@Carl Hancock - If you compare it to San Francisco sponsorship levels, they are in line (for the corporate levels). We're looking to make NYC comparable to the SF event, but with more of a developer focus. Also, the sponsorship levels were set before we found a venue sponsor. WNET is a platinum sponsor for donating the venue.

NYC has a lot of big media companies running WP... some of the biggest installations around, in fact... which is why the levels go up so high. Offering sponsorships at the lower business levels of 1-2K, with 250/500 for consultants and individuals is in the same range as the other WCs you mention, so I'm not sure why you think sponsoring the NYC event would be unaffordable. We put a lot of thought into how much sponsorships should be based on the current economy in our sector (even the descriptions of the levels show this... costs one Starbucks drink per week, etc).

If no sponsorships come in above $2000, that's fine, and we'll play it close to the belt financially like most WordCamps, and we'll accept the generosity of speakers paying for their own travel, etc. If we raise more money, though, and can give something to the speakers to help cover costs, can provide better food during the 2-day event, throw an after-party, etc., why would you be opposed to that? The point of sponsorships is to keep ticket prices low for the attendees.

And since I'm one of the organizers, you can rest assured that there will be no gratuitous sponsor presentations, etc. Anyone getting up on stage will be talking about something WordPress-related/focused. I've been to several WCs that were more like BlogCamps or SocialMediaCamps, including one where a competing CMS that had sponsored the event got up on stage to demo their product to a captive audience, and I was disappointed. Regardless of how much money we wind up with to spend on the event, the content will ALL be WordPress-centric.

In any case, this is not a for-profit event. NYC is just crazy expensive when it comes to food, wifi, security, insurance, services, etc., and we would like to have those things (and in some cases, the venue requires us to have those things). If we have enough money to pay for everything we need and then some, we can help pay for travel for speakers and there should be extra-awesome food, shwag, or an open bar at some point. If we don't, people may have to go out for lunch and drinks on their own dime and visitng speakers will cover their own travel expenses. Basically, if we have it, we'll spend it, and if we don't, we'll go without.

We believe in being open about finances, and after the event is over we'll post a summary on the site of how the costs broke down and how many of each level of sponsorship we had. I think this will be helpful to other WordCamps as well, to help with planning their event.

One thing to note is that I know a number of WordCamps that have come up short financially because they didn't get enough sponsors, and they wound up paying for things out of their own pockets. That kind of thing doesn't get publicity, but it's the reason I wanted us to shoot for a wide range of sponsor levels, including high ones, to avoid getting into that situation.