My thoughts on ;
The Nationals1) Choose locations that can host a minimum of 200 players.
2) (Re) Introduce regional live satellites for National games. No ranking points included, just a basic 1 seat per 1 apat national buyin taken.
This opens up APAT national qualification to others who may not be online and also spreads the world. Make it an affordable buyin ( eg £20 ) and have a team of regional reps ( as you did before ) who can play but also can report back on the results. All locations to run the same structure for these games.
Do this on the weekend before, the online sats
3) Keep the $20 online FO sat, this has proved to be quite popular
3) Do away with the $10 online FO sat. This produces the least amount of seats, so maybe make this into a $10 1 Rebuy 1 Add on game
5) Keep the $5 rebuy sat
6) Do away with the clickfest, seems to cause headaches for all concerned, either APAT team to manage, or APAT members trying to get in
7) Day after satellites have finished, opendirect buyin online on the website of the sponsor, people dont have to worry about transfering seats etc if their plans change, they can either unregister or register to their hearts content until the cap is reached. Close day or 2 before event
Remaining seats to be sold at the casino on day of national.
Assuming APAT and Bluesq/Grovensor maintain their relationship, all buyins are either paid through the casino or the online poker lobby. APAT management have 1 less headache of managing buyins.
9) Keep buyins and structures as they are if possible, thats already perfect.
Online National Events1) Run more online satellites in the run up, have one every night the week before
2) Assuming that the relationship between APAT and BlueSq is maintained, and also assuming that Ipoker have developed their software to include other games than Omaha and Holdem, then the addition of HORSE sounds a good idea. Not sure about over a full weekend though, I think I prefer all on a single day, say an hours starting difference, numerous satellites for all of course.
Online League Events1) Not sure there will be the interest for a div 2 and 3.
2) I know a lot of people kept away from this, this year due to problems between AOL and Ipoker platforms