October 21st, 2007
Why Red Sox winning pennant is bad for Internet phone and video
Just in- the Boston Red Sox have won Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, 11-2 over the Cleveland Indians.
If the World Series goes to a sixth and/or seventh game, the joust with the National League Colorado Rockies will take place on Wednesday, October 31 and Thursday, November 1.
The Von show in Boston-incorporating Video on the Net- starts Monday October 29 and goes thru Thursday, November 1.
So what’s potentially wrong with this picture? Great example of the Law of unintended consequences.
As a former editor at the company that runs Von, I can tell you that while many exhibitors and show attendees reserve their hotel rooms well in advance of the event, many book their rooms and flights at the last minute.
Unfortunately, many baseball fans as well as the media do this as well. That’s why decent and better-than-decent hotel rooms in Boston can hardly be found for less than $450 a night. And with taxes, $500 a night.
I am thinking these prices may scare away the attendee from the small to mid-size company that has to watch their travel budget. And as a result, there will be networking not done, new, potential business relationships that might not happen.
All because the damn Red Sox won the American League pennant, and are going to be playing the World Series in Boston on some Von dates.
And to add to that mix, don’t let me forget to mention:
Traffic will be worse.
It will be a bear to get a restaurant res (where clients could talk).
Try and find a taxi.
Oh, and did I mention October 31- a prime Von party night, and a likely World Series night-is also… Halloween?
Russell Shaw is an enterprise computing journalist, analyst and author based in Portland, Oregon. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
