Thanks for the update, MrPill. Sorry that you didn't get any further. Somewhat amusing that the students have been doing so well while the teacher has been struggling, eh?
I find it a little curious that they closed it at 119. At $200 each, that's $23,800. 17 first round tables of 7 produces 85 potential rebuys at $100 each, or $8,500. Total entry fees jumps to $32,300 for a $30,000 guaranteed prize fund, and that's optimal - doesn't include reductions for comped entries nor those who lost but didn't rebuy. However, the tournament packet includes cashback coupons worth an amount that I can't recall, maybe $40 or $50, multiplied by the 119 players - let's call that $5,000. Plus they have the expense of the gift for each entrant and the numerous food comps in the tournament packet. Stopping the entries at 119, with 30 on a waiting list, is a curious decision indeed.
Still, I'm glad that they apparently got enough to make it go. Also, since they haven't scheduled next year's BJT's yet, I hope they get wind of Meskwaki's decision (not yet finalized) to run another BJT on the last weekend of April so there isn't another reason for many players to make a choice between them.
MrPill, did they have the same problems with a shortage of BJ dealers in the evenings, as they have in the recent past?