Brandon Bernard, Luke Koleszar, Curt Collins II and James Fleckenstein check the incoming flight schedule.	Virginia Melton, one of three players to play in all four heats, Jessica Finkeldey and John Keating take part in the opening heat.
Max Jamelli seems enthusiastic. Obviously this was before the Yankee lineup did their A-Rod playoff impersonation. Mark Tardibuono and Robert Sohn are unimpressed.	Forrest Speck and Ben Gardner await the Turn Order draw before deciding whether a Fare War hub expansion is in the offing for them this turn or if they will bide their time.

After several years of declining attendance, 2012 saw some resurgence in both new players and "repeat customers," (players who come back for more than one heat). At least six teams in the Team Tournament were hoping for points from Air Baron, another recent high.

With the tournament rules facilitating timely game completions (no Fuel Hike as the first disaster, and removing the Fuel Hike after two hours), players are confident they'll be finished in time for the next event on their schedule. That confidence was put to the test in the first heat, when the preceding event ran over by 20 minutes! We got a few games going as quickly as tables became available, then found a spot or two in nearby venues for the last two boards to begin. All games were completed and cleaned up before our allotted time had expired despite the late start.

This year's finalists started in the high rent district, flush with a banker's roll of 5. Our would-be barons began their quests for empire in Miami, Los Angeles, D.C., Chicago, and Atlanta. Only two players benefitted from the Government Contract. Andy lost money on the $1 contract, losing it to Ed who broke even at $2, then won it back at $3 to hold it for the rest of the game. Three Local Competitors, three Recessions, one Crash and a lone Fuel Hike were encountered. Strike went into the cup very late, and was never seen again. The single Fuel Hike was not an issue; nobody had to sell property to pay their tab as everyone had sufficient cash.

Ed O'Connor started in Miami and spread quickly to Atlanta and Houston, but suffered from too many rounds without payoffs and semi-cold dice. He finished well behind with a total cash and market share of $11.

38th ranked Luke Koleszar began with a marker in Pittsburgh, jumped to Honolulu in the West, and used the profit draws from both to eventually dominate (but never control) New York. He finished with a combined total of $75.

Defending champ Stephane Dorais started in Charlotte, out of the Atlanta hub. Eventually controlling both Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, he lost Charlotte on the last play of the game leaving him with $103 in market share and cash.

9th ranked Andy Gardner dominated the West with control of San Francisco, LA, and Denver, and dominance in Phoenix after Stephane's desperation attack to lower the odds succeeded in Tucson. If he'd drawn ahead of Michael in the turn order of the last round, he could have won. As it was, his $291 got him only second place.

Unranked Michael Holmquist started in Chicago, flirted with NY, but won by adding Atlanta to his "stable" of controlled hubs consisting of Chicago, Detroit, and D.C. With exactly $320 in market share, no debts, and $8 in cash, Michael completed his journey where Stephane had started.

Chris Gnech checks the chits for telltale Brail signs as the Turn Order is drawn.	GM Henry Richardson presents his finalists to the FAA for inspection.