We are pleased to formally announce the details for Outsports Conference 2004. The conference will be held in Philadelphia on the weekend of May 21-23, 2004. For those of you who didn't attend last year's "The Year We Met" conference in Los Angeles, all attendees had a great time and many of the attendees had impromptu gatherings in New York and Montreal last year, traveling again to meet the Outsports friends they met in Los Angeles. :cool:

The official conference hotel is Loews Philadelphia. The hotel is centrally located so you will not need to rent a car. The Loews Outsports 2004 conference rate is $109/night. You must call Loews Philadelphia at (215) 627-1200 to obtain this special Outsports.com
rate, as it is not available through Loews national reservations system. This rate and the rooms we reserved are only guaranteed through Friday April 30th, so please make your reservations by this date.

Outsports 2004 will start with a social on Friday
evening, and continue through late Sunday afternoon. Included in the weekend will be speakers, contests, a swap wink (don't get any ideas!), fun and games, and a Phillies game at the brand new baseball ballpark.

The registration fee for Outsports 2004 is $180.
This includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday and
Sunday, a ticket to the Phillies vs. San Diego
Padres game on Saturday night, and some other
surprises (if I told you, they wouldn't be
surprises!)

You can pay the registration fee via PayPal on
Outsports.com website or by mailing a check payable to Outsports.com LLC to:
Outsports.com
c/o GALLOP
P.O. Box 58279
Penn Center Station
Philadelphia, PA 19102
If you register by mail please enclose your e-mail address with your registration.

I encourage you to register early, and to keep this conference small and intimate, registrations will be handled on a first come, first serve basis.

More detailed travel directions will be sent you
upon receipt of registration. Travel discounts have been negotiated for those traveling on Amtrak or US Airways. If you are flying, Southwest starts flying into Philadelphia on May 9th. E-mail me at outsports2004@yahoo.com for discount details.

If you have any questions, please post them here or e-mail me at Outsports2004@yahoo.com.

I have set up a poll on pre or post convention activities. Please only answer this poll if you are coming to the convention.

We look forward to seeing you in the City of
Brotherly (and Sisterly Love) in May.

[ February 16, 2004, 11:13 PM: Message edited by: scottie ]

If you need some encouragement, read about the 2003 convention. wink

Scottie, great thing to see that this convention is finally taking shape. If I can help let me know.

scottie, thanks for all your work on the Convention. I'm looking forward to it!

Story on main board has all US Airways and Amtrak discount information:

http://www.outsports.com/local/2004/0218os...sconvention.htm

Also, article in today's Inquirer has a story on how US Airways is slashing fares to meet Southwest's fares in Philadelphia. May is a perfect time to be flying to Philly. wink

Here's another airline option if you're in Denver or Los Angeles:

Frontier's fares are great ($198 round trip from LA). Problem is they start flying on May 23rd, last day of conference. But if someone wanted to come back and attend Gay Day w/Phillies that would be great (although a very expensive ballgame) wink

I registered through PayPal. Join me, won't you?

Jim Allen, check your PMs.

Joe, what e-mail address did you use to make your payment through PayPal? Even though I have a PayPal account, you need to know the official e-mail address to make your payment. I didn't see that information on any of the convention threads or links. Thanks.

I used mail@outsports.com -- PayPal had it on the record and propagated it to my screen with other e-mail addresses that I'd previously sent money to. And to distinguish it from any donations they're getting I added the remark "Outsports Convention Registration."

That worked... Thanks, Joe. I originally tried to use Outsports2004@yahoo.com, but it wasn't known to the PayPal system. But, mail@outsports.com was definitely on record, and worked easily.

I'm still trying to make the convention. I have to take a trip to Hawaii and Palm Springs in the next few months, but if I play my cards right, I should be able to swing (afford!) a trip to Philly to join you guys!

Oh, the sheer unmitigated hell that is your life... wink

If I come will I be welcomed with open arms?

(Or should I bring my battery-proof protective clothing?)

And we all dying to know...is the fabulous Gator Jamie planning on attending the conference?

You have to make that trip? Is this by court order?

All are welcome.

No comment about the rumors of brainwashing sessions. wink

If you're on the fence about whether to come to the Convention or not, I highly recommend it. I had a great time last year, and it was just so cool to put faces to screen names and actually meet the person behind the comments.

The Phillies game in their new park should be fun and I'm looking forward to seeing Philadelphia again. I wouldn't mind a tour of the Famous Things there, hint hint! Scottie, any plans for a mass Liberty Bell/Constitution Hall tour etc.?

No protective clothing will be necessary (unless perhaps you were a Dodgers shirt to the Phillies game).

Jim Allen - I posted a sep. thread with a poll about when people are arriving, leaving, what they want to do in the city. As it gets closer to the dates of the conference, we'll put some options together for people.

If you keep using "fabulous" in conjunction with my name!

We'll come up Saturday, stay Sat. nite, and return Sunday. We'd stay longer, but I've got a brass quintet rehearsal Friday night, and we're trying to cut expenses in preparation for the Big Day. I'll register in the next month or two...

Fabulous, FABULOUS, fabulous!

[ February 24, 2004, 09:55 AM: Message edited by: scottie ]

(((scottie)))

Looking forward to meeting you!

I'll be attending -- and Razorback -- we can arrange for extra protection for you. JIP and I are pretty big guys -- we'll cover your flank.

Scottie, d'oh! I went and voted, thanks.

You can also just click the Make A Donation button on Outsports' front page, and fill in the amount as $180.

It was formally announced MTV's "Real World" will start filming in Philly in April for the next few months. Maybe we can all get invited over to the "Real World" house!

Or harass the chuckleheads when they go to a bar or something! I'm ready for my closeup Mr. DeMille!

Scottie, any idea on where the block of seats at the Phillies game is going to be? Here's the seating chart for the new park; it looks intimate so every seat will be probably be OK, but I was just curious.

[ March 05, 2004, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

It' a block from my place -- so if the Real World doesn't want us -- we have an alternative

We are in section 103, which is lower level outfield on the first base side (for Jim Thome fans). Unfortunately, no lower level infield seating is available for groups, almost all of those seats have gone to season ticket holders. I've been assured we are practically on the field, and with binoculars, it should be very easy to stare (oops, I mean look) into both dugouts.

Sec. 103 looks like a prime location for catching home run balls. So, other than those who have already mentioned it here, who's coming to this shindig?

Edited to add: And is anyone definitely coming in earlier than Friday 5/21?

[ March 08, 2004, 01:32 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

I have been considering the trip up there. I'm still on the fence though. I would REALLY like to put a face to all the people I chat with on here, and the Philly game sounds great too. But, call me a prude, I was wondering what else was planned besides drinking beer and going to the clubs? I hardly drink at all and I rarely go to the clubs.

I went to similar gatherings when I lived in Oklahoma and chatted on IRC (#gaycowboys channel). Maybe it was a Texas thing but when we gathered we usually barbecued, horsed around in the pool and/or hottub, watched some good flicks (Bette Midler live and South Park were popular), threw darts in the garage, and just generally did our channel gossip face to face. We did go to the clubs at night, but as you can see there was a lot more to the gathering than drinking beer and going to the clubs.

I'm in the process of selling my Final Four tickets this year so I'm kind of in the mood to do something to make up for it. If I came I would like to bring my best friend with me. He lives in Baltimore, he's a former Maryland football player and former sports editor for a newspaper (yet I somehow can't get him to join our group?)

Would he be welcome? And if so would he have to get his own room or could he stay with me? I assume he would pay the registration fee, but I wasn't sure what else he would have to do since he is not part of the group.

Well, just let me know what you think. I'll take it from there. Thanks guys.

So many questions deserve so many answers.

First, your friend (and whoever you want wink ) is more than free to share your hotel room with you. Your friend will have to pay his own conference registration fee.

PhillyFan will disagree with this, but drinking and going to clubs is not a majority of the weekend. There will be a welcome social Friday night at a bar or restaurant in a private room for us Outsporters. Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoon will consist of a few speakers, some games/contests (non involving alcohol), and Saturday night is the Phillies game. The bar hopping and clubbing will probably be happening late Friday and Saturday nights, and will just be a group of people deciding to go out, not an official part of the conference. While some might decide to go to a popular bar, others might decide to just hang out a coffee shop or bar/restaurant to socialize. For people that arrive before Friday night or stay later, we will try and organize some sightseeing outings.

Any other questions??? wink

P.S. Of course your friend is welcome to join us!

[ March 08, 2004, 05:26 PM: Message edited by: scottie ]

timber07, the Outsports convention would be of interest to Outsporters and non-Outsporters alike.... and the 'drinking beer at the clubs' is really a minor part of the event: sort-of the meet 'n greet aspect.

Last year we had some excellent guest speakers-- Eric 'Gumby' Anderson, Helen Carroll and Patricia Nell Warren (who I got to autography my copy of The Frontrunner.) We went to a basketball game at the Staples Center. We played flag football in the park. Some of us went to an additional basketball game; others went to a hockey game. Plus there was plenty of time to socialize, hang out, and do other things in the host city. Check out the links to the 2003 Convention for details and pics.

I thought the one last year was pretty loose; I'd certainly like to spend some time at the local art galleries, maybe when I get in on Friday, before the meet-and-greet that night. The thing I liked about it was that all of our time wasn't accounted for. If Cattledog shows up, I'd certainly like to buy him a Guinness, for example, but I'm not planning on going clubbin' on Friday or Saturday. A nice, quiet coffee house with a small group would be more my speed.

From left-handed power hitters that are hung like Kentucky Derby winners? Will Section 103 have access to the BBQ place? I'm used to Staples Center, where the levels are strictly segregated so that the peasants in the nosebleed seats don't mix with the luxury suite demi-gods.

Of course you'll have access, the BBQ place ("Bull's BBQ") will be open to all. The advantage of sitting in outfield is we are closer to the food and exhibits in Ashburn Alley.

Sorry, I just read this. I will be attending this fun event in Philadelphia, and I take you up on your kind offer to buy me a Guinness. I hope there are no strings attached--like forcing me to shut up about the Yankees for 5 minutes. wink

Nah, no strings attached. Ramble on about the Yankees as much as you like--just don't expect me to agree with every thing though! The English League will have just ended by the time the Convention roles around, I hope we can chat about that for a bit amidst all the Yankees talk!

If any of you were planning a Convention/Real World Philly gawking trip, your dream will not be coming true. Real World to Philly: f**k youse: Heh heh heh heh heh he they said seamen heh heh heh heh heh heh heh

(Yosemite Sam voice) Writers is such idjits.

I have no idea who they're talking about. "Unbridled civic rejoicing"?

There is rejoicing in my neighborhood now -- less craziness. The streets where the house was being renovated (3rd and Race)are already congested in the summer -- they would be almost impassable with the Real World Madness. Philly's not a Real World kind of town anyway eek!

[quote]mdphl:
[/quote]There is rejoicing in my neighborhood now -- less craziness. Philly's not a Real World kind of town anyway eek! [/QUOTE]

I know they weren't taping in my neighborhood, but this is another negative impression of Philly to outsiders. Real World being televised from Philadelphia would have undoubtly helped the city's reputation among younger people. It is sad that they were able to produce the show in major union cities like Boston and New York but not Philadelphia. Once again, the unions drive business away to another city.

Maybe we should bring some cameras to the hotel and tape "Real World - Outsports"

So, when we all jump in to the pool naked, will the finished product have the cocks all smudged out in post-production?

On one of the blogs I go to, someone ripped the Trades Union for (not exact quote) demanding that their members build the taxpayer funded Phillies ballpark while living in the suburbs in houses built by non-union labor. Ouch.

[ March 18, 2004, 09:13 AM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

are their still slots open for the Outsports Convention? I'm going to check and see if I can get the time off and show up. Please let me know : )

Yep, still some space. I know we'd all love to meet you after your experiences of the past year.

Maybe I'm dumb, but I can't seem to figure out how to register on-line - I clicked on the paypal link, but just got into a generic home screen - can someone help this technological idiot?

Hi, Scottie - I registered a couple of weeks ago. I assumed I'd be receiving some confirmation, but I heven't gotten anything yet. Should I just assume it's all set and go ahead and book my hotel?

When I click on the Paypal link shown on the Outsports site (after you click on "Make a Donation" it takes me to a Paypal page that shows Outsports designated as the payee and a box for you to type in the amount, with two options: if you already have a Paypal account, you log into it and go from there, or if you don't you can pay with a credit card (though there might be fees for that). Is that the page you're seeing?

I don't have a list of registrants yet, after I receive that from Jim and Cyd, I'll be e-mailing confirmations. Assume everything is okay and go ahead and book your hotel room.

You can always do something old fashioned and mail a check to the P.O. Box indicated in the first posting on this thread.

Nope - All I get is the log-in screen and when I log in, I just get a basic PayPal homepage, with no indication of how to send $$ to Outsports - guess I'll have to resort to snail mail this weekend - hold a spot for me please!

PhillyFan posted in another thread:

For all of you who have PM'ed me about what PF looks like, here's another reason to attend (fetch him a Molson and you may be able to convince him to do it shirtless wink ).