PressConf 2027: A New Location?! 🤔  ## Metadata - Author: [[WP Minute Podcasts]] - Full Title: PressConf 2027: A New Location?! 🤔 - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: - #pressconf - #wordpress - #eventplanning - #providence - #eastcoast - #community - #sponsorship - #logistics - #travel - #conference Author: PressConf hosts (conversation format) Source: YouTube / Conversation Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks date created: {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} {{time:HH:mm}} --- # Title: 🧭 PressConf 2027 Location Planning — East Coast Options, Providence Pitch, and Community Logistics ## ☰ Table of Contents: - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#-notes) - [📖 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Assessment](#-deib-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-assessment) - [✅ Logical validity](#-logical-validity) - [🛡️ DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) - [🔍 SEO Evaluation](#-seo-evaluation) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ### References: Include a list of sources consulted and cited in the article. - Primary source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks --- ## 📝 Summary: This conversation explores **moving PressConf 2027 away from Phoenix** (since **WordCamp US is slated for Phoenix two years in a row**) and evaluates **East Coast alternatives**, with a strong grassroots pitch for **Providence, Rhode Island**. The dialogue weighs **community fatigue**, **sponsorship density** (WP Cloud, Bluehost, Automattic-adjacent folks), and **air travel logistics** (direct routes, nearby hubs like Boston) while floating the idea of **a companion European edition** in 2027. Preferred timing is **October–November** to align with weather and community calendars, and there’s **organizer enthusiasm** to help if local. --- ## 📖 Main Content: The hosts reflect on **geographic rotation** to avoid oversaturating Phoenix, acknowledge **travel accessibility** constraints, and identify **Providence/Boston** as a practical cluster with **active WordPress talent and potential sponsors**. They also discuss **parallel events** (e.g., a Europe run), and emphasize **calendar fit** for 2027, ideally **fall**. The tone is **collaborative and exploratory**, aiming to ensure **community inclusivity**, reduce **travel friction**, and **diversify** the event footprint. ### 🗒️ Notes **Why move from Phoenix?** - Motivation to **shake up** location due to WCUS’s 2-year Phoenix run: [00:08–00:24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=8). - Desire to give the **local community a break** and **spread travel burden**: [00:43–00:53](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=43). **Multi-region idea for 2027** - Considering **two editions**: US + **Europe** (no promises, but likely exploration): [00:24–00:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=24). **Providence, Rhode Island pitch** - **Proximity & familiarity** (25 minutes away for a host): [00:54–01:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=54). - **On-the-ground support** (local host availability for scouting): [01:02–01:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=62). - **Sponsor ecosystem**: WP Cloud immediately, plus **Bluehost**, Automattic-affiliated folks; **“brands with deep pockets”**: [01:09–01:37](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=69). **Air travel considerations** - Concern: **direct flight** availability (e.g., Phoenix not always direct): [01:41–01:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=101). - **Boston** as a nearby major hub; Providence offers **JetBlue/Delta** and **many directs** (Florida noted): [01:57–02:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=117). - Flexibility by **2026–2027** routes possibly improving: [02:20–02:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=140). **Other East Coast ideas** - **Maine / New Hampshire / north of Boston** as scenic fall options with sufficient airports: [02:41–03:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=161). - **Chicago** also mentioned as a centrally located candidate: [03:28–03:32](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=208). **Community rhythm & timing** - Keeping the **Valley** special but avoiding repeated asks for the same region: [03:30–03:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=210). - Preference for **Oct/Nov 2027** dates if WCUS schedule allows: [03:43–03:52](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=223) and [03:54–03:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=234). **Organizer intent** - **High enthusiasm** to support if local (formal organizer application planned): [04:01–04:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks&t=241). --- ## 📖 References: - Video (primary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks --- ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1) **Reason to rotate** *Original idea*: With WCUS in Phoenix for two years, repeating PressConf there could fatigue the community. *Paraphrase*: Since WordCamp US will anchor in Phoenix for a stretch, it’s smart for PressConf to shift regions so we’re not over-asking the same community and travel corridors. 2) **Providence/Boston cluster** *Original idea*: Providence is close, has a cluster of WordPress folks and sponsors, and benefits from Boston’s flight network. *Paraphrase*: A Providence venue taps into a ready-made WP network—with sponsorship potential—and piggybacks on Boston’s robust air routes to ease national and international travel. --- ## 📰 Newsletter: **PressConf 2027: Where to next? ✈️🌍** This week we’re talking **event logistics, community care, and wanderlust**. With **WCUS** parked in Phoenix for two years, PressConf is eyeing a fresh backdrop—**Providence, RI** is on the whiteboard thanks to its **WordPress talent density** and **Boston-adjacent flights**. There’s also chatter of a **companion European run** in 2027. If you’re leveling up your **web dev** chops, queue up our picks: **block-first theme builds**, **modern PHP on WP**, and **GitHub Actions for CI**. New plugin finds: **contract e-sign** add-ons, **event sponsor directories**, and **travel RSVP blocks**—handy for meetups and regional confs. Links to explore: - WordPress learn: https://learn.wordpress.org - Make WordPress: https://make.wordpress.org - WP Plugins: https://wordpress.org/plugins/ Got a venue tip or airline route hack? Hit reply—our inbox runs on coffee and community wisdom. --- ## ✅ Action Items: **Alignment prompt template (for your DevRel + OSS/OSPO lens):** > *For any event/location proposal I review, answer:* > **Open Source Alignment:** How does the plan strengthen **WordPress/OSS participation** (local meetups, contributor days, translation sprints)? > **Contributor Onboarding:** What **first-timer paths** (mentors, office hours, beginner tracks) will this location enable? > **Education:** Which **sessions/workshops** (PHP/JS/Blocks/Git/GitHub) fit local needs; how will materials be **open-licensed** and reusable? > **Sustainable Funding:** What **transparent sponsorship tiers** and **COI disclosures** ensure inclusivity and trust? > **OSPO Readiness:** Which **governance artifacts** (code of conduct, speaker/volunteer policy, accessibility plan, data transparency) will we publish? > **Inclusion & Transparency:** How will we measure and report **diversity metrics, accessibility audits,** and **travel equity** support? **Concrete next steps for PressConf 2027 exploration:** - Build a **shortlist** (Providence/Boston, Maine/Portland, Chicago, other hubs) with **venue capacity**, **A/V**, **ADA compliance**, **public transit**, **hotel walkability**. - Draft **sponsorship prospectus** with **transparent benefits** and **COI/referral disclosure** clauses. - Model **travel friction** (direct flights %, avg. cost, carbon estimate) and **seasonal weather** for Oct/Nov windows. - Publish a **community survey** on preferred locations/dates and childc - Summary: Press conf April 2026. Um, anything else you want to cover before we sign off? - URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrdo245uks Press conf April 2026. Um, anything else you want to cover before we sign off? Yes. So, have this idea. Since Word Camp US will be in Phoenix for 2 years, I think that means I might have to shake up Press Comp 2027. I don't think I could have it in Phoenix. I I will say I am planning on also 2027 bringing another version like so two a press comp America or press comp should I say no promises but probably Europe 2027 how but the the states version I just I feel like I got to give the community a break we can't come to Phoenix again or the valley we got to go somewhere else so what do you East Coast. There's this city. It's called Providence, Rhode Island. It is 25 minutes from me. Uh, it is fantastic. Okay, then you need to tell your wife. You guys will be hosting anytime I need to come and and check spaces out. There's a lot there. Listen, there's still people out here. Uh, Jesse Freriedman lives in Providence, right? So, you got WP Cloud as an immediate sponsor, right? Uh, who else is out here? Jeff from uh works at Automatic. John uh Jonathan Roas used to work for me. He's uh a cork. He's like your neighbor, isn't he? From Blue Host. Yeah. I mean, we got a crew out here uh with some deep pockets. Brands with deep pockets is what we need at Wonderland Curious. Okay. And And where does Providence fly to? That's easy. So, you could fly out of Providence if necessary on the East Coast. What do you mean where does it fly to? You know, because like like it's just not easy. There's no direct from there's no direct from fe or to Phoenix. No, I meant like an east coast city that that Providence that way I could consider other cities for the sake of my friend Matt Maderos. Boston. No, it'll go to Boston. No, I know. Um, no, it goes it goes all over the place. Yeah. I mean, we do direct to obviously Florida. There's a lot of direct from Providence. It just does. Phoenix doesn't go direct. Oh, well, maybe that changes by 2026. I I don't I don't know. Uh be JetBlue and Delta. JetBlue and Delta. But I'm just thinking for 2027, though, because I'm like, okay, well, like Yes. But now I just feel like the sky's is the limit. I could take it wherever I want. Well, of course within reason. Yeah. Maine. I I was I I brought this up to um Chris Badget uh with Lifter LMS because he he talked about doing like a um I think I might have talked to you about this, but anyway, he talked about doing a Soncho thing uh for for his company. Uh and uh I was like, man, you have the best like the you know, Portland, New New Hampshire and and Maine. um are fantastic places like just north of Boston they have large enough airports uh for people to fly in and out and the weather's awesome September October like if he did a you know something like that that would be great so I don't I don't riff on that for too much but anywhere in the east coast Chicago in fact I just think it's it's just perfect I don't want to take it from from the valley just because it's oh it's just been so endearing to have it there but I don't also want to make WordPress come to this area multiple times. And hopefully 2027's Word Camp dates, let's just hope it could be October or November cuz then that'll be great. Yes, cuz they could still change the dates, just not the location. Yeah. Which and and don't get me wrong, we didn't go into that too much. I I I had a a visceral reaction to it, but I'm ecstatic. Like I'm so ecstatic. I cannot wait and I'm I'm make I don't I mean I'm definitely going to like give what I can to this team and formally apply as an organizer because it's my City., PressConf 2027: A New Location?! 🤔, WP Minute Podcasts, 01k4g18rb66b3bj3x018e1j8ph.