December 17th, 2024 — Next Crown Tournament!

Prince Ryouko’jin and Princess Indrakshi announced today that their Crown Tournament will be held using rapier conventions and are encouraging local groups to put together bids. I’m going to try to answer most of the questions that I’m already being asked or anticipate being asked. Please read this if you’re interested in being the event steward and share it with anyone who is.

Who can submit a bid?

The next region for hosting Crown Tournament is the Southern Region, but other regions can always submit bids. Given there are more
requirements for this Crown due to its size, any group should submit a bid if they think they have the staff and site to host it. If another
region is selected we will adjust the rotation to accommodate this one time experimental crown tournament.

Can an out-of-kingdom group submit a bid?

Sorry. No.

How big does the site need to be?

We’re working on the assumption of 800-1000 attendees. The site needs to be large enough that they won’t be packed in like sardines.

Who are all those people?

The Board, royalty from other kingdoms, and SCA members from as far away as Lochac have expressed interest in coming as well as more than
the usual attendees from inside the East. Will that many people show up? We don’t know. We have to be prepared for the possibility. Turning
people away is not an option.

How many royals from outside the East will attend?

We don’t know yet and may not for a while.

How many Board members will attend?

We don’t know yet and may not for a while.

What does the site need to have?

  • Access to airports and train stations for people traveling from inside and out of kingdom
  • Nearby hotels where people can stay which will offer block rates
  • Large amounts of parking. The bid should include a plan for getting the cars in and out.
  • The ability to provide lunch to many people. The bid should include how you are going to manage this so the lines move efficiently and the food doesn’t run out. (How you do it is up to you.)
  • Enough toilets and ways to wash hands with reliable plumbing
  • Space for a royalty room (or two)
  • Options for vigil space (no number on that yet)
  • A single space that can fit all the lists which can be easily seen and accessed by the MoL table. Your bid should include a map.
  • Easy access to view the lists by spectators

When is the bid due?

January 1st, but we will likely accept late bids due to timing.

What date is Crown Tournament?

Per East Kingdom Law & Policy, the preferred date is the first Saturday in May with the last Saturday in April as the alternate date.

What else needs to be included in the bid?

Read East Kingdom Law & Policy Section VII Events –
https://seneschal.eastkingdom.org/docs/EKLAW%202024April.pdf
Do not submit a bid without first reading this section if you never have.

Anything else a group should know?

The East Kingdom submitted the request for a variance to use Rapier in Crown Tournament knowing that this would involve many unknowns, such as attendance, because our people have the experience and skill to plan in advance and problem solve when the unexpected happens too. The eyes and the hopes of other kingdoms are on us. We are carrying this for more than our own people.

Thanks to all the groups who are submitting bids. If I didn’t address your question, email me. If there are enough new questions, I’ll put
out another one of these.

Cheers,

Effing Thomas
Vice President of Operations – East Kingdom SCA Inc.