Hi Rick,
It is as simple as this:
Two conventions ago, those who smoked could smoke in the hall way before entering the convention area. Last convention this was changed WITHOUT any discussion or input from those who smoked.

The smokers were told to go down to the bottom of the escalator in order to smoke. It appears nothing has changed for next years convention with threats from a half dozen dealers that they will not come back. That's it in a nutshell!
Jim Perlowski