I also just emailed him to find out why the northeast also does not get to host the event. Why a city known for gambling and hookers(not that there is really anything wrong with either) gets such preferential treatment over great diving cities up here like NY, Boston, even Pittsburgh has the rooms, venues, and local dive community support. I also wondered why those of us who would like to attend with our wives have to lie to get them in by saying they are employees of the shop or business. Seems to me like it's becoming an elitist event and place where alot of egos are involved. So what if Atomic could not make it. They, I would think, paid for that spot. And now NASCAR is involved? Money is what it's all about. Forget about serving the dive industry, next it'll be that big bicycle race in france with bimbo's riding around on bikes with stupid yellow t-shirts that say DEMA. Why is NASCAR at DEMA? How much money went into Ingrams pocket with that deal. The more I see about how it operates the less I'd like to attend. I'd rather try to go to Beneath the Sea than DEMA now. The whole thing is a joke and the people and manufacturers who keep putting up with it are the butt of the joke.