So the last GenCon I went to was 2009 when attendance was estimated at 27,900. Last year's was 56,614 more than double the 2009 numbers. I though things were crowded back then, how crazy is it now? I'm thinking about going again next year or the year after, but what I'm hearing about the hotel prices and the crowds has me wondering if it's all worth it. I do realize that they now have a lot more convention space, but again that's a lot of walking around dodging a whole lot of people. How bad is it really?

If you don't like walking and don't like crowds, it's going to suck. Granted, the crowds are spread out over a pretty big area, but particularly in the exhibit hall and around the hallways of the main convention center it is crowded...with lots of people. Generally if you're playing Arcanis or other games, you'll spend most of your time in the adjoining hotels and convention spaces so it's not too bad. Hotels are always hard to get into downtown, so I've taken to getting one on the outskirts and drive the 20 minutes each morning. If you can get a room downtown and share it with 3 others, it's not bad, though getting one is becoming more problematic with the housing system and the amount of people.

That said, it's definitely worth it to go once just to experience it!

John

Went to quite a few up in Milwaukee (miss the Safe House ) and every one in Indy up to 2009. So I've had the "experience." But if I don't go to GenCon that frees up cash for ArcaniCon and UCon, so you can see my dilemma. Still 2017 does fall on my birthday so maybe I will treat myself. Time will tell. Thanks John.

I'm not sure I would say they have a lot more convention space (although I have been several times since 2009 so maybe it is a big increase over 2009). The last time I went was 2013. They utilize the whole convention center and parts of a fair number of "adjacent" hotels but they seem to keep shifting which ones.

It is definitely crowded. I refuse to go to the exhibitor hall on Saturday (and Sunday unless there is something specific I want) due to the crowds (it's bad enough on the weekdays).

Downtown hotels are up to around $240 in the housing block and over $300 outside the housing block. Also, parking at most of the hotels is $35 per night (which is stupidly expensive). You can find hotels in NYC for those prices.

Due to the housing system, hotel prices, crowds, and bug in event reg system (well two really - both can cause you to not get into queue until you refresh) I'm far less likely to go to GenCon.

I'm really hoping GenCon moves elsewhere and does not renew their contract with Indy.

As for moving where do you suggest they go? They need a huge convention center and a lot of hotel space and be conveniently located for gamers. Indy would seem to fit the bill. But yeah I agree with all your comments Steve. Which is why I no longer go to GenCon. With the advent of the Internet I no longer need the seminars (I can check the company websites now), I don't have to get something the first day it releases (so less need for dealer room), and to be honest I hate crowds (and will no longer tolerate gamer funk). By and large I suspect from now on I will go to ArcaniCon, Origins, and maybe one other regional con like UCon. That and home games will take care of me. But I do miss GenCon a bit.

Now if I was flush with cash that would be a different story, but it ain't so....

Places that could handle GenCon size based on Convention Center space:
New Orleans
Atlanta
Orlando (largest cc+nearby space by far)
Las Vegas
Chicago (largest cc)

Others that might be able to handle it based on nearby space (hotels, etc):
Dallas
Denver
Cleveland
Paradise (Nevada)
Washington, DC
Detroit
San Diego

I don't have time right now to lookup available hotel space but Chicago, Orlando, and Las Vagas (at least) have far more hotel rooms available (Chicago maybe not in walking distance though).

In general, I agree on cons. I'll likely go to ArcanisCon, Origins, and maybe 1-2 others. I might hit GenCon around every 5 years or so (unless they move). Someday, I'd love to go to Essen but that's a major trip.

I vote for Calgary. It just makes sense

I just found this list on a trade site for con organizers:

1. McCormick Place (Chicago, IL) 2,600,000 sf
2. Orange County Convention Center (Orlando, FL) 2,100,000 sf
3. Las Vegas Convention Center (Las Vegas, NV) 1,940,631 sf
4. Georgia World Congress Center (Atlanta, GA) 1,400,000 sf
5. Sands Expo & Convention Center/ The Venetian | The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino (Las Vegas, NV) 1,305,052 sf
6. Kentucky Exposition Center (Louisville, KY) 1,100,000 sf
7. New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (New Orleans, LA) 1,100,000 sf
8. Reliant Park (Houston, TX) 1,056,213 sf
9. International Exposition Center (I-X Center) (Cleveland, OH) 1,050,000 sf
10. Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, formerly Dallas Convention Center (Dallas, TX) 1,018,942 sf

Apparently, those 10 make up 26% of the convention center space in the US.

For something different, there are apparently two Convention Centers in Toronto near that size.

According to a different trade site, Indianapolis ranks #31 in total size (smaller than it is listed on Wikipedia by almost half) so there are likely a lot of other places that would work size-wise.

I couldn't find a list of number of hotel rooms near the cc but Indy does not rank in the top 10 in total number of hotel rooms (not even close - it's roughly half of #10).

Do you think the reason they moved to Indy is that it is centrally located for gamers (as I understand it one of the largest concentration is in the Midwest)? Even when I had more disposable income I could not really afford to fly to a con, so anything not within reasonable driving distance is out. So while I could do Chicago or Louisville, anything in the South or West is not doable for me or my friends (although John might fly but he makes a lot more money than me). And as long as PCI makes Origins their primary con (and it stays in Columbus) that's my go to site. Still it would be fun to go to a GenCon again if I had the time and money. And given the situation in Indy they may in fact move at some point. I'm sure they've discussed it.

Chicago might be doable, but not having enough hotels within walking distance would be an issue. Orlando and Vegas would be cool but probably out of range for a lot of gamers. Louisville would be interesting since it's not that far from Indy and about the same distance for us. Plus it would be a bit closer for Southern and Plains gamers perhaps. That housing lottery thing is a bunch of horse dung. I always hated it even when they had it up in Milwaukee. I say let folk do they own reservations and call it done. Do you think it would be worse for GenCon that way? I wonder.