Gen Con Again an Epic Win For Indy
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowNearly 50,000 gamers from all 50 states and more than 30 countries are converging in Indianapolis beginning Thursday for Gen Con. Visit Indy estimates the annual convention will have a $49 million impact on the local economy. Vice President of Marketing and Communications Chris Gahl says the event is committed to Indianapolis through at least 2020, and may eventually move from the Indiana Convention Center to Lucas Oil Stadium. He says Gen Con's success has drawn similar events to Indianapolis, including Comic Con and Indy PopCon.
August 13, 2014
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — Gen Con returns to Indianapolis for its 47th annual convention in less than ten days. THE BEST FOUR DAYS IN GAMING will take place in the Indiana Convention Center and throughout the city from August 14-17, 2014.
Gen Con opens to the public Thursday, August 14 through Sunday, August 17, 2014. Thursday through Saturday the Exhibit Hall is open from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sunday, Family Fun Day, from 10 am to 4 pm. 24-hour gaming takes place at the convention center and at area hotels during the four-day event.
Everyone attending Gen Con must have a valid badge. A badge allows the individual entrance to the show, admittance to the Exhibit Hall, Art Show, Anime events, seminars, and any events happening in the public areas that do not require an event ticket. Badges may be purchased at www.gencon.com up to and throughout the show or on-site.
Ticket Information
-Badges are available now at www.gencon.com with 24-hour Will Call pick-up on-site. Prices listed below do not include Marion County sales tax.
– 4-Day Badge Price: $80
– 1-Day Badge Price: $50
– Sunday, August 17, is Family Fun Day!
– $30 for a family of four
Headlines for Gen Con 2014
-Record Breaking Attendance- Last year, Gen Con had more than 49,000 unique attendees from all 50 states and 32 different countries with a turnstile figure of more than 159,000.
-Exhibit Hall – 370+ exhibitors spanning acres of new games, demos, products, and more!
-12,000+ Events- Including free-to-play games, competitive tournaments, casual gaming, and numerous non-gaming experiences, including seminars, workshops, and crafting events.
-Charitable Partner- All charity events at Gen Con will donate proceeds to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana’s BackSacks: Weekend Food for Kids program.
-Debut of Cones of Dunshire- Mayfair Games presents the first opportunity for players to try the Cones of Dunshire game popularized by NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. This charity event will take place on Saturday at 7 pm on Georgia Street.
-Dungeons & Dragons Launch Party- Wizards of the Coast is rolling out its latest edition of Dungeons & Dragons, Tyranny of Dragons, at Gen Con 2014. To celebrate, join D&D designers and other guests at a launch party on Friday at 7 pm on Georgia Street.
-29th Annual Costume Contest- Awards will be bestowed for numerous costume types.
-Film Festival- More than 100 films and digital projects will compete across three categories at Gen Con’s Annual Film Festival, which confers its awards on Sunday at 1 pm.
-eGame Arena- Digital gaming fans will find a host of games to play at Gen Con 2014, including competitive events, dance games, and a retro arcade.
-Author's Avenue and Writer's Symposium- This year's Author Guest of Honor Jim Butcher, author of the Dresden Files and new series the Cinder Spires, leads a group of best-selling authors in the convention's annual Writer's Symposium.
-Art Show and Artists' Avenue – Acclaimed fantasy illustrator Terese Neilsen is the 2014 Gen Con Artist Guest of Honor. Most known for her illustrations in comics and Magic: The Gathering cards, Neilsen is currently publishing her first book, The Art of Terese Neilsen. In addition to Neilsen, more than 30 world-renowned artists will take part in Gen Con’s Art Show.
Live on Georgia Street- Just outside the convention center, Georgia Street will host a number of free, open to the public, outdoor activities.
-Official Beer Tapping- Wednesday’s pre-show concert begins at 5 pm when Indianapolis-based brewer Sun King Brewing will host a tapping party to unveil Gen Con’s official beer of 2014, The Froth of Khan, a coffee-infused ale. Official tapping party begins at 6 pm.
-Bands- Star Trek-themed band, Five Year Mission and acclaimed independent songwriter Sarah Donner will perform at the Sun King Brewing tapping party
-Food Trucks- Throughout Gen Con weekend, attendees can frequent more than 40 of Indianapolis’ best food trucks on Georgia Street.
Family Fun at Gen Con 2014
-Family Fun Pavilion- This area is dedicated to family gaming for all ages. It includes exhibits, demonstrations, activities and much more!
-Training Grounds- is the place to introduce kids to the gaming world and all its possibilities. Training Grounds is most appropriate for kids ages 4-12 and is located in the Family Fun Pavilion.
-Chess Champion vs Youth- Women’s Grandmaster and 2-time USA Chess Champion Jennifer Shahade will be playing 50 simultaneous games of chess against children 12 and under, on Yamie educational sets, at 10 am.
Official Gen Con Sponsors
Co-Sponsors- Mayfair Games, Paizo Publishing, and Wizards of the Coast
Contributing Sponsors- Fantasy Flight Games, Konami, Oomba, Ortus Regni, and Rio Grande Games
Event Partnership Sponsors- Iello Games, Upper Deck
Promotional Partners- Asmodee, Sun King Brewing
About Gen Con
Gen Con LLC produces the largest consumer hobby, fantasy, science fiction and adventure game convention in North America, Gen Con, The Best Four Days In Gaming!™. Weekend turnstile attendance of 159,364 and unique attendance of 49,058 grew the convention approximately 20% from 2012’s previous record of 41,000+ unique attendees. Acquired in 2002 by former CEO and founder of Wizards of the Coast Peter Adkison, the company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more information, visit gencon.com.
Source: Gen Con LLC