Forum - View topicOtakon 2017's Total Attendance Was 24,894
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relyat08
 Posts: 4125 Location: Northern Virginia |
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If I remember right, it peaked at like 33k in 2014, or something. I think last year was around 26-27k maybe? Hopefully they rebound from this with some growth next year. The new facility is fantastic and the con was great. Definitely deserves more people.
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zrnzle500
 Posts: 3768 |
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According to this, it peaked around 34k in 2013 (2014 was just under 34k as well). Last year was 29k and 2015 was 26k. Hopefully more come next year, as it was a great experience. |
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CorneredAngel
 Posts: 854 Location: New York, NY |
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Otakon's complete attendance statistics are available at https://www.otakon.com/info/about/stats/
This year's number of unique memberships/paid attendees is the lowest since 2007, and a 14.5% decrease from last year's. |
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VinceA
 Posts: 126 Location: Bayonne, NJ |
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Moves typically result in a bit of a drop. I expect them to rebound in future years.
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gravediggernalk
 Space Cowboy Posts: 246 Location: Alabama |
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Like everyone else, I hope they rebound and continue to do well.
That said, I think it's about time they stop saying they're the "largest anime convention on the east coast" . . . AWA has now slid in past them *knocks on wood* for the time being. |
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Ouran High School Dropout
 Posts: 440 Location: Somewhere in Massachusetts, USA |
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Not just AWA...Anime Boston 2017 as well. Still, I do hope Otakon recovers! |
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invalidname
 Contributor Posts: 2488 Location: Grand Rapids, MI |
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There's a crowd of cons contending to be the distant second banana after AX: Anime North, Anime Central, Otakon, A-kon, and Anime Matsuri have all topped 30K at least once, and AWA could well join the club this year. animecons.com has top-10 lists for 2016, 2015, 2014 and so on. To me, the really cool thing was that Otakon got an Anisong World Matsuri event this year, and it was promoted a month prior at Anime Expo. I don't think it's healthy for the community if these top-tier events and guests tend to only go to AX. (And personally, I'd love to see AWM next year at Anime Central, where they have a proper theater down the street on par with LA's Microsoft Theater that was used for AWM at AX.) |
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se37
 Posts: 229 Location: Annapolis, Maryland |
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I remember when Otakon was at 34K, that was the one year I left early due to how jam packed it was. It was crazy and the main reason for that was because of the BCC and how small it is compared to DCCC. I remember it was 2013 that Otakon announced that they were moving to DC and I heard a lot of people saying they were going to wait till Otakon moved into the new area before coming back due to how bad that year was with space. Plus Linecon from 2014 is still fresh in the minds of people from a couple of years ago. I heard that it still isn't fixed but since I've had mine mailed out since 2015 it doesn't matter to me.
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relyat08
Posts: 4125 Location: Northern Virginia |
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Wow, it didn't seem nearly that packed last year. Maybe the lower enthusiasm on my part, and fewer interesting guests just made me assume it was more of a down year. |
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Zin5ki
 Posts: 6680 Location: London, UK |
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This year was my first time attending! I took my diazepam and flew over especially.
I must say it was very comfortable, with lengthy queues being restricted to the Marriott bag check on the Friday. Despite being notably smaller in attendance to the local, general-purpose conventions to which I am used, the venue certainly impressed by virtue of scale. Indeed, there was never a sense that this was a minor or amateurish affair. This is in spite of the underpopulated video game room and myriad of unused panel rooms, which are obvious opportunities for expansion in future years. |
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Stampeed Valkyrie
 Posts: 861 Location: PA |
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I don't see Otakon having any issues with growth..
My last Trip was 2013 and the BCC was well beyond capacity. I thought the move to DC was a good idea for the continued growth of the con especially after some of the fiascos with the BCC in the past. My Otakon days are behind me.. as I will not travel to DC for a con.. however I do not wish negative on it. AX has replaced Otakon for me.. and I'll be doing that as long as I can  .
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H. Guderian
Posts: 1255 |
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couldn't rally anyone for Otakon this year so i didn't go. being a month after AX, anyone willing to travel a decent distance will make AX their Summer Con when they have to choose.
I wouldn't mind going again, I was also not really turned on by the guests this year either. Nothing is more disappointing than a solo con. |
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Maidenoftheredhand
 Posts: 2634 |
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I think the lack of big guests hurt attendance not just the move
Yes they did have the AniSong Matsuri but I think only Flow hasn't come to Otakon before (althoughI personally I am always thrilled to see Jam Project & TM Revolution) Besides AniSong Matsuri a lot of the other guests were also repeats. There just wasn't anything really big making people feel they needed to come. Especially for those who don't live close by. I don't think Otakon gave people a reason to come if they live far away. While in the past Otakon really was the second biggest con behind AX. I've been going since 2005 and it's just not the same any more. Not to say that Otakon isn't very enjoyable it definitely is still an extremely fun weekend. But it doesn't feel quite like the event it once was. Though I worry with the drop in attendance it creates a catch 22. Will they even be able to afford to bring over big names when obviously a continuous drop in attendance means a loss of revenue. Next year is Otakon's Silver Anniversary though so I am hoping for something truly special. |
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invalidname
Contributor Posts: 2488 Location: Grand Rapids, MI |
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Admissions aren't the only source of revenue; they could make it up with sponsorships. Lots of people have warm feelings for Otakon, maybe moreso than some of the cons that have outpaced it recently. Companies might want to get their name front and center on the program and the show floor. |
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Aresef
Posts: 918 Location: MD |
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Otakon, as a rule, doesn't do that.
They work with Lantis and Ponycan and Funimation and such all the time, but Funimation can't slap their name on the artist alley and Otaku USA can't present the game room, but both can get space on the flatscreens around the WEWCC. The last time Otakon drew fewer was in 2007, but I'm not all that concerned. New venue, new city, Bronycon and Smashcon on the same weekend. I've heard there were people at Bronycon, very misinformed people, who also wanted to do Otakon and just didn't know for some reason that it was in DC. Otakon's gonna bounce back. |
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