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NEWS: Otakon's Unofficial Attendance Pegged at 26,350




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Agent355



Joined: 12 Dec 2008
Posts: 5113
Location: Crackberry in hand, thumbs at the ready...
PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:22 am Reply with quote
It feels good to have been one of those attendees! Smile I wish I could've met some ANN staffers there. I saw a huge banner in the Dealer's Room that said "Anime News Network," but, alas, no booth. Bamboo, where were you?

I also thought it was quite funny that the average Baltimorian had no idea what was going on. Cosplayers took over the inner harbor! W00t!
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Richard J.



Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 3367
Location: Sic Semper Tyrannis.
PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:35 am Reply with quote
It's really a shame that so few are buyers, the industry would be healthy right now if more of them were.
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Chirico`Cuvie



Joined: 23 Apr 2009
Posts: 6
PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:01 pm Reply with quote
There were a lot of cosplayers out walking around at all times, lol. Can't think of a time when I couldn't see at least one walking around from my hotel room.

Quote:
It's really a shame that so few are buyers, the industry would be healthy right now if more of them were.


Did I miss something? Every time I ventured into the dealer's room, it was so packed that I had a hard time tracking down the interesting stuff.
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vilapupu



Joined: 20 Jul 2009
Posts: 22
Location: Maryland - USA
PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:12 pm Reply with quote
Hi. well, I just want to say that the 2009 one was my first year in the Otakon. I am glad to hear that there are many people going to the convention. it was fun, and went there for saturday and sunday. did see the people from this site in the convention (that I may be in the background in one maybe). I am going to attend for next year, btw.
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esw01407



Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 9
Location: PA
PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:12 pm Reply with quote
I've only been to Otakon a few times now, but Sunday seemed like the most crowded I ever saw it. Still allot going on and people didn't seem too interested in leaving.
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Megiddo



Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 8360
Location: IL
PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:15 pm Reply with quote
Not much growth from the year before it seems.
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Joe Mello



Joined: 31 May 2004
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:52 pm Reply with quote
Megiddo wrote:
Not much growth from the year before it seems.

Well the recession "started" between last Otakon and this one. Plus, I'd have to imagine diminishing returns are going to hit the bigger conventions sooner rather than later. It is a finite space, after all.
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Megiddo



Joined: 24 Aug 2005
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:13 pm Reply with quote
True, but when you think about the amount of guests (especially international guests), I'm still surprised that it was such a small, less than 100 I believe, increase from the year before.

Even though A-kon had zero international guests and had a band which had already played a few years prior there, there was still a relatively (given the economy) healthy growth of around 700, from 15,324 to 16,037.

Also, I've noticed how competitive Otakon goers are with wanting to catch up to AX in terms of attendance. And considering AX had a approximate increase of 1,000 going from around 43,000 to 44,000 I find it quite interesting.
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Shale



Joined: 04 Dec 2002
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Location: The Middle of Nowhere, DE
PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:53 pm Reply with quote
Isn't Otakon's attendance at the point where the convention center won't let them sell any more badges? Believe me, that place is full. As a con-goer I wouldn't want another thousand people walking around. The halls are close enough to impassable as it is.
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Joe Mello



Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 2254
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:36 am Reply with quote
Megiddo wrote:
True, but when you think about the amount of guests (especially international guests), I'm still surprised that it was such a small, less than 100 I believe, increase from the year before.

Even though A-kon had zero international guests and had a band which had already played a few years prior there, there was still a relatively (given the economy) healthy growth of around 700, from 15,324 to 16,037.

Cons are less about who's invited and more about the spectacle, unfortunately.

You also have to consider that AX only happened 2 weeks ago and there are plenty of larger east coast cons, even in just the Delmarva area, so if people are rationing their fun, Otakon's likely to lose out more than AX.
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Yoda117



Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Posts: 406
PostPosted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:45 pm Reply with quote
Joe Mello wrote:


You also have to consider that AX only happened 2 weeks ago and there are plenty of larger east coast cons, even in just the Delmarva area, so if people are rationing their fun, Otakon's likely to lose out more than AX.


This is true... expendible income becomes more selective when you have less of it.

Out of curosity, which cons are bigger than Otakon in the DelMarVa area? I'm assuming you aren't just talking anime, but I still thought that it was one of the largest around...
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Shale



Joined: 04 Dec 2002
Posts: 337
Location: The Middle of Nowhere, DE
PostPosted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:32 pm Reply with quote
The only larger anime con in the United States is AX, but Katsucon and Anime USA are nearby and decently sized.
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