GottaCon 2014

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Carson Upton
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GottaCon 2014

Post by Carson Upton »

After a fifth successful year, GottaCon 2014 is set to take place on February 28th to March 2nd, 2014 at the Victoria Conference Centre in Victoria, BC. The 2013 show saw an increase in attendance which exceeded 1,600 individual attendees and attendance for the 2014 show is expected to continue to grow.

GottaCon is a three-day broad spectrum gaming convention that is held annually in February in Victoria, British Columbia. GottaCon celebrates the science fiction and fantasy genres, covers many related hobbies and offers a one stop experience for the fans and enthusiasts of those genres.

The vision of GottaCon is to host something for everyone including free-play and tournaments in board games, collectible/non-collectible miniatures, collectible trading cards, role-playing games, and electronic gaming as well as demonstrations, contests, information sessions, workshops, discussion panels and a variety of exhibitors.

Our goal is to deliver a high quality and exciting environment that will establish GottaCon as an annual destination that participants will return to for years to come. Our 2014 event, called GottaCon 2014, will be our sixth show. The convention doors open at 5:00pm Friday and close at 6:00pm Sunday.

GottaCon will take place at Victoria Conference Centre at 720 Douglas Street. with over 47,000 square feet of floor space.

History of GottaCon Attendance
First show (GottaCon 2009) attendance: 600
Second show (GottaCon 2010) attendance: 900
Third show (GottaCon 2011) attendance: 1100
Fourth show (GottaCon 2012) attendance: 1500
Fifth show (GottaCon 2013) attendance: 1600
Anticipated GottaCon 2014 attendance: 1800 to 2000 Individuals

If you still haven’t experienced what GottaCon has to offer then you should definitely check out our 2014 show. For more information, please visit our web site at www.gottacon.com or e-mail one of the owners or our staff at the following addresses:

Owners
Carson Upton, Partner: cupton@gottacon.com
Evan Hatch, Partner: ehatch@gottacon.com

Staff
Chris Gensey, Volunteer Manager: volunteers@gottacon.com
Mike Gruber, Role Playing Game Manager: rpgs@gottacon.com
Lee Guille, Board Games Manager: boardgames@gottacon.com
Paul Puhallo, Miniatures Manager: ppuhallo@gottacon.com
Sol Kauffman, Social Media Manager: socialmedia@gottacon.com
BC Gamer, LAN Operations: lanoperations@gottacon.com
Kellan Johnson, LAN Events Manager:lanevents@gottacon.com
Wilf Rondeau, Office Manager

We will also be making numerous announcements over the next few weeks around sponsors, events and developments so please keep an eye on our website, Facebook page, and Twitter account to stay up to date.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at our convention.
Last edited by Carson Upton on Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:48 pm, edited 9 times in total.

Carson Upton
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GottaCon Proud to Introduce Management Team for 2014 Show

Post by Carson Upton »

As GottaCon entered its sixth show year with another growth in attendance expected we knew we would need help to handle the ever growing workload associated in running and improving a gaming convention. We just wanted to take a moment and introduce the individuals that will be helping to deliver our biggest and best show ever. We are very excited to have these individuals, some veterans, some new blood, onboard this year and we hope you are too!!

Sol Kauffman, Social Media Managert: socialmedia@gottacon.com
Chris Gensey, Volunteer Manager: volunteers@gottacon.com
Kellan Johnson, LAN Events Manager: lanevents@gottacon.com
Lee Guille, Board Games Manager: boardgames@gottacon.com
Mike Gruber, Role Playing Games Manager: rpgs@gottacon.com
Paul Puhallo, Miniatures Manager: ppuhallo@gottacon.com
BC Gamer (Jeff Pedlow), LAN Operations Team: lanoperations@gottacon.com
Wilf Rondeau, Back End Office Manager

Once again we are proud to present our 2014 show managers and we look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at our 2014 event. For bios our on managers please visit our website.

Carson Upton
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GottaCon 2014 Moves to New Location and New Dates

Post by Carson Upton »

Hold on to your seats because we are about to tell you the biggest GottaCon news since we launched our event. GottaCon is excited to announce that we are moving, effective our 2014 show, to the Victoria Conference Centre and changing dates to February 28, March 1 and 2, 2014.

GottaCon Conventions was approached by the City of Victoria as well as a representative of the local video game studios to not only move the event to the Victoria Conference Centre but to do it for 2014. Needless to say we were speechless but up to the challenge. We have now met and negotiated the move with the parties involved and we are pleased to say that it is moving forward…and fast!

Mayor Dean Fortin and the City of Victoria are very excited about the potential GottaCon brings to our home town and the benefits this will bring to the local economy.

“The video gaming industry is one of the fastest growing segments of the technology sector and is a key element of our local economy”, said Mayor Dean Fortin. “I am very excited that this notable event will take place downtown close to the 19 studios where so much of this creativity is born”.

The event will expand to shine a light on the amazing video game studios that can be found all around the Capital Regional District. These fantastic companies are playing a big role in making all this possible.

“I think GottaCon is the perfect event to highlight our video game industry.” said Eric Jordan, CEO of DJArts Games. “Gamers are the heart of the video game industry and GottaCon is dedicated to the celebration of games and our community of gamers.”

GottaCon would like to say a special thanks to the Victoria Video Game CEO Alliance which consists of DJArts Games, Kixeye, Microsoft Studios, InLight Entertainment, Kano/Apps, GameHouse, Zynga, Tiny Mob Games and Race Rocks 3D.

Please bear with us as we are in the early stages of this significant development. We will be working extremely hard to continue to deliver the quality event that you have come to know. Floor plans, website, information packages, etc are all in the process of being updated. We are tremendously excited about this amazing opportunity and we hope you will be too. Please
Last edited by Carson Upton on Tue Dec 17, 2013 6:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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GottaCon 2014 Ticket Packages On Sale October 25, 2013

Post by Carson Upton »

GottaCon tickets will go on sale starting Friday October 25, 2013 on our website as well as at numerous retail locations (visit our website for a list of locations). There are different prices for each day as well as a full weekend pass price, family package prices, special packages which include entry into some of the major events as well as “add-on” options including our GottaCon 2014 t-shirt and dice set, video game themed burlesque show (18+) and BYOC seat reservations. There are a number of reasons why you should get your tickets in advance of the big show.

Most of our ticket options discounts for advance purchases.
Once you have purchased a ticket and our warhorn site goes live in November you will be able to preregister for events via our warhorn event registration site. Preregistration allows you to reserve your seat at the events you want as seating at most events is limited. It also helps you evade standing in the event registration lines the days of the convention to sign up for the events.

For full details visit our website.

!!NEW AND VERY IMPORTANT!!!
* There are limits on the number of different passes this year. Limits are noted in each pass type on our website.
* If you purchase your tickets via our site/Paypal you will receive a confirmation email with a unique code. You must bring a copy of this email/code with you to gain entry to our event this year.
* If you purchase your tickets via a store location you will receive a ticket from the store with a unique code. You must bring this ticket with you to gain entry to our event this year.
* When you show up we will enter the code into our database and check you in. Without this code we will not be able to check you in and thus you will not be able to enter GottaCon 2014.
* We will have “Will Call” again this year which means starting at 2:00pm Friday February 28, 2014 you can come to the entrance to GottaCon 2014 and check in, receive your badge and be told a location where, once the doors open, you will be able to enter the event simply by presenting your pass.
* The Will Call station will also have the ability to allow people to purchase tickets in advance of the doors opening between 2:00pm and 4:00pm. This is in an effort to decrease processing time at the doors on opening night.
* Replacement of lost or forgotten badges will result in a $10 per day reprinting fee in which official identification will be required, so don't lose your badges.
* The convention venue closes down to the public between 4am and 8am each day.
* All prices are in Canadian Dollars, all sales are final. If you wish to upgrade your online ticket purchase, contact us at ehatch@gottacon.com.

GottaCon 2014 T-Shirt and Dice Package

Once again GottaCon is happy to offer a T-Shirt and Dice package to our attendees. The package includes one t-shirt with GottaCon 2014 graphic on it (GottaCon Time or GottaCon Ponies) and a set of Chessex dice (seven pieces) which will match our promotional die that is given with purchase of a full weekend pass or package while supplies last. Also if you purchase a full weekend ticket or full weekend special event pass and the t-shirt and dice package you will be granted early access to GottaCon 2014 (Friday February 28, 2014 at 4:30PM instead of 5:00PM). This package will only be available until February 4, 2014. This package will not be available at the convention.

Package includes one shirt design and Custom D6 and Matching Dice Set

GottaCon Ponies
[img:612:676]http://www.gottacon.com/temp/gottapony.png[/img]
GottaCon Time
[img:613:676]http://www.gottacon.com/temp/gottatime.png[/img]
GottaCon 2014 Dice
[img:500:500]http://www.gmdice.com/media/catalog/pro ... -black.jpg[/img]

For full details visit our website.
Last edited by Carson Upton on Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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tedward
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Post by tedward »

This is looking to be amazing! Looking forward to it.

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Post by Carson Upton »

Happy to hear that! I am really excited about this year.

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Post by drpestilence »

Those dice are really pretty. Also diggin the pony shirt.

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Post by Macntoes »

I want a pony shirt too!
-Michelle

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of stuff" - Thomas Edison

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Post by Joseph »

methinks the pony shirt will be popular amongst the Lego crew :)

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Post by drpestilence »

I'm good with that. I'm also good with FINALLY going to one of these events.

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Post by tedward »

joseph wrote:methinks the pony shirt will be popular amongst the Lego crew :)
Speak for yourself pony-boy. ;)

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Post by Carson Upton »

I am glad to see we will have some new people this year.

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Official Accommodation Providers of GottaCon 2014

Post by Carson Upton »

GottaCon Conventions is pleased to announce that The Fairmont Empress and the Quality Inn Downtown Victoria are our two accommodations sponsors for GottaCon 2014. Each hotel offers great services and special convention pricing to our attendees. Please find below a brief description of the rooms and prices at each of the hotels. For more details on each sponsor please visit our website.

Please be aware that the hotels sold out of rooms last year so book your rooms as soon as possible! When you call to book your room at either of these locations, please mention you are attending the GottaCon convention to benefit from our special room rates. The GottaCon 2014 standard room rates are as follows:

Fairmont Empress - $99+Tax/Night - Two Double/Double Beds or One King
721 Government Street, Victoria, BC
250-384-8111 or 1-800-441-1414

The Empress is attached to the Victoria Conference Centre where GottaCon 2014 is being held and is on the door step of Victoria’s Inner Harbour with access to major attractions, shopping and dining in the downtown core of Victoria.

Victoria Quality Inn - $65+Tax/Night - Two Queen Beds or One King or One Queen
850 Blanshard Street, Victoria, BC
250-385-6787 or 1-800-661-4115

The Quality Inn is a two minute walk (1.5 blocks) to the Victoria Conference Centre where GottaCon 2014 is being held and is in the downtown core giving access to major attractions, shopping and dining.

Please visit our website to discover what each hotel has to offer and what is included with a room.

We urge all our in/out of town guests that require accommodations to use our hotel sponsors to help us forge lasting relationships that benefit everyone involved. Remember to mention you are attending the GottaCon convention to benefit from our special room rates.

Once again, we are pleased to have the Fairmont Empress and the Quality Inn Downtown Victoria as sponsors of our convention on the weekend of February 28 to March 2, 2014.

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Post by tedward »

Wow, great rates. We spent more to stay at the Hampton in Seattle for BrickCon than the Empress is charging!

Carson Upton
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Post by Carson Upton »

Thanks! We work really hard to make our event affordable!

Personally I am really looking forward to staying in a hotel attached to the convention center.

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