Is anyone going to the Angelus Press Conference in Kansas City Missiouri?

I just saw this and it looks like it will be good. I have met one of the listed speakers, Father Albert O.P. he visited our chapel a few months back.

Did anyone attend last year? What are some ways to save on costs. I don't have unlimited funds unfortunately and looking up Air Canada's website I ruled out flying. Maybe I could convince a friend to split costs and drive(also split driving). I think it would take around 18 hours from Toronto to Kansas City?

Interestingly Kansas City is also where one of my Priests just got transfered to.

As of right now, I am costing it out and deciding whether or I should go or not.

Here is the link

http://www.angeluspress.org/conference/

Bishop Tissier de Mallerais is the keynote speaker, that should be good. I get to meet him anyway later in October when he comes here.

I looked it up on my GPS and it said it would take just under 15 hours to get from here to Kansas City driving. I think it would be about 2 tanks of gas each way, plus one for driving around. If I can convince 3 people to go with me from my chapel then split it up $100 each for gas, $90 each for conference, then we need a hotel. I was shown a commercial on youtube of William Shatner promoting a site called Priceline for cheap hotel rates. Maybe I could use that to reduce costs aswell. Would it be better to negotiate right before the conference or well before?

If I can keep costs down to under $400 then it would be a great little vacation roadtrip.