My impressions of the Wynn Main Event:
Played day 1B yesterday and bust just before dinner break. Overall, I think you guys did a great job, especially since you've only been holding this series for a few years, and like some other venues, have space constraints. And I'm glad to see how successful it was (1500+ entries last time I checked). Maybe you'll up the guarantee next year
. This timeframe is definitely better than the post-WSOP ME timeframe in which its been held in the past.
A few tweaks you may consider for next year.
1) The tables (at least the ones in the Players' lounge) were kind of small, even for 9-handed. I'm not sure if there's anything easily done about it, but it would be nice. If you have larger tables, you can go to 10-handed. I know players tend to prefer 9, but I'm not sure it makes all that big a difference at the start of a tourney. You can revert to 9 on day 2. One other advantage of 10-handed, is I think it would improve your registration process. Yours is not nearly as bad as some other goliath tournaments that shall remain nameless, however there are a some aspects which are annoying. Within the first two levels I played yesterday, we literally had 4 players from our starting 9 moved to other tables (assumedly to accommodate late-regs and keep balance).This makes it difficult to get a feel for your table, which I think is important for those who choose to arrive early. Some other venues that start 10-handed will leave two seats open for late-registrants. In this way players who register late are not likely to be sat at the same table, nor be placed on newly-opened short tables. And there's less player movement. Its a bit harder (perhaps not recommended) to leave two seats open on 9-handed tables, but if you went to 10, this would be an option. In any case, your process wasn't horrible by any stretch, but maybe it can be improved.
2) I will be very curious to see when this tourney reaches the money tomorrow. You changed the day 1 structure to potentially go to just shy of 2:00am, but still, I believe day 2 starts at 800/1600. It seems like it should take quite a long time to reach the bubble. I think there are a few things you can do to improve on this by gaining time on day 1
A) you can start day 1 at 11:00am. With such a slow structure, I don't really see why anyone would complain too much, and this would allow you to stop day 1 at a more reasonable time or just get an extra level in
B) You can change your breaks to 10 minutes and start the clock when all tables have completed action. The breaks will end up being more than 10 minutes long, but they should be less than 15, and this will, again ,make for a shorter day 1 while still playing the same number of levels.
We have already discussed the dinner break question. I am on the fence on this. On the one hand, its nice to have a bit longer break at this point in the tourney. On the other, I'm not sure 60 minutes really gives one the time to actually go and have a real meal somewhere, particularly on a busy night. I wouldn't recommend eliminating it altogether, but maybe if you changed it to like 30 minutes, players could place to-go orders, or in-table orders ahead of time and still have plenty of tie to eat and relax a bit before continuing. This would gain you more time.
C) I think you should consider lowering the day 1 levels to 45 or 50 minutes. With 25K in starting stack, slightly faster levels still offers players tons of play. And I can't imagine a player passing up such a huge prizepool because day 1 levels are 10 minutes faster. You could play two whole levels more day one and still end at a reasonable time.
Anyhow, well done, and congrats on a very successful event!