Adkison explains Gen Con So Cal closure to fans via open letter

You might have read our earlier post on the shutdown of Gen Con So Cal. Yep, after four successful conventions that drew gamers, fans, and people of all shapes and sizes to congregate and have fun for four great days of pure gaming bliss, Gen Con So Cal is no more.

In order to give fans an explanation of their decision, Gen Con’s CEO Peter Adkison has posted an open letter on the official Gen Con website, simply entitled “The End of Gen Con So Cal”. Read on for an excerpt that deals with one of their main reasons for the decision.

The “problem” is the Gen Con format is a very expensive format for a convention. Most conventions are only an exhibit hall, a vast area where companies set up booths and sell (consumer shows) or promote (trade shows) or both. But at Gen Con we like to be more than just a big exhibit hall. We dedicate tons of space to games and fun events that are of interest to gamers, overlapping with gaming culture, but do nothing to generate revenue.

There’s still hope, though, as according to Adkison, “Gen Con Indy is very profitable and is in no danger of going away.” He also says that they currently have plans of “taking Gen Con Indy and Star Wars Celebration and making them even better, without compromising anything thatÂ’s there now. Funds that were being invested in Gen Con So Cal will be diverted to these shows.”

Click on the “read” link below to read the full open letter.

You might have read our earlier post on the shutdown of Gen Con So Cal. Yep, after four successful conventions that drew gamers, fans, and people of all shapes and sizes to congregate and have fun for four great days of pure gaming bliss, Gen Con So Cal is no more.

In order to give fans an explanation of their decision, Gen Con’s CEO Peter Adkison has posted an open letter on the official Gen Con website, simply entitled “The End of Gen Con So Cal”. Read on for an excerpt that deals with one of their main reasons for the decision.

The “problem” is the Gen Con format is a very expensive format for a convention. Most conventions are only an exhibit hall, a vast area where companies set up booths and sell (consumer shows) or promote (trade shows) or both. But at Gen Con we like to be more than just a big exhibit hall. We dedicate tons of space to games and fun events that are of interest to gamers, overlapping with gaming culture, but do nothing to generate revenue.

There’s still hope, though, as according to Adkison, “Gen Con Indy is very profitable and is in no danger of going away.” He also says that they currently have plans of “taking Gen Con Indy and Star Wars Celebration and making them even better, without compromising anything thatÂ’s there now. Funds that were being invested in Gen Con So Cal will be diverted to these shows.”

Click on the “read” link below to read the full open letter.