Seattle in 2011

A Worldcon bid to host the 2011 Worldcon in Seattle chaired by Bobbie DuFault. The bid was under the auspices of SWOC. They planned to use the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, the Sheraton Seattle Hotel, and adjacent hotels in downtown Seattle with convention dates of August 31-September 6, 2011.

The bid noted the timing and planned to celebrate the golden anniversary of Seacon, the 1961 Worldcon and the last Worldcon in Seattle.

They withdrew the bid about a half year before the site selection vote because they had been unable to get agreements with their proposed facilities. Here is their announcement:

++ Seattle Withdraws 2011 Worldcon Bid

It is with grave regret and a deep disappointment that I must announce that the Seattle bid has to pull out of the race to host the Worldcon in 2011. This is due to an unforeseen event and our inability to reach a formal first option agreement with our preferred facilities. We had initial options on facilities, but when it came time to reduce them to formal writing, we found that our preferred facilities had groups willing to make the financial commitment ahead of us. Seattle is such a popular destination for conventions that all of the reasonable dates (early August through early September) already have groups that have firmer commitments than we do.

After examining the options and alternatives, consulting with our respected advisors and exploring any number of other possibilities we have determined that there are just no viable alternatives, which make sense for the fannish community available to us. We do not want to host the Worldcon in a venue and situation that would prove to be less than World class. In this economy, it is refreshing to know that Seattle remains a popular destination for conventions and tourists even if it is one of the saddest things I can think of at the moment.

I want to personally thank all of the fannish community, our supporters, my advisors, friends and family for giving so completely of yourselves over the last several years. I can personally not think of anyone I would not have wanted to produce this event with other than you – You all gave so much and went so far to make this happen. Thank you for everything!

We will be reviewing future opportunities with our potential facilities with an eye toward bidding for a subsequent year.

Bobbie DuFault
Seattle 2011 Bid Chairman

The 2011 Worldcon was subsequently won unopposed by their competition Reno in 2011. See 2011 Worldcon Site Selection.

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2011 Site Selection

2011

This is a page about a convention bid. Please extend it by adding information about who was bidding, officers, committee list, what they were bidding for, who their opponents were, and who won.