for the actors from a forty year old soap opera willing to attend it's fan gathering to be told that their "services were not needed" is the crudest slap in the face i think i've ever heard of.
That's really more the end of the story than the whole story. The actual organizers of the Frid fan weekend may be totally unaware of it, but, according to multiple and very reputable sources, some stars who inquired as to whether there was going to be an event this year were told that there wasn't - this despite the fact that negotiations for the Frid event had been in progress for months at the time and were nearing completion, and if the Frid event fell through, there was a backup plan to have an event in Brooklyn again. It wasn't until those same stars got wind that something was actually in the works (and after it was looking pretty good that the Frid event was going to gel) that they were then told this year is simply a "fan event," not a Fest, and then politely told thanks but no thanks this year.
Now, certain people may choose to deny all this - but one seriously doubts they would ever attempt to deny it in the presence of the actors who were given that story...
However, as has been mentioned elsewhere on the forum, it's mostly because this year is being billed as a "fan weekend" that there will be no fan run tables in the dealers' room, no costume gala, and there's an all-around abbreviated schedule of events. It's also possible much of the way this year is being organized will be the way most if not all future events will be done, with only certain guests being invited to certain events - and with everything (length, schedule, etc.) being based on which coast the events will be taking place. But that remains to be seen...