Official Gen Con specific only Coronavirus thread
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Posted by rfsullivan 5 years agoon 3/29/2020 at 5:39 PM
#251

It's hard to overstate just how wild the swerves have been on COVID-19; over here in IL, non-essential businesses were told on a Friday afternoon that they had about 24 hours of regular operation before the shutdown went live. 

The feds or the state could drop new orders on everyone at any point, up to and including during the convention itself. Anything from con staff other than "wait and see" could become false with a single press conference. 

On a lighter note, who's predicting a spike in cosplay of characters with masks? 

Posted by traveller 5 years agoon 3/29/2020 at 6:01 PM
#252

The way I look at it, there are only 2 responsible actions that they can take at this time, "Wait and See" or cancel.  The cancel options probably has a number of hefty contractual obligations that would destroy the Gencon company and end Gencon for good.

"Wait and see" is the only responsible option they can take at this moment.  Announcing any actions to be taken when/if Gencon happens would be premature until such time as the CDC and government announce what precautions are going to be required.  

And now, a moment of humor:

One of the hottest cosplay outfits for Gencon 2020


[img]https://nebula.wsimg.com/226b3ab9d42086eb1eb144ce89ff064d?AccessKeyId=BD074F472039A8909E01&disposition=0&alloworigin=1[/img]

 

Posted by brotherbock rayken 5 years agoon 3/29/2020 at 6:29 PM
#253

rayken wrote:
brotherbock wrote:
rayken wrote:
Disney has officially pushed out all bookings for anything on any of their properties to June at the earliest. 
The Kentucky Derby was postponed until September.
I don't think the Indiana governor is going to let GenCon happen and open his arms (snip)

JUST STOP. We get it. You are very concerned. Stop posting every other day DEMANDING that Gencon do things the way you want them to, the way you, NOT a public health expert, think they should. It's fine to express your opinion. But stop with the demands. It is TIRING.I get it, you're not trying to be a jerk. I'm sure you're a good person. If Gencon happens and you attend, or 2021, I will buy you a beer or coffee or soda and we'll shake hands and laugh. But please, to be polite to everyone else here, please stop with the wall of text demands that Gencon kowtow to your way of thinking. You are not saying anything new in your arguments. Your point has been made, I guarantee it.

Then I am waiting for an official response on what new measures are being taken to insure social distancing and health and sanitation is stepped up to a new level. It is not unreasonable in any way to demand an answer about this. A wait and see approach doesn't make a lot of sense. If an event goes forward, new cleaning and sanitation measures will have to be taken for any social gathering that occurs this summer and that needs to be on the table for discussion sooner rather than later. Especially if we need to plan for a postponement of the event. 

They know you're waiting--we're all waiting. They aren't going to forget. I don't say that to be snarky, but just to remind. All the people I know to any degree personally at GenCon are good people. They are as concerned about this as any of us, and a big part of their concern is US, the attendees. Your position has been stated, and now we wait. To continue to restate your position multiple times isn't going to change the facts they have to deal with. And I guarantee that they are getting the same facts you and I are getting, likely even more because while I am keeping up with things generally, I don't have a major convention I have to decide about.

Sorry if I came across harshly before, but we've been around this ring a number of times, including in an entire other thread that got locked for reasons like this. I don't want to poo-poo your opinion, I don't want to silence you or say you shouldn't feel the way you feel. But your posts (the ones at issue) are not going to bring about an answer any faster, and they *are* irritating, at least to me. (I don't want to say *you* are irritating, just those particular posts. Posting like you are out of an abundance of concern is if anything a mark in favor of your character :)

Peace.

Posted by kgbuller 5 years agoon 3/29/2020 at 7:17 PM
#254

A friend and I enjoy GenCon each year. This year is our first year for winning the housing lottery! Should GenCon get cancelled, I would support putting tickets and housing arrangements in stasis for 2021. We will be back, regardless, but if possible, I’d like to save our winning slot. Everyone stay safe out there and remember, you can still play D&D remotely!

Posted by oldcurmudgeonstudios hahnarama 5 years agoon 3/29/2020 at 7:50 PM
#255

hahnarama wrote:
oldcurmudgeonstudios wrote:
I am still acting as if GC is happening. I've been able to do the GenCon Housing Portal Shuffle enough to whittle my way from 15 miles out to just 2 and change. Still on the quest for the grail rooms, i.e. downtown, connected.
Hey hey if you do happen to get to downtown hotel room do not select a Marriott property
What's your beef with Marriott? Oh, I guess that should be a whole different thread. Save this one for its stated purpose.

Posted by roderick oldcurmudgeonstudios 5 years agoon 3/29/2020 at 8:35 PM
#256

oldcurmudgeonstudios wrote:
hahnarama wrote:
oldcurmudgeonstudios wrote:
I am still acting as if GC is happening. I've been able to do the GenCon Housing Portal Shuffle enough to whittle my way from 15 miles out to just 2 and change. Still on the quest for the grail rooms, i.e. downtown, connected.
Hey hey if you do happen to get to downtown hotel room do not select a Marriott property
What's your beef with Marriott? Oh, I guess that should be a whole different thread. Save this one for its stated purpose.

Yes, otherwise your message will get deleted. 

Roderick Robertson
Forum Coordinator 
Gen Con, LLC. 

Posted by hahnarama oldcurmudgeonstudios 5 years agoon 3/29/2020 at 10:02 PM
#257

[This post has been removed]

Posted by squirecam 5 years agoon 3/29/2020 at 10:19 PM
#258

I dont think that a decision needs to be made now. Origins will decide May 1 whether their convention goes on. So I wouldn’t expect Gencon to decide before they do.

I do think Gencon should be planning on changes though. The annual dealer hall stampede is not a good idea generally. Even worse to be packed in like sardines with a virus going around. There needs to be a clear line into the hall that utilizes social distancing instead of the bum rush method of the past.

According to the the recent article, Indy is a hot spot, and the virus is expected to be around. Will Gencon have testing policies and procedures? Fever checks? And what about the bathrooms, which are less then hygienic in normal times, but will be a viral disaster without MUCH better cleanings then in the past. 

I think its reasonable to expect Gencon to be working on these policies now, and not wait until a decision is made.

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2020/03/29/indiana-coronavirus-us-surgeon-general-jerome-adams-calls-indianapolis-emerging-hotspot-covid-19/2935666001/
 

Posted by mikeboozer 5 years agoon 3/29/2020 at 10:47 PM
#259

Once again the topic is not the Marriott...take it elsewhere.

Posted by donaldbain squirecam 5 years agoon 3/29/2020 at 11:46 PM
#260

squirecam wrote:The annual dealer hall stampede is not a good idea generally. Even worse to be packed in like sardines with a virus going around. There needs to be a clear line into the hall that utilizes social distancing instead of the bum rush method of the past.
I cannot see how that would work.  Trying to enforce a six foot gap between people standing in line?  A single file line for the dealer hall?  It would wrap the building, maybe twice.  Should we try a lottery for dealer hall entry times?  Make it a ticketed event with start times?  I can't see anything other the usual scrum actually working.
 

Posted by cmegus donaldbain 5 years agoon 3/30/2020 at 12:45 AM
#261

donaldbain wrote:
squirecam wrote:The annual dealer hall stampede is not a good idea generally. Even worse to be packed in like sardines with a virus going around. There needs to be a clear line into the hall that utilizes social distancing instead of the bum rush method of the past.
I cannot see how that would work.  Trying to enforce a six foot gap between people standing in line?  A single file line for the dealer hall?  It would wrap the building, maybe twice.  Should we try a lottery for dealer hall entry times?  Make it a ticketed event with start times?  I can't see anything other the usual scrum actually working.
 

Might need to consider cutting the amount of space given to vendors. Or even moving some of them to different spots.

G
 

Posted by squirecam donaldbain 5 years agoon 3/30/2020 at 12:52 AM
#262

donaldbain wrote:
squirecam wrote:The annual dealer hall stampede is not a good idea generally. Even worse to be packed in like sardines with a virus going around. There needs to be a clear line into the hall that utilizes social distancing instead of the bum rush method of the past.
I cannot see how that would work.  Trying to enforce a six foot gap between people standing in line?  A single file line for the dealer hall?  It would wrap the building, maybe twice.  Should we try a lottery for dealer hall entry times?  Make it a ticketed event with start times?  I can't see anything other the usual scrum actually working.
 
A lottery or Ticketed entry times could be an option. Spreading out vendors another. But something does need to be done. It cannot simply be business as usual. 

Posted by donaldbain 5 years agoon 3/30/2020 at 1:42 AM
#263

Spread the vendors out to...where?  You'll either be losing event space or cramming shoppers in with gamers. 

As for ticketed times, how do you get people out once they are in?  2 hour shopping window, clear the hall, next 2 hour lot in?  Anyone who want to run in and grabs some dice or a Magic card is out of luck.  Anyone who wants to spend the day shopping or demoing is out of luck. 

Anything that is done will make vendors lose money vs a regular year.  Will it be worth it for them to even come?  (That solves some of the crowding, I guess.)

Posted by cmegus 5 years agoon 3/30/2020 at 2:01 AM
#264

Why do they have to have game demos in the hall?

Why not have it timed for several hours (or however long) at a time in different rooms?

G

 

Posted by mikeboozer cmegus 5 years agoon 3/30/2020 at 2:29 AM
#265

cmegus wrote:
Why do they have to have game demos in the hall?
Why not have it timed for several hours (or however long) at a time in different rooms?
G
 

They do them in the hall because they have a booth there. Otherwise they would need another space, staffing, cost.
 

Posted by brotherbock squirecam 5 years agoon 3/30/2020 at 2:34 AM
#266

squirecam wrote:
donaldbain wrote:
squirecam wrote:The annual dealer hall stampede is not a good idea generally. Even worse to be packed in like sardines with a virus going around. There needs to be a clear line into the hall that utilizes social distancing instead of the bum rush method of the past.
I cannot see how that would work.  Trying to enforce a six foot gap between people standing in line?  A single file line for the dealer hall?  It would wrap the building, maybe twice.  Should we try a lottery for dealer hall entry times?  Make it a ticketed event with start times?  I can't see anything other the usual scrum actually working.
A lottery or Ticketed entry times could be an option. Spreading out vendors another. But something does need to be done. It cannot simply be business as usual. 

Why can't it be business as usual, in late July? It's certainly possible that, by then, if the con is still on, things are such that it shouldn't be business as usual. It's also possible that things are such that business as usual is fine. If social distancing still needs to be a thing in July, then the Con will not happen. That's the point of social distancing--it's not a way to keep 6 feet between people going to an unnecessary vacation convention. It's a way to keep people from going to unnecessary vacation conventions at all. 6 foot rules are for grocery shopping and hospitals.

If the con happens, it will only be because social distancing is no longer necessary. Ergo, the hall can run without social distancing.

I'm not predicting it will run--just pointing out the necessary connection there. The con happening will only come with a removal of the need for social distancing. If SD is still in place, no Con. And if yes Con, then no SD.

That said, I'll probably still pay more attention to hand washing and such, and anyone at that time who is sick should clearly not come (as opposed to someone in a normal year 'feeling bad' but still coming). So some things should likely change, because there's no way COVID-19 is completely gone from the planet by July. But that doesn't mean extreme dealer hall measures. If those have to happen, there won't be a Con anyway. It's like planning what to write in your review of the airline as your plane is slamming into the ground--there's no need to worry about that. :)

Posted by mikeboozer brotherbock 5 years agoon 3/30/2020 at 2:50 AM
#267

brotherbock wrote:
squirecam wrote:
donaldbain wrote:
squirecam wrote:The annual dealer hall stampede is not a good idea generally. Even worse to be packed in like sardines with a virus going around. There needs to be a clear line into the hall that utilizes social distancing instead of the bum rush method of the past.
I cannot see how that would work.  Trying to enforce a six foot gap between people standing in line?  A single file line for the dealer hall?  It would wrap the building, maybe twice.  Should we try a lottery for dealer hall entry times?  Make it a ticketed event with start times?  I can't see anything other the usual scrum actually working.
A lottery or Ticketed entry times could be an option. Spreading out vendors another. But something does need to be done. It cannot simply be business as usual. 

Why can't it be business as usual, in late July? It's certainly possible that, by then, if the con is still on, things are such that it shouldn't be business as usual. It's also possible that things are such that business as usual is fine. If social distancing still needs to be a thing in July, then the Con will not happen. That's the point of social distancing--it's not a way to keep 6 feet between people going to an unnecessary vacation convention. It's a way to keep people from going to unnecessary vacation conventions at all. 6 foot rules are for grocery shopping and hospitals.If the con happens, it will only be because social distancing is no longer necessary. Ergo, the hall can run without social distancing.
I'm not predicting it will run--just pointing out the necessary connection there. The con happening will only come with a removal of the need for social distancing. If SD is still in place, no Con. And if yes Con, then no SD.

And someone wins the prize for rational thinking!

Posted by squirecam mikeboozer 5 years agoon 3/30/2020 at 3:49 AM
#268

mikeboozer wrote:
brotherbock wrote:
squirecam wrote:
donaldbain wrote:
squirecam wrote:The annual dealer hall stampede is not a good idea generally. Even worse to be packed in like sardines with a virus going around. There needs to be a clear line into the hall that utilizes social distancing instead of the bum rush method of the past.
I cannot see how that would work.  Trying to enforce a six foot gap between people standing in line?  A single file line for the dealer hall?  It would wrap the building, maybe twice.  Should we try a lottery for dealer hall entry times?  Make it a ticketed event with start times?  I can't see anything other the usual scrum actually working.
A lottery or Ticketed entry times could be an option. Spreading out vendors another. But something does need to be done. It cannot simply be business as usual. 

Why can't it be business as usual, in late July? It's certainly possible that, by then, if the con is still on, things are such that it shouldn't be business as usual. It's also possible that things are such that business as usual is fine. If social distancing still needs to be a thing in July, then the Con will not happen. That's the point of social distancing--it's not a way to keep 6 feet between people going to an unnecessary vacation convention. It's a way to keep people from going to unnecessary vacation conventions at all. 6 foot rules are for grocery shopping and hospitals.If the con happens, it will only be because social distancing is no longer necessary. Ergo, the hall can run without social distancing.
I'm not predicting it will run--just pointing out the necessary connection there. The con happening will only come with a removal of the need for social distancing. If SD is still in place, no Con. And if yes Con, then no SD.

And someone wins the prize for rational thinking!
I think not. 

Gencon must plan for dealing with the virus aftermath. If you read the Indy article I link to above, it’s clear that the virus will not be gone in July. So there must be social distancing of some sort. And part of that plan is identifying possible recurrence of the virus, which would require temperature checks and other methods.

If people are of the “hope” that everything will be as it was before, and no restrictions will be necessary, then Gencon might as well just cancel the convention. Because it would be insane to cram 60,000 in a convention area with no thought to peoples actual welfare.

Please be realistic. There is no miracle vaccine coming before August. The virus is going to be around. So either steps are taken, some of which will require distancing or enforced lower maximums of people allowed in the dealer hall at one time, or the virus is going to have a wonderful opportunity to spread.

Wishing or hoping things were different is not a plan. Gencon should be planning NOW for how to run a safe convention in our new reality. Or cancel it if Gencon can’t or won’t take such steps.

 

Posted by tarn 5 years agoon 3/30/2020 at 3:50 AM
#269

[This post has been removed]

Posted by tarn 5 years agoon 3/30/2020 at 3:52 AM
#270

All conventions will have to cancel for 2020. It is the only way to be safe.

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