Dillard

The way I heard it, every city that has hosted the Palmetto Regional (what does this make, 6?) has asked the South Carolina teams politely not to come back so they have to keep moving

Myrtle Beach will be four (Columbia 2004-2007, Clemson 2008-2010, North Charleston 2011-2012).

[JohnFogarty]

wasn't there a regional pre-2004?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by John_1102

wasn't there a regional pre-2004?

Not in South Carolina. (Peachtree started in 2003.)

[JohnFogarty]

I only ask because 1102 has been around since 2001, I've never actually asked someone where our original regionals were held.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by John_1102

I only ask because 1102 has been around since 2001, I've never actually asked someone where our original regionals were held.

Not quite. (2003 was the first year for four-digit team numbers...and it's not too far below 1293, which started in 2004.)

[jeser#1772]

If palmetto is confirmed for the Week 1 , 1772 is happy to go back to South Caroline in 2013!

[Mark McLeod]

1102 History says the team won Rookie All-Star in 2003 as Billfred indicated.
They began making their mark at the Peachtree Regional.

Originally Posted by John_1102

I only ask because 1102 has been around since 2001, I've never actually asked someone where our original regionals were held.

Originally Posted by Billfred

Not quite. (2003 was the first year for four-digit team numbers...and it's not too far below 1293, which started in 2004.)

[SteveGPage]

We are so thrilled that we get to head south and join in the fun at the Palmetto Regional! This will be our first trip to this exciting regional event! I look forward to seeing many of our friends who have traveled up to our northern regionals, as well as meeting many new friends! I was so happy we got one of the 12 open slots that filled up in that first minute!

[kjohnson]

Can any locals provide the out-of-town teams a quick list of things to do or places to eat that can handle groups in the Myrtle Beach area, specifically within walking distance of the Convention Center? I'm just as good as using Google as anyone else, but its hard to know what will be open at the beach in February/March...