I have never understood venues that close at very specific times, regardless of player turn out or tournament completion.

You know what you signed up for when you applied for the regional, or the store championship. Businesses that don't see that to the end are weak.

Maybe I'm spoiled, as Atlanta's gaming community is easily one of the most accomodating and understanding group.

There are reasons a venue needs to close at a specific time and can be many more valid reasons for a business to want, or even need, to close at a specific time.

Do you want to be playing somewhere late and then see the police show up? Why would the cops show up you ask? You see there could be any number of regulations the venue could find itself in violation of should it stay open.

Many game stores that might host such an event are run by gamers who will do things to see the game through but that doesn't always mean that all of their employees are such die hards that they would volunteer to stay unless they are paid overtime wages. There may also be competing interests going on that could cause a venue to shut down by a specific time.