@dalet Regionals used to fill the stands because the event was localized to the desired population. We saw Super Regionals attendance drop and then no Regionals basically crushed the desire for people to come cheer on their respective athletes in person, until they made it to the Games.
NAW, and NAE for that matter, could draw athletes from a thousand miles from the venue location; it's hard enough for them to decide to make that trip, let alone their fans.
When the event coincides with a community competition, like Sanctionals did, the attendance was justified because others from the gym could compete and spectate, while supporters could come to enjoy more events.
WCC has never been an event other than as a qualifier for the Games, therefore has no other draw. They would have been better off having it in Vegas again, which would have been cheaper and more easily accessible; or a venue where they could have had a community event in tandem like they have done with WZA or Granite Games, which is exactly what Syndicate Crown is doing.
