FoBAB 2018

The thing about McCormick Place is that you don't have to use the whole building. It scales to different sizes. But I don't know why we're arguing about whether or not it should be there. I'm sure they know FoBAB is tight on space. None of us know the reason why it hasn't moved. I'm sure it will eventually.

 

Just a wild thought here but any chance of moving FoBAB up to Minneapolis? Yeah, I know it's mostly Illinois brewers and it's their organization that puts it on but we have that whole greenhouse of a stadium you could use. There's plenty of open dates it could be used and even a skyway connecting it so you'd never even have to step outside if you do it right.

 

I would say 0% chance since it's put on by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild.

 

I went last year for the first time... loved it!

 

Even if they moved it to a bigger venue, they'd just sell more tickets. So it would be equally congested, if not worse.

 

You mean like Navy Pier which has three different sized rooms, infrastructure in place to host a beer event, and has successfully done so in the past.

 

at least then we could put to bed the myth that "the poor brewers guild makes no money on FOBAB". Making money hand over fist at this event.

 

There's no way the guild doesn't make money on FoBAB. Breweries have to pay the guild like $150 to even be blessed with the opportunity to send 3 kegs that they won't get a dime for.

I'm sure the venue ain't cheap, but uhh......

 

I know. Someone says it every year though like we are supposed to feel bad for them. Even if it costs them 50k to put it on they are making profit in the 6figures easily.

 

They probably cover expenses just off the marketing they allow Goose to do....

 

Great venue in the summer for Beercamp, but it doesn't sound as great when its 25 degrees out and you have to walk 5-6 city blocks from the Grand Ballroom just to get to a rideshare pick up point

 

I for one look forward to volunteering once again. You basically get to enjoy 1.5 sessions for free. In the last 4 years, I think there’s been a total of 5 or 6 beers I’ve missed out on.

 

It difficult to get a ride out side of UIC> I think that problem exists anywhere. Even with the longer walk its in busier part of the city with more cabs and ride share options..

 

Don't get me wrong. Profit for the guild results in more money to support the breweries in the state, so it's a good thing. It's just completely laughable that anyone would think the guild loses money or breaks even on something like this. No way no how.

 

Do you truly believe that Fobab makes no or a small amount of profit?

 

It isn’t a lot. And it pretty much all gets invested back into the guild.

If there’s someone walking away with bank bags every November, I haven’t met them yet...

 

Its common sense though. Of course it goes back into the guild but the event is damn near pure profit.

- Brewers Pay a Fee to Attend and Donate All Beer
- The workers are volunteers

Unless I am missing a major expense I just don't see it. You have renting the facility, Ice, Pizza, Tshirts, and glasses.

How many tickets are sold? 3k? More?

 

They're an NPO. Of course all of the money gets invested back into the guild. Firstly, that's the point. Second, it's...literally the law.

 

Again, I’m not on the board that makes these decisions or has access to all this information, I’m just relaying what I DO know. For more info, I’d reach out to the guild...
The only volunteers are the people pouring. That’s a small portion of total labor. Setup, takedown, cleanup, all the little things and specific jobs that need to be fulfilled for an event of this size to happen add up.

No one is making huge profit off this event is my point. Some events make some money, sure, but training seminars and scholarships, and legal aid, and even some beer fests, etc. that the guild provides, lose money. In a pretty direct way, that ticket helps improve the quality of the beer served and contributes to other events in IL. Seems like a fair trade-off to me.