Ok, let's throw out pros and cons:
BBG
Pros:
- One of a kind tournament environment. When was the last time you were outside during a tournament?
- Chinatown Fair is right around the corner, so if you go 0-2 and don't care to watch the rest, head on over to CF to play otherwise.
- Plentiful amount of places to eat, and with a good variety, usually cheap too.
- No entry fee. Just money for the tournament.
- Classic post tournament gang up at Ajisen.
Cons:
- Limited amount of time to play. The electricity has been shut off at previous BBG's, and rushing towards the end can be a hassle.
- Limited amount of space. Chinatown don't give a fuck that you rented the place out, you will continue to have people doing tai-chi to your left, homeless drunkards to your right, and random folks show up just to fill up space.
- The hostels by the location are pure shit, and to be honest, not all that safe.
- Only usable in certain weather conditions. For two seasons of the year it's just far too cold to use.
- We must provide all the equipment. Rainy weather can mess around with the equipment as well.
- With technology being what it is now, being able to stream from BBG is an impossibility. The likelihood of someone taping all of top 8 is quite a push as well.
- No bathrooms available.
- Sitting on the ground.
- Must reserve a month in advance, making monthlies much harder to plan out.
On Blast
Pros:
- Easy to get to. One train ride away from Times Square (a 45 minute long ride mind you), but much easier to explain then BBG's location.
- Do not have to provide all the equipment , if any.
- Indoors, so the location is available for use all year around, rain or shine.
- Streaming is available and at good speeds too.
- Has options for food as well, very close by.
- Bathroom is available.
- We will be sharing the location with other people playing games, not exercising or excessively drunk (unless it's Jiyuana).
- Monthlies become much more easier to schedule.
- Can play much, much longer then BBG ever allowed us to.
- Chairs!
Cons:
- Entry fee. Five dollars for now, possibly $10 in the future.
- When people start packing it the places does get a bit humid / hot. Quickly.
- While options for food are available, it's the usual (McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, etc).
- We will be sharing the location with SF4 players. Bastards.
- Tournament environment is nothing special, just the usual.
- No post tourney anything.
- No hostels or otherwise in the area, local hotels would be far more expensive.
The thing to take note of here is that BBG became an option because we simply didn't have any others available. BBG only had half its tournaments in the actual gazebo, the rest took place infront of Snapple machines in the lower end of the park. The resulting tournaments were great expierences, but in reality we've always been looking for another area to play at, possible to hold bi-weekly casuals or otherwise at. If this place had been found before BBG1 then BBG would have never existed to begin with.
Anyways I wouldn't mind moving all future events to Gamestation, but then I wouldn't mind holding BBG's at the gazebo and going to Gamestation during the fall / winter.
Speak up guys.
:p