In the past few week the price of gas are going up and up. True it is Summer, with Summer having a lower turn-out then any time of the year. Just today the price is at $2.49, are players not going to over-the-board tournaments because of the higher price at the pumps? If the price of gas keeps going up, would it not hurt over-the-board chess?
I somehow doubt that higher gas prices will be a major factor in people’s decision to play in a tournament. Unless you are driving 4 hours to get to a spot, then it really doesn’t change much.
If you drive 40 miles to play, even if you get only 20 miles to the gallon, then you are talking on the magnitude of an extra dollar’s cost in the run-up in the past few weeks. Not significant.
Considering that most of the bigger tournaments do happen between three and four hours away from here, yes, the price is significant. I’d like to go to the US Class in St. Louis, but I have to factor in the cost of that four-hour drive plus hotel room. It adds up. So I do the play-for-ratings only events here that cost $10 and count myself lucky that it’s only 20 miles away!
Radishes
I typically have to drive 3-5 hours when I go to an out of town tournament. I have been cutting back this summer due to the cost of gas. Or rather I have been letting excuses get in the way of going to tournaments that normally wouldn’t prevent me from going to tournaments - and the reason I’m so willing to find a reason not to go is the cost of the trip.
I was seriously thinking about the US Open but between USCF’s commissions on hotel rooms making the room cost sky high and the cost of travel I decided not to go.
Driving 50 miles from a tournament = 100 miles.
A typical car may get 25mpg, so if you make the assumption of gas being 50 cents over, that’s an extra 2 bucks.
I doubt that makes any difference, considerating a lot of players will travel together to tournaments which are farther away.
Factor in an overnight tournament along with Gas, Hotel Costs, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner, it’s a different story.
I wouldn’t see how it would make a difference with a one day event.
Gas isn’t really that high.
Is it not strange, when the USCF had the membership jump from $45 to $49 – the USCF lost adult membership. When the price of gas has gone up from $1.30’s to $2.40’s, are we sure it is not going to hurt the turn-out.
People are still going to live their lives, even if the gas price goes upto $3 or $4.
I guess I’m an optimist. I don’t see less cars on the road now just because of a little gas hike and there wasn’t a dramatic decrease in holiday traffic this summer.
If a $4 membership increase and a 50 cent increase in gas is going to stop you from playing chess, then you have worse problems to worry about.
Actually, the adult membership decline started a few months after the rates were increased from $30 to $40 in January of 1995. When the rates were increased from $40 to $49 in 2003, the decline continued.
However, it is worth noting that declines in participation in other activities also began in around 1995 or 1996, not just chess.
For example, adult softball league play is down across the country, as is use of public tennis courts. Bowling operators have had to deal with declines in the number of games bowled in both league and open play since the mid 1980’s.
I think the American Contract Bridge League has had more severe membership declines than the USCF has.
…if someone is spending an extra $20 on gas each week, there is a little less for leisure-time activity. Chess, along with anything else, can take a hit.
Even if the rise in gas prices only increases the cost of one trip by a couple of bucks all the different trips one makes do add up. I know, I for one, have had to cut down on overall driving. I even think twice about driving across town every week for the local chess club meetings. The price of gas will definitely have an effect on my tournament attendance.
I filled my tank today and it was $30.
Tony
The 2005 labor day weekend, anyone recall when gas was under $3 a gallon.
People are still going to live their lives, Chicken Little.