At the start of the event, I noticed there wasn’t a lot of discussion or even awareness of it in various game channels. That’s primarily why I started a thread discussing the event:
As the event moved along, I’ve mentioned it and pointed out details in various chat channels, trying to encourage a little more interest. I haven’t got a lot of time myself at this time of year to play it, but it seemed like a good effort on CCPs part and I try to promote interest in that sort of thing.
However as you mentioned, the primary holdback for a lot of players who don’t have corps that can run these, is the need to travel to, fit for, and fleet up at these sites. I can see that CCP wants to include ‘newer players’ and less skill-intensive fits, and also encourage people to fleet up, and both those are great ideas. But as you say, the overall travel + fit + fleet combo is making it difficult for players to get the sites done at all. Except multiboxers, of course.
The current Event ‘points’ track also has some issues where you need to do all types of content rather than just a few kinds to progress.
It might help to try the Agency tab Fleet Up!, which sometimes shows a public fleet forming. Or you can check the looking-for-group chat channel, which has grown from average 35-ish people in it to over 50 or 60 at times during the event.
I haven’t seen anyone recommending other methods or channels to help form fleets for the event, but perhaps if people have some ideas they’ll share them here.
Best of luck with it!