Yes, the area works for me too, practically every month I visit a new event in another city. It's more the sentiment that it's not all right at the base. There are no beginners from the beginner classesin the milonga, there are female leaders complaining that there are no skilled male leaders, organizers are in a bad mood, more like that sentiment.
It's not real, it's more of an atmosphere.
If it's "only" about money, then Tango has disproportionately good prospects, because it can also be done at very low costs, even under very bad conditions, Argentina sends its regards.
Yes, I realised that. Danced through pandemic because we had the space and facilities at home (which maybe says something about the demographic of western AT dancers). The weather, and probably someone's regulations, here aren't favourable to outside milongas in the park (or maybe the likely participants can't dress appropriately). That could be cheap-ish, but someone's got to organise it and provide the music. I don't think they should do it at a loss.
It is, certainly. However, rising case rates have also been a concern and I believe that is partly responsible for the lower attendance at many local events.
It depends where you live. Costs are not universally low, especially in large, metropolitan areas. Tango music of good quality is certainly not free, DJs spend real money putting together a sufficiently large library of high-quality transfers. Also, in some places, the venue has to pay annual royalties to the record companies (believe it's ASCAP in the US).
With the given cost structure - which other pastime could be implemented more cheaply?
Hmm. That's nice for a casual outdoor event but not for a regular weekly milonga indoors. Especially if it were an event with a cover charge. Lots of other pastimes are cheaper. Soccer all you need is a ball. Same for football. Baseball you need bats and gloves as well as a ball. Tennis you need a net and a few balls. Yoga, just a mat.
Yeah, I know you don't need a hardwood floor but I've danced on concrete (awful), macadam (awful), and outdoor wooden planks (risky because of the cracks) and none of them are favorable to dancing well or smoothly. Sure, you can do it, you can dance in ocean surf if you like.
I was currently reading a report that sports clubs that operate halls or even swimming pools are practically done without municipal help. But even to play football according to football rules you need a quite expensive infrastructure.
I like your rose-tinted glasses!
Okay, that was my bad translation. My intention was done, bankrupt, dead.
Possibly, IF you can find a room and if they will rent it to you at a reasonable price. A basketball court would be possible, they usually have great wooden floors. (I think Sunderland is held in a gym, in fact.) So, it's technically possible. A couple of local milongas have used what look like old wedding halls. These have hardwood floors, ample space, and often a stage and a sound system (usually mediocre). But such places are not always easily available, especially at an affordable price. So, as they say, it depends.