It may be that there are more games closer to centers of population that can draw more people than can those further away.

I live only 10-15 minutes' drive from Stone Mountain, site of what are said to be the second largest games in the US. Twice in the last 12 months I have been to smaller games/festivals further away, and both times wound up asking myself why I went so much further for so much less.

Another factor may be that some of the games are outgrowing their facilities and becoming less pleasant. E.g., I didn't go to Grandfather Mountain this year but have heard from some who did that while the camaraderie was nice, the onsite logistics were very disorganized, and that they probably won't be back.