Official Gen Con specific only Coronavirus thread
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Posted by officerdg
#526

On a side and possibly related note.  FYI For anyone and everyone that has a reservation at the Hampton Inn Downtown Indy for Gen Con.  I literally just hung up the phone with the oh so nice, kind and considerate folks at that fine hotel and I was assured that all reservations that get canceled because of Gen Con getting canceled (If it does) will be canceled at $0 charge to each guest.   Thank you and have a glorious day!  I will repost this on other threads if I find any that may benefit from this information. 

Posted by hahnarama
#527

Local Indianapolis guy here I know this post reply get deleted but it's been all over the local news Indiana Black expo summer celebration which is two weeks before Gen Con at the convention center all around downtown Indy just cancelled for 2020

Posted by lore seeker hahnarama
#528

hahnarama wrote:
Local Indianapolis guy here I know this post reply get deleted but it's been all over the local news Indiana Black expo summer celebration which is two weeks before Gen Con at the convention center all around downtown Indy just cancelled for 2020

Here's the full story.

Posted by hahnarama
#529

I think this quote says it all

>>>includes our responsibility to protect the health and safety of those who attend our traditional community engagement programs and events," the organization wrote in a statement

Posted by dangado
#530

It's pretty simple, until Force Majeure clauses can be felt to be executed by GenCon they will delay doing a decision until they have to.  Which means the focus is on the city of Indianapolis and ICC to decide that hosting GenCon is a bad public safety idea.  

Posted by matthias9 demadog
#531

demadog wrote:
I urge the powers that be with Gen Con to cancel the event this year and save everyone the decision.

I think this line is pretty telling.  This concept has come up repeatedly.  A lot of people are hoping Gen Con makes a decision "so they don't have to".  That is not a reason to determine a course of action.  Similarly, another person said there should be a decision soon because flight prices are fluctuating (they always do...).  That is also not a reason to decide earlier than necessary.  There are a lot of variables at play here.  Most likely, there are a lot of discussions happening in the background by Gen Con staff (can we go forward?  is it possible to move the date?  what do our partners have to say about these things?  should we cancel?  what are our policies in each of these situations?) If you are 100% sure you shouldn't be there, YOU DON'T NEED GEN CON TO DECIDE FOR YOU.  You can cancel now on your own.  Asking them to cancel an event to save you from having to make a decision, though?  There are enough real factors into the decision, that one doesn't make the list.

Meanwhile, another poster says:  "It's pretty simple, until Force Majeure clauses can be felt to be executed by GenCon they will delay doing a decision until they have to."     I'd counter with this:   It's pretty simple, until Gen Con cancels, it isn't cancelled. 

Posted by kd8esu matthias9
#532

matthias9 wrote:
demadog wrote:
I urge the powers that be with Gen Con to cancel the event this year and save everyone the decision.

I think this line is pretty telling.  This concept has come up repeatedly.  A lot of people are hoping Gen Con makes a decision "so they don't have to".  That is not a reason to determine a course of action.  Similarly, another person said there should be a decision soon because flight prices are fluctuating (they always do...).  That is also not a reason to decide earlier than necessary.  There are a lot of variables at play here.  Most likely, there are a lot of discussions happening in the background by Gen Con staff (can we go forward?  is it possible to move the date?  what do our partners have to say about these things?  should we cancel?  what are our policies in each of these situations?) If you are 100% sure you shouldn't be there, you don't need Gen Con to decide for you.  YOU CAN CANCEL NOW.  Asking them to cancel an event to save you from having to make a decision, though?  There are enough real factors into the decision, that one doesn't make the list.

Meanwhile, another poster says:  "It's pretty simple, until Force Majeure clauses can be felt to be executed by GenCon they will delay doing a decision until they have to."     I'd counter with this:   It's pretty simple, until Gen Con cancels, it isn't cancelled. 

I'll add to that last part as everyone's on it:  Until Force Majeure clauses come into place, Gen Con will go on.
It's really a financial issue, Gen Con LLC isn't a big company (unlike what some people act like they are) and they don't have the resources to just cancel without it being a financial burden; one that would probably kill the company entirely and this convention.

Until it gets announced, it's happening.  If you think it's unsafe to go, no one is putting a gun to your head and making you go; we are actually saying don't go if you don't feel safe going (and that's not just for a virus, but for any reason) and we understand.

But the point here is simple:  Gen Con is still planned to go as if right now.  Furthermore, people who are trying to tell the company to cancel should be offering up to pay that cancellation fee for Gen Con LLC to show they are willing to put their money where their mouth is and take Force Majeure as a reason to keep going off the table.

Posted by sovietprince
#533

question would some cosplayers costumed protect from spreading?

Posted by hahnarama
#534

Ok gonna post even though the odds are pretty high that this will get deleted :) 

Someone keeps saying that  no one's forcing you to attend gencon. And they are absolutely right. As much as it kills me not to go I have decided I'm not going to Gen Con this year. I've attended 27 or 28 straight, I've lost count in my advanced old age :) I LOVE attending. my wife always describes it as my own personal vacation and I always come back with a smile on my face and in a better mood than when I left. But for the same of my family I'm not going. 

0riginally they thought COVID had an R Naught of 2-3. It's actually 5.7. For comparison Ebola has a rating of 2, the measles has a rating of 18. What that means is one Infected person will infect 5.7 other people, each of those will infect 5.7....

For none of the 60,000 attendees to be exposed to this disease and get sick it would require 82% of the attendees to have immunity. That's 49,000 people. I don't think we're anywhere close that perentage yet in the general population.

So if my 4 beer math is correct  :) let's say it makes it just thru 7 levels of spread from Attendee Zero. That's almost 35,000 people infected. The death rate here in Indiana is currently 5.5%

I'm not passing any kind of judgement, but if this were my Con there is no I would let 1886 people potentially die if I was told it was possible based on current models.

 

Posted by lore seeker sovietprince
#535

sovietprince wrote:
question would some cosplayers costumed protect from spreading?

You mean would some cosplayers' costume elements keep them from spreading the virus? Interesting question. I assume a costume that includes a face mask that covers as much or more of the face than a surgical mask would provide similar or greater protection as far as them spreading the virus, but that's just a guess.

Hmmm...

Gen Con 2020: The Year of the Ninja?

Posted by mikeboozer hahnarama
#536

hahnarama wrote:
Ok gonna post even though the odds are pretty high that this will get deleted :) 
Someone keeps saying that  no one's forcing you to attend gencon. And they are absolutely right. As much as it kills me not to go I have decided I'm not going to Gen Con this year. I've attended 27 or 28 straight, I've lost count in my advanced old age :) I LOVE attending. my wife always describes it as my own personal vacation and I always come back with a smile on my face and in a better mood than when I left. But for the same of my family I'm not going. 
0riginally they thought COVID had an R Naught of 2-3. It's actually 5.7. For comparison Ebola has a rating of 2, the measles has a rating of 18. What that means is one Infected person will infect 5.7 other people, each of those will infect 5.7....
For none of the 60,000 attendees to be exposed to this disease and get sick it would require 82% of the attendees to have immunity. That's 49,000 people. I don't think we're anywhere close that perentage yet in the general population.
So if my 4 beer math is correct  :) let's say it makes it just thru 7 levels of spread from Attendee Zero. That's almost 35,000 people infected. The death rate here in Indiana is currently 5.5%
I'm not passing any kind of judgement, but if this were my Con there is no I would let 1886 people potentially die if I was told it was possible based on current models.

Please go back and read our statement on page 14 of this thread.
I'm not deleting this. You have had your say. Further posts like this will not be tolerated.

Mike Boozer
Customer Service & Event Team Manager
Gen Con LLC

Posted by rfsullivan
#537

Illinois is announcing a modification/extension of the stay-at-home order; there will be a slight expansion of businesses allowed to operate (entirely in a curbside/delivery manner), but gatherings will still be verboten and masks will go from a recommendation to a requirement in places where distancing can't be maintained. 

GenCon is starting to feel like a long shot, but procedures like this happening now are what keep it from feeling like a lost cause. Seems like people are recognizing that we lost the battle for spring back in February, and now it's time to start fighting for a summer by keeping a rebound spike from happening in May. 

As far as the logistics of making something like the dealer hall happen, a page could be taken out of the playbook of the grocery stores in this area and making the aisles one-way. Instead of trying to manage traffic in both directions, each aisle could have an "express lane" in the center for people just travelling through, and a smaller aisle off to each side for people who want to linger at a booth to see what's going on. It would not be perfect (I can't picture how to maintain a 6 foot circle inside a booth with an attendant), but if combined with required masks could reduce transmission levels. 

question would some cosplayers costumed protect from spreading?
 

If I'm understanding the CDC guidelines properly, some cosplay would reduce (but not eliminate) spread. Anything that integrates a suitably thick cloth mask could reduce the spread of aspirated droplets if properly worn; a lot of what's being sold as COVID masks could pass as part of a ninja outfit pretty easily. All the Fallout cosplayers doing Brotherhood of Steel or Desert Ranger armor would at least have something covering their mouth, nose and eyes to reduce their chance of inadvertently touching them. There could be a spike in costumes that integrate full face masks/shields, and I wouldn't be shocked if there was a spike in biohazard/zombie-themed costumes, both for the gear and because that's just the sort of year we're having. 

Posted by raidkillsbugsded mikeboozer
#538

mikeboozer wrote:
Please go back and read our statement on page 14 of this thread.
I'm not deleting this. You have had your say. Further posts like this will not be tolerated.Mike Boozer
Customer Service & Event Team Manager
Gen Con LLC

I really have to give you and Roderick credit for your patience and self-control with things on this thread, and that's coming from a person who teaches 3 and 4 year olds as part of my work.  

Posted by ckalinwi rfsullivan
#539

rfsullivan wrote:
Illinois is announcing a modification/extension of the stay-at-home order; there will be a slight expansion of businesses allowed to operate (entirely in a curbside/delivery manner), but gatherings will still be verboten and masks will go from a recommendation to a requirement in places where distancing can't be maintained. 
GenCon is starting to feel like a long shot, but procedures like this happening now are what keep it from feeling like a lost cause. Seems like people are recognizing that we lost the battle for spring back in February, and now it's time to start fighting for a summer by keeping a rebound spike from happening in May. 
As far as the logistics of making something like the dealer hall happen, a page could be taken out of the playbook of the grocery stores in this area and making the aisles one-way. Instead of trying to manage traffic in both directions, each aisle could have an "express lane" in the center for people just travelling through, and a smaller aisle off to each side for people who want to linger at a booth to see what's going on. It would not be perfect (I can't picture how to maintain a 6 foot circle inside a booth with an attendant), but if combined with required masks could reduce transmission levels. 
question would some cosplayers costumed protect from spreading?

If I'm understanding the CDC guidelines properly, some cosplay would reduce (but not eliminate) spread. Anything that integrates a suitably thick cloth mask could reduce the spread of aspirated droplets if properly worn; a lot of what's being sold as COVID masks could pass as part of a ninja outfit pretty easily. All the Fallout cosplayers doing Brotherhood of Steel or Desert Ranger armor would at least have something covering their mouth, nose and eyes to reduce their chance of inadvertently touching them. There could be a spike in costumes that integrate full face masks/shields, and I wouldn't be shocked if there was a spike in biohazard/zombie-themed costumes, both for the gear and because that's just the sort of year we're having. 


I'm thinking the best course of action (this is hypothetical at this point obviously) is going to end up making masks (even cloth ones, or neck gaiters worn over the face) mandatory for con entrance.  Put out the word in advance and it's not going to be a problem.  Even if the masks aren't perfect they'll still reduce the amount of possibly infected droplets that are exhaled and land on surfaces.  The attendees who want to be really cautious will maybe bring a box of disposable gloves and toss the pair they're wearing every so often, or every time they touch a game.
Also:  Are we assuming local restaurants are going to be open for normal business by this time?  Can't have 80K con-goers getting to-go and sitting on the curb...

Posted by rfsullivan
#540

The attendees who want to be really cautious will maybe bring a box of disposable gloves and toss the pair they're wearing every so often, or every time they touch a game.

Might be better off with hand sanitizer; less bulk, less trash, and less risk of re-contaminating yourself due to taking the gloves off wrong. Rubbing alcohol would probably also be popular for cleaning off dice and minis on a regular basis. 

Posted by donaldbain
#541

As far as rescheduling, these dates are currently open:

Aug 20-23 - show on the 24th may make large breakdown not workable
Sept 10-13
Sept 23-27 - bookend events may cause issues
Oct 8-11 - Origins - how close together can the shows be?
Oct 22-25
Oct 28 - Nov 1
Nov 12-15
Nov 19-22

After that is the Holidays and more chances for bad weather.

Sauce: https://www.icclos.com/upcoming-events/

Posted by lore seeker ckalinwi
#542

ckalinwi wrote:
rfsullivan wrote:
Illinois is announcing a modification/extension of the stay-at-home order; there will be a slight expansion of businesses allowed to operate (entirely in a curbside/delivery manner), but gatherings will still be verboten and masks will go from a recommendation to a requirement in places where distancing can't be maintained. 
GenCon is starting to feel like a long shot, but procedures like this happening now are what keep it from feeling like a lost cause. Seems like people are recognizing that we lost the battle for spring back in February, and now it's time to start fighting for a summer by keeping a rebound spike from happening in May. 
As far as the logistics of making something like the dealer hall happen, a page could be taken out of the playbook of the grocery stores in this area and making the aisles one-way. Instead of trying to manage traffic in both directions, each aisle could have an "express lane" in the center for people just travelling through, and a smaller aisle off to each side for people who want to linger at a booth to see what's going on. It would not be perfect (I can't picture how to maintain a 6 foot circle inside a booth with an attendant), but if combined with required masks could reduce transmission levels. 
question would some cosplayers costumed protect from spreading?

If I'm understanding the CDC guidelines properly, some cosplay would reduce (but not eliminate) spread. Anything that integrates a suitably thick cloth mask could reduce the spread of aspirated droplets if properly worn; a lot of what's being sold as COVID masks could pass as part of a ninja outfit pretty easily. All the Fallout cosplayers doing Brotherhood of Steel or Desert Ranger armor would at least have something covering their mouth, nose and eyes to reduce their chance of inadvertently touching them. There could be a spike in costumes that integrate full face masks/shields, and I wouldn't be shocked if there was a spike in biohazard/zombie-themed costumes, both for the gear and because that's just the sort of year we're having. 

I'm thinking the best course of action (this is hypothetical at this point obviously) is going to end up making masks (even cloth ones, or neck gaiters worn over the face) mandatory for con entrance.  Put out the word in advance and it's not going to be a problem.  Even if the masks aren't perfect they'll still reduce the amount of possibly infected droplets that are exhaled and land on surfaces.  The attendees who want to be really cautious will maybe bring a box of disposable gloves and toss the pair they're wearing every so often, or every time they touch a game.
Also:  Are we assuming local restaurants are going to be open for normal business by this time?  Can't have 80K con-goers getting to-go and sitting on the curb...

I agree - masks should definitely be required. The surgical masks (the cheaper blue and white ones) are more for keeping the wearer from projecting the virus outward than they are for keeping it in, but if everyone's wearing one, that's not as much of a problem.

I also think the one way aisles for the dealer's hall are a good idea. Maybe limit occupancy as well (though that might cause some long lines outside the hall).

I think the con's going to look very different from normal if it goes down this year, but as long as it happens and happens safely, I for one will be happy.

Posted by bsus323 mikeboozer
#543

mikeboozer wrote:
hahnarama wrote:
Ok gonna post even though the odds are pretty high that this will get deleted :) 
Someone keeps saying that  no one's forcing you to attend gencon. And they are absolutely right. As much as it kills me not to go I have decided I'm not going to Gen Con this year. I've attended 27 or 28 straight, I've lost count in my advanced old age :) I LOVE attending. my wife always describes it as my own personal vacation and I always come back with a smile on my face and in a better mood than when I left. But for the same of my family I'm not going. 
0riginally they thought COVID had an R Naught of 2-3. It's actually 5.7. For comparison Ebola has a rating of 2, the measles has a rating of 18. What that means is one Infected person will infect 5.7 other people, each of those will infect 5.7....
For none of the 60,000 attendees to be exposed to this disease and get sick it would require 82% of the attendees to have immunity. That's 49,000 people. I don't think we're anywhere close that perentage yet in the general population.
So if my 4 beer math is correct  :) let's say it makes it just thru 7 levels of spread from Attendee Zero. That's almost 35,000 people infected. The death rate here in Indiana is currently 5.5%
I'm not passing any kind of judgement, but if this were my Con there is no I would let 1886 people potentially die if I was told it was possible based on current models.

Please go back and read our statement on page 14 of this thread.
I'm not deleting this. You have had your say. Further posts like this will not be tolerated.Mike Boozer
Customer Service & Event Team Manager
Gen Con LLC

Mike,

I read the initial Gencon statement on Page 1 and the one on Page 14 of this thread but I'm confused. Out of curiosity, why exactly was this post something that will not be tolerated?

It did not seem offensive or antagonistic. It was mostly math and speculation. 

Just so I (or other people) don't inadvertently post something not allowed.

Thanks. 

Posted by del_grande donaldbain
#544

donaldbain wrote:
As far as rescheduling, these dates are currently open:
Aug 20-23 - show on the 24th may make large breakdown not workable
Sept 10-13
Sept 23-27 - bookend events may cause issues
Oct 8-11 - Origins - how close together can the shows be?
Oct 22-25
Oct 28 - Nov 1
Nov 12-15
Nov 19-22
After that is the Holidays and more chances for bad weather.
Sauce: https://www.icclos.com/upcoming-events/

Keep in mind that, of the 11 Sundays from 9/13 through 1/3 that are not occupied, including Origins weekend as one of them, eight will be Colts home games. The NFL schedule is going to be released "real soon now," and there are rumors that it is being written so they can cancel the first week or two without causing serious problems.

Posted by sgt engee
#545

As much as I'd like to attend this year, due to the virus, I will be seeking a refund for my badge or for a credit towards GenCon 2021. This would have been my second year, and first year at the trade event. I work at a library and was hoping to bring some of this information back for our patrons. Unfortunately, between the health concerns, being furloughed currently due to my work being closed due to our state's stay at home order, AND having to nearly exhaust my vacation time I was planning on spending to go to GenCon 2020 just to keep my regular paycheck coming in, I have to make this choice.

I hope next year this crisis will have run it's course and when we can return to some semblance of "normal", that GenCon will be just as fun as it was when I went for the first time in 2018. If not better. :-)

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