This was our first year at state. I did not see or experience some of the things that I had heard about (such as strip searches at the door) but I was very shocked at the food prices as well as the hotel prices. I just got finished checking the rates for the exact hotel that we stayed in. The price we paid was almost $40 a night higher than their posted rates for the same number of days and the same room. You would think that a city would offer better rates to those that they want to return each year rather than raising rates. These hotels know that the parents will pay because there is not much choice. That is unless you want to tell your kid, "Sorry honey, can't go to state this year, the hotel prices are too high." And $3.50 for a bottle of water! Wow! I am trying to figure out how anyone could believe that the food prices were not unreasonable. The tournament was great although Aerial did not place. We are looking forward to going next year reguardless of where it is.