Yeah i think the control panel was the most interactive feature you could have at the lan without actually having to get up and adress everyone on whats goin on. Great way of getting new users in and getting to do the filesharing without looking through everyones computer and trying to get all that done.
The pop and chip sales were just at an inconvient locotion not only was it uncentralized i was the furthest person form it in one coner with it in the other, i think the putting that closer to the Lan'ees, like the end of the middle table would be a lot more efficient plus if theres chips and pop 5 feet away from me how can i resist.
You may want to consider a coffee can outside cause i dont know if the city or whoever owns the builting likes seeing 20 packs of ciggarette butts scattered all over. and also this may seem childish or middleschool-esque but i think we should do something like and ice breaker get everyone around and do something,this may seem childish and middleschool-esque, but even with the name tags i still dont know who half of the people there were. I managed to figure out everyone in my row of tables but that doesnt get everyone.
Well thats all i got for now ill keep brainstorming and see what i come up with.