more theory

[totient]

Every SF convention of more than 4200 people ever has been at least a 4-day con. We have no data to say, but I suspect that it's simply impossible to run a 5000-person 3-day event. It just won't fit.

Comments

[cogitationitis.livejournal.com]

I disagree, as the old mega-Boskones probably exceeded 4200 before they imploded in the mid-80's. I-con has about 6,000, and Dragon*Con about 10,000, but they are 4-day events, I think. However, AnimeBoston had well over 6,000 last year, and was only 3 days.

[fizzixrat.livejournal.com]

The StarCon/StarFest cons in Denver were two-day cons well past when they first topped 3000 (in 1984, when DeForest Kelley was there). Last one I attended (over a decade ago) was a 2-day con with some early registration and activities on the Friday night (so call it 2 1/2 days, if you like) -- attendance was around 8000.

I think the first 3-day SF con I attended was Chicago TARDIS in 2003, and they only had an attendance of about 400.

[palmwiz.livejournal.com]

The biggest Boskone was 4200, and it can't really be said to have worked.

I think professionally run events of any kind (and StarCon/Starfest certainly qualifies) can avoid the 5000 limit for 3-day cons, which is imposed by the impossibility of getting anyone to volunteer at all.

AnimeBoston has moved to Memorial Day weekend for '06. But you're right, the '05 con, once they'd moved to the Hynes where the fire marshal would let them pass 4100, had something like 7500 people.