The two nearby hotels, in case the Resort stays booked out, or one of these proves to be cheaper...
Hilton (north, across a major road though) - US$129 per night (plus tax)
Country Inn (west, a bit further away) - US$129 per night (plus tax)
Both have cheaper "advance purchase" rates, but they are non-refundable... so you'd want to make sure you go, and the dates are exactly what you want.
Looks like Pheasant Run's cheapest rate (the Resort Rooms) is also US$129 (plus tax)... but this appears to be from a "three for the price of two" deal, making the regular rate (if you don't book in lots of three) as US$193 per night. (ouch)
I was able to work out the BotCon rate, which is US$114 per night. Heaps less than the regular rate, but only $15 less than the "deal" rate. (it all adds up, so I wouldn't say no to at least getting two of my nights at the BotCon rate if I can - which will require a phone call to book a room at two different rates)

Looks like Pheasant Run has a Resort Fee (like Disneyworld had, and I think the San Diego "resort" had). Looks like $11 per day, which would probably be covering the Internet access and maybe priority access to their on-site restaurants and shows... but I couldn't find any details of what it actually covers. The resort fee makes it the most expensive of the three hotels, at US$140 plus tax. And tax appears to be just a fraction over 10%.


I also just looked up some things to do in Chicago, for anyone else thinking of going...
Viator Tours website (I use this site often when travelling, as they have a good range of tours, and not just their own)
Chicago Trolly/Bus circuit tour (hop on hop off type)
Chicago movie tour - includes Transformers 3 locations (only AU$35) (or book direct from this site)



Hehehe...
I finally had a read of the TFW topic, and it is amusing to read some of the comments. (looks like I wasn't the only one who thought it was suspicious timing and location, now that TFCon is a fan-favourite rival to BotCon)


Looks like FunPub started with a tease 24 hours before the announcement, by revealing their 2015 logo on Twitter and Facebook. And I totally missed it - it wasn't on the TFW news page, and I didn't scroll down enough on the Ozformers twitter feed when tweeting some news last night to see their Tweets.
Damn... I had 24 hours to know about it before it was revealed. (not that anyone would have ever expected FunPub to actually release the info a day later... so I may not have been too vigilant on the TFW discussion topic to catch the announcement, but I would have logged in when I got up this morning to check out the comments to then see it 3 hours earlier than I did)
Now looking at the TFW topic, the BotCon rooms sold out by 11am Brisbane time, so I would have missed out anyway. It sounds like regular rooms might still be available, at $129 per night (which isn't too bad, as that's usually the BotCon rate at other hotels). Since the two phone numbers aren't being answered ATM, I might have to wait a few more hours until someone is awake to answer it.


Anyway, about 3am Friday Brisbane time the logo was released, and at about 1.30am Saturday Brisbane time the location was announced... with some suspicions already circulating at the timing (just before TFCon started today) and the location (TFCon's likely location next year).

First the Logo was released and people were guessing locations...
Find it funny they announce this the weekend of TFCon ???
One member appears to post a "benefit of the doubt" reply...
I see no issues there. Unless, perhaps, the location reveal turns out to be Chicago.
But later quotes himself, and adds...
Well... Uhhh... Look at that....
And then the sceptical comments started...

Forty-five minutes from TFCon... hmm...

Butthurt much, FunPub?
That sure is convenient timing.
Shots fired.
The location itself, ignoring the TFCon element, is being well received by those yet to be burnt by FunPub. After the last four years being California and Texas, this is a nice change in location... especially for long-distance travellers who are more inclined to do something else while in America.


In some respects I feel sorry for FunPub, in that they can't seem to maintain momentum when they finally do something good. Now they are going to be perceived as openly competing with the fan-run TFCon instead of just focusing on their own Convention as the "Official" one. If TFCon had ever tried to openly target BotCon by announcing the same city/location and a slightly earlier date, they'd be seen as underhanded and sneaky to under-cut BotCon's attendance. It sorta looks like FunPub have acknowledged that they can't compete for fan support, so now have to force people to choose between the two.
(I hope TFCon announces their attendance numbers for this weekend, just to see how much of a rival they now are.)