2011-2012 Conventions

[MomoKurumi]

Well, I did my best to compile a short summary of some of the regional conventions. If you know of any other conventions that you think would be worth knowing about, let me know and link me to their site! If you see some incorrect or missing information (including typos), please let me know. I didn’t spend too much time digging up the stats, but I did the best I could.

RED = poor timing GREEN - great timing


2011 Fall Semester Conventions (5 hours or less drive from Lafayette)

RamenCon: August 19-21 (PASSED)
http://www.ramencon.com/
Merrillville, Indiana- about 1.5 hours from Lafayette
1st year, 2011 attendance ~1500
$30 pre-reg for 2011
Notes: occurred on Purdue residence move-in weekend, working on planning a second year (leaning towards September)

NerdPow: October 28-30 (PASSED)
http://www.nerdpow.com/
Columbus, Ohio- about 4 hours from Lafayette
Year unknown, attendance unknown (small)
$20 pre-reg (deadline not specified), $30 at-door
Notes: Held by A&G Ohio (held in March)

SugoiCon: November 4-6 (PASSED)
http://www.sugoicon.org/current/index.html
Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky- about 3 hours from Lafayette
19th year, 2010 attendance ~1500-1800
$30 pre-reg until September 31, $35 pre-reg until October 10, $45 at-door
Notes: same weekend as YoumaCon, I am attending, 10 or more people can receive a 10% badge discount if preregistering together

YoumaCon: November 4-6 (PASSED)
http://www.youmacon.com/
Detroit, Michigan- about 5.5 hours from Lafayette
7th year, 2010 attendance 9000+
$45 pre-reg “for a limited time” (may have passed), $50 at-door
Notes: same weekend as SugoiCon

KollisionCon: November 18-20 (PASSED)
http://kollisioncon.com/
St. Charles, Illinois- about 3 hours from Lafayette
Year unknown, attendance unknown (small)
$40 pre-reg until September 30, $45 until November 11, $45 at-door
Notes: possible group discount on pre-reg (will contact for more info)

Anime Crossroads: December 16-18
http://animecrossroads.com/
Indianapolis, Indiana- about 1 hour from Lafayette
3rd year, attendance unknown
$35 pre-reg until September 30, $45 at-door
Notes: will be on the Friday/Saturday of exams- check the exam schedule to see yours: https://roomschedule.mypurdue.purdue.ed ... g/exams.do


2012 Spring Semester Conventions (5 hours or less drive from Lafayette)


OhayoCon: January 27-29
http://ohayocon.org/
Columbus, Ohio- about 4 hours from Lafayette
11th year, 2010 attendance 10,000+
$45 pre-reg until November 1, $50 pre-reg until January 8, $55 at-door
Notes: $5 discount per ticket if preregistering with 10 or more people

A&G Ohio: March 9-11
http://www.aandgohio.com/
Mason, Ohio- about 3.5 hours from Lafayette
4th year, 2011 attendance ~1400
$20 pre-reg until December 1, $25 pre-reg until ???, at-door price unknown
Notes: will be held on the first weekend of Purdue’s spring break, also I will be attending since my birthday is that Saturday. This is also a bonus- this year they are moving their location to the Great Wolf Lodge, which is a famous indoor waterpark, located next to King’s Island theme park

Anime Central: April 27-29
http://www.acen.org/
Rosemont, Illinois- about three hours from Lafayette
15th year, 2011 attendance ~23,000
$48 until December 15th, $53 until March 15th, $60 until April 15th, $60 at-door
Notes: might be on the first weekend of spring finals (will check this soon). To save money on hotel and parking, you might be interested in staying at a hotel down the street from the convention center. Many of these hotels offer a free 24-hour shuttle service as well as free parking and normal hotel prices (a Hyatt room runs about $175).


2012 Summer Semester Conventions (5 hours or less drive from Lafayette)


ColossalCon: June 7-10
http://www.colossalcon.com/
Sandusky Ohio- about 5.5 hours from Lafayette
12th year, attendance unknown (HUGE- prize for first place cosplay is a trip to JAPAN.)
***Website down, will update prices soon***
Notes: held at Kalahari Resort- an enormous indoor waterpark! This convention lasts FOUR days, not the usual three, so it starts on a Thursday!

IkasuCon: July 13-15
http://www.ikasucon.org/
Fort Wayne, Indiana- about 3 hours from Lafayette
Year unknown, attendance unknown
2012 Pre-Reg not yet announced/opened
Notes:

GenCon: August 16-19
http://www.gencon.com/2012/indy/default.aspx
Indianapolis, Indiana- about 1 hour from Lafayette
44th year (I think), 2011 attendance 36,000+
***Prices TBA in November/December***
Notes: gaming-themed, not anime/Japanese-culture-themed, lasts FOUR days

MatsuriCon: August 19-21
http://matsuricon.org/
Columbus, Ohio- about 4 hours from Lafayette
Year unknown, 2011 attendance ~2500
2012 Pre-Reg not yet announced/opened
Notes: may be the same time as move-in weekend for non-BGR participants

[madmantheo]

We usually organize trips to Ohayocon and Colossalcon through the club, though last year we also had a group go to Anime Crossroads. There are always a good number of people who make the trip to ACen, but the last few years we haven't organized trips through the club (had bad experiences at that con).

[MomoKurumi]

Aw, that's a shame. =( ACen can be quite overwhelming... I've only been to (of those listed here) A&G Ohio, SugoiCon, ACen, and RamenCon. I plan to try Kollision this year, but cannot attend Crossroads. I doubt I'll go to Ohayo or Colossal either, but it depends on money...