RUMOUR: BotCon 2014 Is At...

[Paul Agnew]

...Click the link (spoil-blocked via TinyURL) to find out. Though I suspect it will come as a complete shock to not many fans:

http://tinyurl.com/botcon2014

If this turns out to be true (and I say IF), then it looks as though I'd better start savin' those pennies again.

:D

[fatbot]

If true, I'll be going!

[UltraMarginal]

Been to this venue once before, I thought it worked very well. and it makes for cheaper flights. yay!!

I'm hoping that everything works out and I can go next year. this is pretty exciting.

[KaRNiV8L PRiME]

Definitely going to my first Botcon next yr and gonna stay for SDCC too

[SuspectimusPrime]

Silly question - has there ever been a Botcon held at Portland, Oregon? :p

[Sinnertwin]

Silly question - has there ever been a Botcon held at Portland, Oregon? :p

:p

1994: Grand Wayne Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana -- July 16
1995: Dayton Convention Center, Dayton, Ohio -- August 5–6
1996: Radisson Hotel Rosemont (formerly Clarion Resort Rosemont), Rosemont, Illinois -- July 12–14
1997: Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, New York -- July 18–20
BotCon Japan 1997: Science and Technology Hall, Tokyo, Japan -- June 8
1998: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California -- June 19–21
BotCon Japan 1998: Sevencity Hall, Tokyo, Japan -- December 12–13
1999: Touchstone Energy Place (formerly RiverCentre), St. Paul, Minnesota -- July 16–18
BotCon Europe 1999: Barnabas Center, London, United Kingdom -- August 13–14
2000: Grand Wayne Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana -- July 28–30
BotCon Japan 2000: Trade and Industry Center, Tokyo, Japan -- December 17
2001: Durham Marriott Civic Center, Durham, North Carolina -- July 13–15
2002: Grand Wayne Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana -- July 26–28
BotCon Europe 2002: Wolsey Hall, Cheshunt, United Kingdom -- November 3
OTFCC 2003: Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois -- July 25–27
OTFCC 2004: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Illinois -- July 31 - August 1
BotCon 2004: Pasadena Conference Center, Pasadena, California -- June 19–20
2005: Embassy Suites, Frisco, Texas -- September 22–25
2006: Lexington Convention Center, Lexington, Kentucky -- September 27 - October 1
2007: Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, June 28 - July 1
2008: Duke Energy Center, Cincinnati, Ohio -- April 24–27
2009: Pasadena Conference Center, Pasadena, California -- May 28–31
2010: Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida -- June 24–27
2011: Pasadena Conference Center, Pasadena, California -- June 2–5
2012: Hyatt Regency Dallas, Dallas, Texas -- April 26–29
2013: Town And Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California -- June 27-30

[griffin]

For future reference, it's June 18-22 2014, with the room rate at $139 plus tax per night.

I'm mixed on this, as I like going somewhere new each time, but also like the familiarity of that location... especially with so much available to do in LA.
I was really hoping it was on the East Coast though, as I've been keen to go back to NY since 2007, but BotCon has never been anywhere near the north east of America since then.

I wonder if that means the hotel rooms are able to be booked already... which would mean having to get in now before the official announcement confirms it (because it apparently doesn't ask for a deposit, so people will start reserving rooms now and decide later if they go).
I wonder if I should do that as well, just in case, so that I don't miss out in case I go.

[fatbot]

Has the location been confirmed? Or is this all speculation?

[SuspectimusPrime]

I wonder if that means the hotel rooms are able to be booked already... which would mean having to get in now before the official announcement confirms it (because it apparently doesn't ask for a deposit, so people will start reserving rooms now and decide later if they go).
I wonder if I should do that as well, just in case, so that I don't miss out in case I go.

May be better to go with the flow and book now/confirm later. If everybody else knows about it and is doing it except for you, it may leave you at a disadvantage (possibly financial).

[UltraMarginal]

Has the location been confirmed? Or is this all speculation?

it's entirely unofficial at the moment, but being a movie year and the phone conversation discussed in the link at the top, it's fairly certain.

[UltraMarginal]

it's a bit of a conundrum for me, do I try to get a room in the main hotel, which I've heard is pretty good going to the bar and meeting a whole lot of other fans.

or do I book at the same motel I stayed at in 2011, better price, nice rooms, little bar fridge (which the bigger hotels didn't have) and free in room wifi (which the others didn't have either)... it's just a good 10 - 15 minute walk from the convention centre at least.

[griffin]

Has the location been confirmed? Or is this all speculation?

When you click on the link above, go to the Discussion link (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/953903-botcon-2014-pasadena-california-again.html) to see what the original info is and how they claimed to have gotten it (through the website and by phone - it suggests that anyone can just ring up and find it out for themselves).

Considering the last couple years, this will probably be the peak of excitement for BotCon next year from the fandom. :p

[Paulbot]

it's a bit of a conundrum for me, do I try to get a room in the main hotel, which I've heard is pretty good going to the bar and meeting a whole lot of other fans.

or do I book at the same motel I stayed at in 2011, better price, nice rooms, little bar fridge (which the bigger hotels didn't have) and free in room wifi (which the others didn't have either)... it's just a good 10 - 15 minute walk from the convention centre at least.

I stayed in the main hotel which is close to the action (and easy to drop off purchases and go back for more!) and means sharing rather small lifts with a heap of fans and wondering why the ATM is out of money by day 2...

I've also stayed 10-15 minute walk away, which gives you a bit of a break from it all and you occasionally find someone else in a TF-shirt walking the same direction to have a quick chat to.

Free wifi and a fridge and a cheaper price sounds well worth it. You can always visit the hotel bar even if you're not staying there.

[UltraMarginal]

And somehow figure out how to justify spending $1800 on airfairs, this is a lot more expensive than I recall.

[MayzaPrime]

I would love to see Botcon in Chicago, 2 movies have been set there, it would be a good place to host it.

Plus I have a friend that lives there and my wife would be coming with me so atleast she won't be bored looking at Transformers for the entire weekend.

[griffin]

The first one had a little bit featuring Hoover Dam... so if you go to Pasadena, spend 4-5 days in Vegas first (or after) and tour the Dam. Vegas is only 4 hour drive from LA, or about 45 minutes in the air.... and it is worth the detour. (I should be going back there next year for a few days before the convention, just to get it all in and see a few shows)

[fatbot]

While I still intend to go, I had a look at the hotel rates for a week around that date and f*** me, they charge like a wounded bull! I'll have no choice but to share a room with someone.

[llamatron]

If it's the same hotel / location as 2009 then it's a really good choice. The only downside is that the hotel bar/lobby is pretty small but there's a lot of restaurants over the road and the hotel did have a free shuttle service to take you anywhere within a few km's.

[griffin]

The downside is that it is a fairly small hotel, as in, it doesn't have a lot of rooms to begin with, let alone a reserved portion that would be at a discounted rate.
Looking on the website for that period the two rates are about $200 & $250... depending on if you pay a deposit or a non-refundable pre-payment.

I rang up a little while ago and they are already fully booked for the 18th to 22nd... and the person couldn't see any discount rates for that time, so I'm not sure if the quoted $139 is a guess from previous years, or a rate that is no longer in their system (due to being sold out already, or being removed to prevent people from getting in before it is announced).
If this is the the weekend and location, alternative hotels will already be needed, and at a discounted rate.
(I personally have a preference of the main or adjoining hotel, as you get to see fans and guests during the weekend, and is convenient if you tend to buy a lot of stuff.)


In the TFW discussion topic, Pete from FunPub made it known that he was aware of the news rumour, but didn't say anything about it at all (he was commenting on something with the pre-funpub BotCons).

It's also worth mentioning... if it is in Pasadena next year, there should be another IDW VIP tour, as a couple of the IDW staff were saying that the next time BotCon is in LA, they would organise a day-trip tour down to San Diego (doing something there as well as the tour) if there was enough interest for it. If it does happen, hopefully they give more notice for it, like after the dates are announced but before pre-registration.

[UltraMarginal]

I've been looking at other motels in the area and the one I went to last time has at least one day in the week booked out. there are only two showing up less than half a mile from the convenstion centre that have the whole week available.

hmmm.

[griffin]

So much for the notice in the last issue of the Club Magazine, that the location of BotCon 2014 would be announced by the end of Fall (if you go by the months, that would be November).

Then again, some people say that in America, the Fall/Autumn ends at the Winter solstice, which is usually around the 20th December. So if they go by that, then we probably won't hear anything until about Christmas. :(

[UltraMarginal]

So much for the notice in the last issue of the Club Magazine, that the location of BotCon 2014 would be announced by the end of Fall (if you go by the months, that would be November).

Then again, some people say that in America, the Fall/Autumn ends at the Winter solstice, which is usually around the 20th December. So if they go by that, then we probably won't hear anything until about Christmas. :(

which isn't that far away now. :cool:

was it two years ago they released the botcon brochure the week of Christmas? that's a bit of bugger for me, the internet at the Inlaws place in Brisbane is choppy at best.

[griffin]

Apparently the current issue of the Club magazine (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/transformers-generations-2014-deluxe-wave-3-details-178938/) has mentioned that the location and details for 2014 are now locked in, and an announcement will be made as soon as they can make sure that Registration site is upgraded. (not sure why they need to wait, as they always announce the location and release the brochure weeks or even months before registration opens)

[Paulbot]

I'd like to go to BotCon again next year but the Club Management just frustrates me so much I feel like I don't want to give them any money.

[UltraMarginal]

I'd like to go to BotCon again next year but the Club Management just frustrates me so much I feel like I don't want to give them any money.

Yea, but it's the 30th anniversary, and I'll be there :D

[Paulbot]

The 25th Anniversary BotCon didn't make (enough of) a big deal about it because it was a "Movie year". And the problem is that next year is also a "Movie year".

I do want an overseas trip next year, and BotCon is an attractive option, but this tease of details is not great for planning.

[UltraMarginal]

Tease of details, you make it sound like the club aren't good at communicating with fans... oh wait. never mind.

[griffin]

It is worth noting that when I was looking on the Pasadena Sheraton booking site, the hotel was "not available" during the rumoured dates of 18-22 June.

If BotCon is actually there, either the entire hotel is now full during those dates (including all the non-refundable rooms)... or, they've stopped taking more reservations until the convention is announced.

The one thing I don't like about this particular BotCon hotel, is that of all the ones I've been to so far, it seems to be the only one that doesn't have "over expensive" top-floor rooms.... for the rich, or the very desperate (who may try to cram in heaps of people to offset the cost). It just has two classes - "regular" and "club".

With the cheapest rooms being $165 or $199 (depending on the day), it would be sad (or funny) if BotCon was announced to be somewhere else, and the Pasadena Sheraton was just a temporary hold by FunPub until they finally decided on the 2014 location.... and all those people who paid non-refundable amounts lose a lot of money (some online rates are non-refundable). And then FunPub would be blamed as if it was their fault for not verifying/rejecting the location, way back before they had details locked in.



Personally, I'm actually hoping that the Pasadena hotel WAS just one of the holds by FunPub and it is somewhere else in Los Angeles... not because I won't be able to get into that hotel now, but because I've been there three times now, so would like a new area of the city to explore. (I'd feel bad for anyone who loses a deposit though)