My only concern with ticketed/timed entry into the exhibit hall is that if reserving a ticket is the usual ticketing free-for-all, then the people who only have one-day badges could lose out on opportunities to enter the hall to someone with a 4-day badge who happens to be faster at getting a ticket.
If GenCon's going to restrict access to the hall, then the people who only have single-day badges need to be given priority on their days, especially since it seems like GenCon is encouraging single-day badges/single-day attendance this year in order to allow the most people to attend while still keeping daily capacity lower.
What I want to know, with less people and more expected space in the exhibit hall... can we run this year?
I'm wondering if it will even be a problem now. Nearly a dozen big companies have pulled out/said they aren't coming now. My guess is more will follow suit. Will even be a floor or a con without backing from the likes of Paizo and True Dungeon? Or enough of one to bother going?
In reviewing the list, seems like a fair number of small/mid are going. Only one that disappointed me so far was Van Ryder games, but that might be a combination of pandemic and company tragedy where they just decided to sit it out.
I'm excited about the possibility of having more time/opportunity to check out small publishers and hopefully discover some hidden gems.
I understand why not everybody feels that way, but the big vendors pulling out isn't a major issue for me.
The thing all these big companies pulling out has really helped me bring into focus is how little interest I actually have in most of the big companies. Do I own any products made by any of the corporations that pulled out? I honestly have no idea; possibly, but Wizards of the Coast disappearing like five years ago had a much bigger impact on my interaction with the Exhibit Hall than any of these announcements.
If I recognize something as I walk around, odds are good I will not actually stop and look at it, because I already know what it is and whether I want it. It is when I see something I have never laid eyes on before that I get excited, and I imagine there will be a higher percentage of that per aisle than ever before this year!
I usually pick up my Paizo subscriptions, and usually FFG has something new I want to buy or demo, but I agree that they are a small part of the time I spend in the exhibit hall - just some shopping early on Thursday but after that it's too crowded to do much at the big booths.
I got the PTO to burn, and it will be better than sitting at home. So even if it is a smaller con, I will be more than happy to go.
Curious - has the schedule been confirmed yet for the exhibit hall - Days/Times?
I searched the Forum - apologies if missed an existing thread…
_____________________________________ Alec Usticke, Fans of Gen Con Facebook Group
IMO I think Tix for Exhibit Hall was an urban legend.
Whether that is still the plan now, though, is another question.
I expect there to be an announcement about how that works before tickets go on sale if that is relevant, which it may no longer be.
I don't think it pays to try to ask them to announce the things they haven't yet announced. I'm sure they're working on it.
When will the tickets for the early entry to the dealer hall be available?
https://www.gencon.com/forums/78-general-info-2021/topics/16393-exhibit-hall
There will be no timed entry to the Exhibit Hall this year. So, No tickets to get!
Mike
Hooray!