TOPIC: TD Moves to Lucas Oil Stadium in 2016!

Harlax wrote: Is the space the same size or is it bigger?

It is roughly the same size.

What's really too bad is that TD has never been able to maintain its own self sufficient area, though it's tried. It's even more necessary now than it's ever been in the past especially with the distance involved. Ideally, you'd like if people came to the TD area and then just sort of stayed. We've (and of course by We I mean TPTB that actually did it all but as someone who was simply around to see it feel some level of proprietorial ownership) tried to make the TD area more of a hangout with the tavern, the tavern with booze service, the tavern with that other game group running games in pub setup, the trading area, the turkey leg fiasco, the storyscape, etc...but none of them really manage to work out IMO in the long run. At least with being in the convention center you had some minimal amount of walkpast traffic, even if the hall was at the very end of nowhere. With better lighting, maybe we really should give some attempt to trying to make it a hangout area again. Tables for open gaming? Ideally maybe even a CAB-like group (Origins) who could set up some boardgame borrowing whozit, though that might be asking for too much.

It might not be a terrible idea to set up a remote waitlist station too in the convention center. Small booth or signage and a person with a notebook and a walkietalkie. That way you could still rope in passerbys and keep information updated/flowing about open slots/tickets.

Jeff Martin wrote: Binia,

You never have to leave the ICC to get to the new spot. You just walk south until you hit stairs which take you under the street to get to TD.

See these cool illustrations.

Cool, thanks Jeff! Looks like I won't have to hang out in the scary tunnel at all! (unless I run out of meth...)

In the long run (and perhaps as early as 2017) Gen Con will no doubt rent out the entire football field -- much like the Bucks basketball court in Milwaukee. I'd imagine (though I have no knowledge) that they will make the Stadium a location with a huge amount of events. I got to walk out on the field during our tour of the place, and it is HUGE -- and it would work well for a massive amount of pipe and drape cubicles filled with RPG and board games. Who knows...LOS might turn out to be THE PLACE that most RPGers/ board gamers hang out at during the Con.

So...who knows what will happen, but I am hopeful that our new location will eventually end up in a high traffic area as folks move from the Exhibit Halls to the football field to play events. TD's entrance is sandwiched between the two.

In 2017 Gen Con will celebrate its 50th year, and I would think renting out the football field might be something they will want to do for that special celebration.

henwy wrote: It might not be a terrible idea to set up a remote waitlist station too in the convention center. Small booth or signage and a person with a notebook and a walkietalkie. That way you could still rope in passerbys and keep information updated/flowing about open slots/tickets.

This sounds like a good idea to try. It could be a combo info and ticket booth.

Jeff Martin wrote:

henwy wrote: It might not be a terrible idea to set up a remote waitlist station too in the convention center. Small booth or signage and a person with a notebook and a walkietalkie. That way you could still rope in passerbys and keep information updated/flowing about open slots/tickets.

This sounds like a good idea to try. It could be a combo info and ticket booth.

I volunteer, wait I already do... Either way that sounds like a good idea if implemented to save some headaches. Would a space/booth in one of the main corridors be an option? Thinking the one that runs between dealerhall and registration? Think hall D if i recall.

Jeff Martin wrote:

henwy wrote: It might not be a terrible idea to set up a remote waitlist station too in the convention center. Small booth or signage and a person with a notebook and a walkietalkie. That way you could still rope in passerbys and keep information updated/flowing about open slots/tickets.

This sounds like a good idea to try. It could be a combo info and ticket booth.

I think that would be great.

Now that the vendor hall will presumably have more space have you thought about even a single-room free demo? I guess we aren't hurting for ticket sales at GenCon anyways but it could still be helpful.

But a info/ticket booth would be easy and useful. I do worry about being so far away. It sounds like the entire conference center in Lucas Oil Stadium is just for True Dungeon so will you be able to decorate the entrance to the tunnel and the tunnel itself? That could draw some traffic.

Jeff Martin wrote:

henwy wrote: It might not be a terrible idea to set up a remote waitlist station too in the convention center. Small booth or signage and a person with a notebook and a walkietalkie. That way you could still rope in passerbys and keep information updated/flowing about open slots/tickets.

This sounds like a good idea to try. It could be a combo info and ticket booth.

That is a great idea. Especially if it is in that high traffic area between the dealer hall and the food trucks. At the start of the hallway that heads south to TD, so people can also be directed where to go. TD would have even more visibility than in the past.

Kirk Bauer wrote: I do worry about being so far away.

I haven't walked it, but from the maps, walking from the dealer hall to TD seems like it will be about the same as before. Perhaps even quicker because that will be a less-trafficked route.

If you were staying at the JW Marriott that would be horrible, but I won't anymore (I did the past 2 years).

It appears that Gen Con has shifted the Exhibit Hall slightly westward in 2016. They are now leaving Hall K open for some gaming. See map. This is the closest EH to TD this year, so it appears they are trying to better integrate the Stadium into the whole Gen Con con flow. Also, keep in mind that there are 12 additional ballrooms at the stadium that will have events as well. There will be lots going on besides TD in the stadium area besides TD, and that can really ramp up in 2017 if they grab the football field. TD may end up being in the very center of all the action.

(the top map is from 2015 and the bottom from 2016).

Interesting. Looks like they are pushing the dealers into hall F which they hadn't been in before. I wonder if Magic will be relocated to A, or if they are shifting everything over by 1 hall.

Jeff Martin wrote: In the long run (and perhaps as early as 2017) Gen Con will no doubt rent out the entire football field -- much like the Bucks basketball court in Milwaukee. I'd imagine (though I have no knowledge) that they will make the Stadium a location with a huge amount of events. I got to walk out on the field during our tour of the place, and it is HUGE -- and it would work well for a massive amount of pipe and drape cubicles filled with RPG and board games. Who knows...LOS might turn out to be THE PLACE that most RPGers/ board gamers hang out at during the Con.

So...who knows what will happen, but I am hopeful that our new location will eventually end up in a high traffic area as folks move from the Exhibit Halls to the football field to play events. TD's entrance is sandwiched between the two.

In 2017 Gen Con will celebrate its 50th year, and I would think renting out the football field might be something they will want to do for that special celebration.

One problem going forward with taking over the whole stadium is - Colts Preseason usually starts up within the first or second full week of August. And I really can't see, if they are having a preseason home game the same week of Gencon, bowing to Gencon and telling Colts fans, sorry.

2015 Preseason started Sunday Aug. 16th
2014 Preseason started Thursday Aug. 7th
2013 Preseason started Sunday Aug. 11th

Looking at the scheduled for Gencon over the next few years that could cause issues.

August 4 - 7, 2016 <-- Slim chance without knowing their preseason game date.
August 17 - 20, 2017 <-- Strong chance of problems.

Now I'm thrilled with the move, and would love to see TD expand out more, offering more runs as well as offering more to fans.

Far as location to the Convention center. I really don't care. I would hike half way across town to attend TD. So distance is no issue for me.