That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You have several remodeled and brand new pools available within 30mins of Walnut Creek. All beautiful facilities that have hosted other tournaments. Again there are plenty of pools in the Bay Area, but the JOs scheduling needs to be organized better so teams don’t have to travel as much.
Also as far as traffic in the Bay Area, I know it would take a little bit more work on scheduling, but trying to schedule games against the gridlock would be best. For example, I host at Liberty High School in Brentwood CA (and other Brentwood area pools). There is minimal traffic to get to our pools in the morning-afternoon because everyone is leaving this area. Then in the evenings no traffic leaving our area because it’s against the commute. In LA every time it seems there really isn’t a time to be able to drive where we don’t hit traffic regardless of direction.
Do people have much time to sightsee in the middle of NorCal JO’s? I see it more as a stopping point before or after going somewhere (like Monterey/Carmel, Tahoe, San Francisco, Point Reyes etc.)… but never as the true destination. I can’t imagine any point in my life where I’ve told myself, “I REALLY need to go to San Jose to go on a nice family vacation.”
The North Bay and East Bay would most likely have additional pools to offer, and if the Invitational events are clustered in the same general area, it’s totally doable. In the South-- why not do part of the Invitational somewhere like San Diego? There are a few pools down there that may potentially be used, too. Just cluster all those games in that general area so nobody has to cross Pendleton/Oceanside to get to games later/earlier in the day.
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Just because there are pools, does not mean availability. Community swim, Club swim, High School heating and other costs, down for maintenance, lack of resources to man the all day events, etc…. There is often competition for pool space and some pools ( older / shallow ) simply aren’t good venues.
One of the best things about NJOs is an opportunity to watch kids from older age groups. I doubt that kids playing in Brentwood will have a chance to watch many games, say at Avery. 70 miles one way with Bay Area traffic 
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The last day of JOs everyone finishes early and allows everyone to attend the championship games at Avery which is what we have done in the past.
Really?
On the last day of the JOs, the last 12U Championship game at Liberty HS was at 1:40 pm and at Las lomas HS was at 2:10 pm. Compare this with the 1st place Platinum game times: 12U 11:30 am, 14u 1:45 pm and 16u 3 pm. All at Avery. I doubt that kids who finished late at Liberty or Las Lomas HS could watch any of these 1st place games, right?
And of course this is not just about watching the 1st place games and not just about the last day of the JOs. 70 miles distance from Brentwood to the JO’s center is just plain abuse of kids. I could reluctantly accept that East Bay locations such as Las Lomas HS are necessary to the success of the JOs but going to Brentwood is pushing things way too far.
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It takes me 1hr and 22 mins from Las Lomas and 1hr 35mins from Liberty in Brentwood because it’s opposite traffic. I’ve driven it many times.
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not too many people are up for hour plus drives after their games on the 4th day of JO’s, unless it is home to their air conditioned house.
Most pools in OC are within 30 minutes of Woollett. Is it possible to have JO’s in the Bay area and have most games within 30 minutes of Stanford? I don’t think that’s possible, thus the east bay and farther pools get used.
Looking at the pools being used for Boy’s Futures next week which is being hosted in the “Palo Alto, San Jose and SURROUNDING AREAS.”
Kind of a stretch to include Livermore, Santa Cruz and Aptos as “surrounding areas.” I’m pissed if I booked my hotel in Palo Alto and found myself driving to Santa Cruz for four days.
But, the league/tournament has grown, it’s generally well run, and better than not having the opportunity to compete.
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Booking pools over a 90 minute+ driving radius is asking a lot of parents and players.