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NEWS: SPJA Comments on Anime Expo 2017's Saturday Security Line Fiasco


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CrowLia



Joined: 24 Feb 2012
Posts: 5530
Location: Mexico
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 5:10 pm Reply with quote
Another issue people were mentioning is that some events (like the YOI panel) required leaving the convention center, and since they lacked a quick re-entry system, people who wanted to attend such events would then have to make lines for 3-4 hours to get back inside the con. Honestly they need to find a reasonable middle-ground between security and having people making lines under the sun for 6-7 hours.

Last edited by CrowLia on Sun Jul 02, 2017 5:48 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Cutiebunny



Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 1771
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 5:45 pm Reply with quote
Why does most of this response read "It's your fault if you were stuck in that line"? Seriously. This apology, if it can be called that, reads more like a "You should have come on Day -1/0 when we didn't have mile long lines" rather than a sincere apology.

Though, I guess AX doesn't have to care. People still flock to this con every year despite the horror stories, such as in 2013 when people passed out from dehydration due to long lines and very warm weather that weekend.
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Яeverse



Joined: 16 Jun 2014
Posts: 1147
Location: Indianapolis
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 5:48 pm Reply with quote
Why not do like other events, no outside bags, only check people who are showing their works in the artist area and thats it. Problem solved.

Hearing things like this makes people not want to attend.
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invalidname
Contributor



Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 2487
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 6:12 pm Reply with quote
I can't imagine how they possibly could think this would work. From what I saw at West Hall, there were six metal detectors. For a crowd of 100,000. The Idol concert at the Microsoft theater the night before had more metal detectors, and that facility only seats, what, 5000 people? Total fiasco, but I understand that's to be expected from AX.
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KH91



Joined: 17 May 2013
Posts: 6176
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 6:33 pm Reply with quote
I saw those pictures of the long line and I just had to say no way. One would think that you would get accustomed to it, but it is shocking each time it happens.
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Squidslinger



Joined: 01 Jul 2017
Posts: 76
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 8:06 pm Reply with quote
This is not a new problem. This has been an old problem and the AX management team never does anything about it!

Used to goto AX. Especially when they offered the exhibit hall only day of the con badge. It was so much better than standing in the full pass line. Literally standing in LA 100 degree heat for hours to get into AX is like tradition. It's an old problem. The LAC doesn't have a design which is good for things like this. You stand in a line, you stand in the sun. No shade, no water unless you bring it, and if you aren't covered up you will be burnt badly.

The hall only pass was a quarter of the wait and much faster process because they weren't scrambling to give you swag bags. Then they got rid of it. They said trouble enforcing it but there was a major marked increase of people taking advantage of it on the 2nd year. It was clear people found out and decided to save some money. AX staff didn't like that.

Now Anime LA, a newer startup in it's 2nd year now. Uses a smaller convention center out in Ontario but the line...is under a tent!! In the shade!! They give out water!! They treat you like royalty!! And for half the price of AX!!

Sure I miss going to AX but, I don't miss LA, I don't miss the line, I don't miss paying through the teeth for everything, and I don't miss the few extra vendors that AX has which don't really offer any deals you can't get online. Save the money, buy what you want online. Go to a smaller event like Anime LA if you want to go to a con.
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crosswithyou



Joined: 15 Dec 2007
Posts: 2900
Location: California
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 9:07 pm Reply with quote
AX is a joke. They act as if they're encountering line problems for the first time when it's been an issue in the past. They also say that it took long because of security when people on Twitter are saying that their bags were not checked at all when entering. Line stretching for miles and no staff to help guide people. Any staff who were available were confused and gave misinformation to attendees. I don't blame the volunteers though-- It's AX's fault for not giving adequate training, and from what I hear from friends, this has been a problem for years. If enough people complain, AX may publicly address the issue, but they never directly take responsibility for it and they never care enough to actually change things for the better. This con is the largest anime con in North America and is closing on its 25th year running; they have absolutely no excuse to act as if it were their first year and they were learning as they go.

Oh, and of course they don't mention the possibility of refunds in their official statement. If they have a record of which badges were picked up after a certain time, they should actively reach out to one-day pass holders who either couldn't pick up their badge or picked up their badge late and offer a discount/refund or switch to another day.

From what I read on Twitter and Reddit, it's also just as messy inside as it is outside. Tons of lines, staff not knowing where to direct attendees and giving out contradicting information, not clearing out panel rooms so people at the front of the line end up with no place but the back to sit, etc, etc. Apparently it was stated on their site that they wouldn't be clearing out rooms after each panel, but that's such an unfair policy.

What's frustrating is that despite all this, their attendance continues to grow with each year.
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sailorsweeper



Joined: 21 Mar 2014
Posts: 416
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 9:36 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
What's frustrating is that despite all this, their attendance continues to grow with each year.

The main reason now a days for increase is the power of Aniplex bring the biggest anime especially Fate. I work this year at Crunchyroll store aka booth in the exhibit hall which blasts Fate/Grand Order based stuff the during my shift and people eat it up
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Cerceaux



Joined: 02 Oct 2011
Posts: 180
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 9:48 pm Reply with quote
At least the weather is pretty cool compared to previous years. One of the reasons the line fiasco in 2014 was so bad is that we were also experiencing a record heat wave and people were passing out and becoming seriously ill while waiting for their badges.
The lines yesterday were crazy though. Not only was the line to get inside massive, it took me almost 20 minutes to *leave* the building because the people exiting were getting caught up in both the entry and registration lines all the while with some volunteer guy in a very bad mood screaming at confused people who weren't walking in the correct direction.
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crosswithyou



Joined: 15 Dec 2007
Posts: 2900
Location: California
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 9:58 pm Reply with quote
sailorsweeper wrote:
The main reason now a days for increase is the power of Aniplex bring the biggest anime especially Fate. I work this year at Crunchyroll store aka booth in the exhibit hall which blasts Fate/Grand Order based stuff the during my shift and people eat it up

AX would have very little in terms of programming if industry weren't bringing them guests every year.
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Joe Mello



Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 2317
Location: Online Terminal
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:32 pm Reply with quote
You know, maybe a not-for-profit convention isn't equipped to handle 100,000 people...
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hikura



Joined: 21 Nov 2004
Posts: 565
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:36 pm Reply with quote
This is the reason why i no longer attend such large cons anymore.Sure great guests.But it isn't worth it.
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catandmouse



Joined: 02 Mar 2011
Posts: 221
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:41 pm Reply with quote
I've been going to AX consistently since 2011, and I was stuck in a 6 hr. Line that year their system went down and I was there yesterday and saw those massive lines, but in the end my friends and I didn't go in through the front entrance. There are other ways in and out the didn't require standing in line for hrs to get in.
Today was much better, but going to the con every year I've learned Saturday is the busiest day, and I try my hardest to pick up my badges the day before....
My one complain was the Yuri in Ice panel. They never capped the line so people kept lining up. My friends and I were one of the last ones that managed to get in, and by then the panel was half way through. If they saw how huge the line was they should have started letting people in sooner so they could sit down.

Overall though, ivqe been enjoying my time at the con.
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Cutiebunny



Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 1771
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:46 pm Reply with quote
Joe Mello wrote:
You know, maybe a not-for-profit convention isn't equipped to handle 100,000 people...


Both the NFL and AX use the same tax code when it comes to charity. Don't kid yourself. AX makes money hand over fist.
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Coderjoe



Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Posts: 53
PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:49 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
There are some comments the metal detectors doesn't appear to be functioning? They aren't going off when attendees with metal in their pockets go through them. It is giving the impression, to some, that their more a part of security theater than actual security.

Chiang: I don't have information on that. Next year, we are moving toward the direction of RFID.


That is a non-sequitur answer. RFID doesn't replace bag checks or metal detectors. They just allow tracking of both body counts and badge sharing. Or at least that is how SDCC was using them in 2016 (as well as preventing the same badge to pick up more than one swag bag). That was the first year SDCC used RFID. But there is no way that RFID has anything to do with metal detectors.
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