There's a lot more information there than there was a month or two ago, so I imagine things are progressing. Given the shorter timeframe due to the change of cities last summer, I'm not entirely surprised that things are taking longer than they have in the past.

I won't be going, but I have to wonder how many can afford to spend a week in a hotel in Manhattan.

I just checked the AGA page for the congress and there is essentially nothing there except the dates and venue. It's hard to imagine how this could be significant progress from two months ago. Maybe there's another website? I hope there will be real progress soon. People need firm, detailed information, including cost, to make plans to attend. Many people use vacation time to go to the congress and that has to be arranged several months ahead of time.

And what about food? Are we on our own for food? That could be a major additional expense if we have to eat off site, unless we eat all our meals at McDonalds or the equivalent.

I found the costs under that header but still no information on how to get a room at the congress rates. Do we have to call the hotel? The hotel website has no information about special rates or the US Go Congress. They do have a registration option for "group" but it requires a special code, which is not available on the go congress site. And what about food? Are we on our own for food? That could be a major additional expense if we have to eat off site, unless we eat all our meals at McDonalds or the equivalent.

If the AGA is willing to have a congress that is this expensive to attend I'm going to save my money for one in Hawaii

I see there is an introductory page on the website now that clarifies the food situation. There is no meal plan. That will be more expensive than the previous congresses that had meals on site included in the fee. The rooms at the Hotel Pennsylvania are "being negotiated" so that would seem to mean that the prices quoted are not firm (maybe lower, maybe higher?). No matter what, it seems like it's going to cost a lot if you want a single room. In that case maybe you can do better off site. I'm afraid that this congress is too rich for my blood. At my age I need a single room, I don't want to eat "street food", and on top of the expensive accomodations and congress fees there would be an expensive airline ticket to be bought. I'm estimating that the total cost for the congress for me would be around $2000 (or more). If the AGA is willing to have a congress that is this expensive to attend I'm going to save my money for one in Hawaii

While it is admittedly a bit more work getting arrangements than previous congresses, the location does allow for a number of unique options for potential participants. For instance, you could even get a cheap hotel out in Jersey city (probably ~$100/night for a room) and take the PATH train right in to Penn station each morning.

... If you lose sight of your eight year-old child in Black Mountain, North Carolina, you could rest assured that he/she would pop up again soon. The same cannot be said for midtown Manhattan...

I want this Congress to succeed, but I have very mixed feelings about having a Congress in midtown Manhattan.

Pluses:

- It's midtown Manhattan! You can walk wherever you want to eat whatever you want - eat cheaply from the hot dog vendor on the street, or splurge, or something in the middle.
- Museums, Central Park, Broadway, a short train ride to Flushing and all the great Asian food and Korean Go clubs. Lots to do.
- If you are awake at 3am, there is no better place to be (does not apply to me though).

Minuses:

- I have stayed at the Hotel Pennsylvania and it was not nice - at least this was the case 12 years ago.
- Is this really family friendly? If you lose sight of your eight year-old child in Black Mountain, North Carolina, you could rest assured that he/she would pop up again soon. The same cannot be said for midtown Manhattan. This is the thing that scares me the most.

Good luck to the dedicated Go players in NYC for trying what has never thought to have been possible...