This just appeared on the Hamvention website:
Dayton Hamvention® 2017 News Update
The Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) regrets to inform our many vendors, visitors and stakeholders that, unfortunately, HARA has announced the closing of their facility. We have begun execution of our contingency plan to move Hamvention® 2017 to a new home. DARA and Hamvention® have enjoyed many successful years working together with HARA Arena and we wish the Wampler family the best.
DARA and Hamvention® have been working on a contingency plan in the event HARA would become unavailable. We have spent many hours over the last few years evaluating possible locations and have found one in the area we believe will be a great new home! Due to logistics and timing issues, we will make a formal announcement introducing our new partner. This information will be coming soon. We all believe this new venue will be a spectacular place to hold our beloved event. Please rest assured we will have the event on the same weekend and, since it will be in the region, the current accommodations and outside events already planned for Hamvention 2017 should not be affected.
We look forward to your continued support as we move to a new future with The Dayton Hamvention®.
Ron Cramer
General Chairman
Dayton Hamvention 2017
mailto:[email protected]
I honestly think that this is wonderful news. It will make the Hamvention even better and attract more people.
Here’s a story from a Dayton TV station: http://wdtn.com/2016/07/29/hara-arena-to-shut-down/
And, of course, there’s the inevitable t-shirt. I’m actually thinking of buying this one. It’s only 15 bucks.
Thom w8tam says
Probably for the best. I managed to escape without any infections or diseases this year, but I know I was rolling the dice.
RickB KA8BMA says
I attended Hamventions from 1978 through 2016, missing only one year. Nothing much changed from year to year. Seeing the latest and greatest kept me coming back. No one likes change and that has me worried about a new venue. Recent years have seen more and more, major vendors down size or skip Dayton.
Here’s hoping a new location will reinvigorate Hamvention.