Not only is there, in my judgment, an oversupply of convention space across the country but attendance is down as well.

The likelihood is that more space will not bring substantially increased attendance. The reality that New Orleans faces is that a lot of cities are expanding.

We're talking about a market where convention centers are giving their space away. There clearly will be winners and losers.

Most of the feasibility studies are based on unrealistic assumptions and generate forecast numbers that are not likely to be realized.

What has gone on in Pittsburgh is what has gone on in lots of other cities, which are often faced with convention centers that don't perform as their proponents had hoped or promised, and so it is argued that what you need is an adjacent hotel.

With due recognition of the severity of the New Orleans situation, folks will be trying to pull in business.