Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

[Club81]

I've been to Vegas 10+ times, but never to the casino/eateries, let alone the convention space. I see that it has 160K sq feet of space. I think the Riv has 150K sq feet of space. Please correct me if I'm wrong on those.

But more importantly, please tell me why this is going to be better than the Riv. I have NO DOUBT that it will be -- I have complete confidence in DT and Company to get us to a place that can handle 12-15K (BTW, anybody know the official DEFCON 18 headcount?)

I'll be there regardless, but somebody tell me why the Rio >> Riv for DEFCON. A good list would include:

Bigger speaker rooms? CHECK!

Wider Hallways? CHECK!

More eateries (looks that way from my initial recon)? CHECK!


What else should jack me up about the move to the Rio?

**Cot: Please move to DC19 Planning when that goes up! (Yep, I'm waaaaaay ahead of you on this one! :-))

[TheCotMan]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

I've been to Vegas 10+ times, but never to the casino/eateries, let alone the convention space. I see that it has 160K sq feet of space. I think the Riv has 150K sq feet of space. Please correct me if I'm wrong on those.

That is a strange thing. We were talking about this in another space, and check this out:

Sorted List of Las Vegas Convention Spaces ordered by size

This says the Riv and Rio both have 160,000 square feet of convention space. In our discussion elsewhere, some proposed that the Riv may count their space differently, such as include hallways while the Rio may just count the rooms, or maybe the Riv has lots and lots of tiny rooms, or maybe the Riv counts the back area used by the loading docks.

Also, according to the Rio information online, the Rio claims additional outside space:

Outdoor Site
Space is not an issue at the Rio.

* 500,000 square feet of available outdoor space
* 18,0000 square feet of tented space adjacent to conference area
* Additional tented space available

But more importantly, please tell me why this is going to be better than the Riv. I have NO DOUBT that it will be -- I have complete confidence in DT and Company to get us to a place that can handle 12-15K

Yep.

(BTW, anybody know the official DEFCON 18 headcount?)

Not me.

I'll be there regardless, but somebody tell me why the Rio >> Riv for DEFCON. A good list would include:

Bigger speaker rooms? CHECK!

Wider Hallways? CHECK!

More eateries (looks that way from my initial recon)? CHECK!

Ate at their buffet 6 years ago and it was pretty good food, but not cheap.

What else should jack me up about the move to the Rio?

As discussed elsewhere:
* 5 pools
* Commute to see Penn and teller not so far anymore (unless they move.)
* Path to Atomic testing Museum is easy and a straight shot down the same street past the freeway.
* Closer to American Shooters
* Nicer hotel rooms than the Riv
* [Edit: Added] According to a source on the dc-stuff mailing list and another in another channel, DCTV will return with up to 6 channels... perhaps all tracks will be pumped to the rooms at the Rio.

Other things of interest:

Combination Map/Square Feet info for spaces in convention areas at Rio.

In talking to other people about this, some pictures have been taken already of menus, and the venue. Perhaps they will post links to them here.

**Cot: Please move to DC19 Planning when that goes up! (Yep, I'm waaaaaay ahead of you on this one! :-))

Yep! Changed the title, set a sticky. Will try to remember when DC19 planning forum rolls out. If not, please remind me.

[reminy]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

What else should jack me up about the move to the Rio?

It's not imploded or in bankruptcy.

[kerryh]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

I think Rio would make a great fit for Defcon.

+ Free shuttle that runs to other Harrahs properties on the strip. I know Paris and Harrahs have a shuttle running back and forth to the Rio all day long.

+ Gold Coast and Palms are within walking distance. Gold Coast is good for the money and Palms is a little plusher if that's what you're looking for.

+ Voodoo Steak and Lounge (top of the Rio) would make for an epic private party.

[greatscott]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

The pools are way nicer:

The Rio Pools:

[LupusMaximus]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

The pools are way nicer:

The Rio Pools:

...Aaand, one of the pools is topless, as in, they ENCOURAGE bare boobies. Yeah, I think we'll fit in just fine.

[TheCotMan]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

...Aaand, one of the pools is topless, as in, they ENCOURAGE bare boobies. Yeah, I think we'll fit in just fine.

This came up in another discussion space and was answered by another person with the following URL and news stories:

Metro: Prostitution, drug activity found at topless Rio Pool Published Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | 1:37 p.m.

Shortly before that...

Rio closes topless pool after Metro Police checkPublished Tuesday, July 28, 2009 | 5:28 p.m.

This was 2009. Maybe things have changed.

Google search for more: Google: topless pool prostitution rio closed arrest drugs

Who needs naked boobies when you have Defcon?

[LupusMaximus]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

This came up in another discussion space and was answered by another person with the following URL and news stories:

Metro: Prostitution, drug activity found at topless Rio Pool Published Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | 1:37 p.m.

Shortly before that...

Rio closes topless pool after Metro Police checkPublished Tuesday, July 28, 2009 | 5:28 p.m.

This was 2009. Maybe things have changed.

Google search for more: Google: topless pool prostitution rio closed arrest drugs

Who needs naked boobies when you have Defcon?

Oh well. I was speaking more on behalf of the defcon girls who liked to skinny dip at the riviera, who were quickly chased off by security. I was hoping they'd have a safer place to venture. :)

[BlackOrchid]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

POOLS!!! I'm sold! Now we need to control at least ONE!

[Clutch]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

I am hoping they have a reliable shuttle to and from the airport... That is something I really think would benefit a lot of us.

[Melesse]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

I was looking at the sizes the other day, myself. They both advertise similar amounts of space, but if you hit up their websites for dimensions and sq. footage, it looks like a significant difference. All sq. feet are approximate.

Riviera -
Two main rooms that are divided for contests, speakers
Grande Ballroom - 44,000 sq. feet
Royale Pavilion - 46,000 sq. feet

Smaller side rooms for lockpicking village, EFF fundraiser, speaker, etc. (totals)
Skyboxes - ~10,000 sq. feet
Capri 101+102 (chillout) - ~6,000 sq. feet
Capri 103-116 (misc) - ~13,300 sq. feet

Total used - 120,000 sq. feet (approx)

Rio -

Pavilion - 64,000 sq. feet
Amazon - 39,000 sq. feet
Brasilia - 20,000 sq. feet
Miranda - 11,000 sq. feet
Smaller meeting rooms - ~17,000 sq. feet (quick add, errors abound!)

Total - 152,000 sq. feet (approx)

The Riv space included the Top of the Riv rooms, but that's not THAT big. I feel like they must have included hallways in their count.

So, what are your predictions for what they're going to do with all this extra space? Same number of room, just more space in each one? More contests? Multiple "skybox"-like smaller talks? I imagine more tracks would be a negative, given that some of the track 1 talks had huge lines.

I'm looking forward to seeing it though.

Mel

[tweek]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

Friend and I did a walk around on Sunday night of the conf area at the Rio. It is huge, even the hallway leading to it is big (we had an idea for segway races down it). Lots of areas for swag sales, vendor area, etc and the good thing is its sort of separate to the hotel so pretty self contained.

The problems I see we will face is the fact it is in the Rio, a more 'legit' casino. There will be A LOT more of the general public to deal with rather than the 30 odd old people at the Riv which means the security maybe a lot less lenient, no more scooter jousting at 3am. Dont know how the hotel staff will cope with the Goons doing the policing, the Riv seems to have an understanding but the Rio may not. We also have to walk through more of the casino from the room towers to the conf area.

But there are about a dozen places to eat inside with all sorts of cuisine, one of the pools has sand (so I was told), some good drinking establishments and the one by the main enterance has a VERY nice waitress and MS tablet tables to play with. There is also a sort of back access road between the Rio and Ceasers for those doing BlackHat.

Oh and I was there for about 20 mins and someone tried to nick my wallet.

[Club81]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

<good points>

So, what are your predictions for what they're going to do with all this extra space? Same number of room, just more space in each one? More contests? Multiple "skybox"-like smaller talks? I imagine more tracks would be a negative, given that some of the track 1 talks had huge lines.

I'm looking forward to seeing it though.

Mel

My #1 guess (and hope) is to just add more sq feet to the main four or five speaker rooms. More room for every event would be great, but that is #1 on my list.

[arahel_jazz]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

My bet is that both properties would be hungry for an event with 10-12K attendees. Has the planning committe even floated the idea past the Rio folks?

DC18 was probably the best behaved DC I've been to soo far. Either the Goons are getting better at keeping folks under reign, or we are all getting older and slowing down a bit... nah...

+1 for the Rio in my book... better Poker room too. :-)

One thing to consider is that rooms at the Rio are a bit more than the Riv.

July 2011 rates: (average per night - weekend rate - 2 nights)
Deluxe studio suite: $119 to $180
Premium studio suite: $159 to $229
Masquerade suite: $669 to $739
Carioca suite: $1,119 to $1,189

Combine that with a possible increase in registration fees due to the change of venue, and we may have to do a trade-off study to see if we could still get 10K attendance.

Would you attend DC19 if the registration was $250? Hell yes, I would. I may not stay at the Rio, but would still pay the higher price.

[kallahar]

Re: Defcon 19: [So tell me about the Rio] (recon and intel)

What sucks is that Defcon is turning into a corporate event, ie BlackHat lite. What happened to the hijinks? The stolen GTE doors, the phone system hacking? Unfortunately I think that the Rio will be better for sitting in talks (bigger rooms, less lines) but far worse for having fun. For me, the talks are the LEAST important part of con, they all end up online anyway!