Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Nov 3, 2014 17:35:07 GMT -6
The Rhode Island Convention Center exceeded capacity Saturday for what may be the first time in its history, leading the state fire marshal to temporarily bar entry to Rhode Island Comic Con. At one point, about 1,500 attendees were left out in the rain, including some people who stepped out for a minute and couldn’t get back in. Organizers sold a reported 23,000 tickets for a venue that holds just 17,000, and the way the show was configured reduced the capacity to about 15,000. They apologized Saturday afternoon for the “hiccup.”
www.providencejournal.com/news/content/20141101-what-s-the-attraction-overcrowded-r.i.-comic-con-runs-short-on-space.ece
What's the attraction? Overcrowded R.I. Comic Con runs short on space
BY KAREN LEE ZINER
Journal Staff Writer
kziner@providencejournal.com
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — At least 1,500 Rhode Island Comic Con attendees got turned away Saturday when the crowd exceeded capacity, apparently for the first time in the Rhode Island Convention Center’s 22-year history, said its general manager, Lawrence J. Lepore.
The state fire marshal’s office temporarily “shut things down” at about 2:15 p.m., Lepore said, having determined that the overflow was creating a dangerous situation.
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Lepore said 23,000 tickets had been sold: how many people were in the building at that point was unclear.
What was clear at that hour was the dissatisfaction of the crowd; the costumed among them gnashed their vampire teeth, waved their swords or muttered behind their Darth Vader shields.
That included Chris Prevost, of Hamden, Conn., a green-faced “Drax the Destroyer,” part of a group representing the Guardians of the Galaxy. (“We saved the world. Have a little respect,” a friend of Prevost’s said as they waited behind the ropes.)
Lepore said, “We know at one point as people come and go what we should have done — and didn’t do — was put them in a turnstile on the way in. We did not know the number that was leaving. As we continued to bring people in, clearly we were over capacity.”
By 5 p.m., the crowd had thinned enough so that the people waiting outside were allowed into the building, 100 at a time. (“The problem is, some had to wait two hours,” Lepore said.) Some people who decided not to wait were allowed to exchange their tickets for Sunday’s show.
“I don’t think we’ve ever closed the building for capacity. It opened in 1992,” Lepore said. “I guess it’s a great thing for the city there’s 20,000 people downtown. It’s not good for us, because there are too many people.”
This marks the third year that Providence has hosted Comic Con. Last year, the two-day attendance totaled 17,000. This year it will be about 30,000 after Sunday’s maxed-out show.
“We’ve already got 10,000 pre-sold tickets. We will only sell 5,000 tickets” on Sunday, Lepore said. “That brings us to about 15,000, and that’s what the state fire marshal and city Fire Department is comfortable with.”
Lepore said he believed that the capacity would have been greater, “based on what we were told” in a pre-function walk-through. But in this case, “it’s decreased, because there’s not enough flow. People are not moving around as quickly as they normally do.”
There was an estimated two-hour-plus wait to see William Shatner, this year’s Comic Con featured guest. Shatner gained fame for his portrayal of Capt. James Tiberius Kirk in the television series “Star Trek” and in subsequent “Star Trek” feature films.
Shatner also has starred in the popular TV dramas “The Practice,” “Boston Legal” and “T.J. Hooker.”
Melissa Rioux, of Dartmouth, Mass., managed to get her picture taken with Shatner. Then she and her son stepped out of the building for a few minutes, “and we couldn’t get back in.”
“I need to get back in” to get the picture, Rioux said. She noted that the experience was less than warm and fuzzy: “They herded you like cattle. Hopefully, I’m not cross-eyed” in the picture.
Meanwhile the Convention Center was anything but as silent as a tombstone, amid the great gathering of Spider-persons, galactic warriors, princesses and Trekked-out Trekkies.
Visitors perused a hall full of merchandise. This year’s show offers “sci-fi dating” and the opportunity to get married by a real minister (with a valid certificate).
As zombies and “Walking Dead” wannabes and Power Rangers roamed the crowded Convention Center, Christine LaBarre waited outside in a line that snaked down West Exchange Street.
“I live in Pittsburgh. I flew in this morning. That’s why I have my luggage,” LaBarre said as she gripped a wheeled bag. “My sister and my sister’s niece are inside … hopefully, we’ll get in.”
Behind her stood George Rivera, who drove with a friend from New York City. They entered the show after 1 p.m. — then Rivera decided to take a breather.
“I came out to get a cigarette — it was a little warm in there,” Rivera said. But when he tried to reenter, “they were like, ‘Oops, we’re closed. Fire hazard.’”
Dressed as the Sixth Doctor from “Doctor Who,” Rivera noted happily that his costume called for the umbrella he held, and the jacket “is very warm.” He was hoping he’d reconnect with his friend.
Rivera noted, “He’s up in there with the car keys.”
On Twitter: @karenleez
www.providencejournal.com/news/content/20141101-what-s-the-attraction-overcrowded-r.i.-comic-con-runs-short-on-space.ece
What's the attraction? Overcrowded R.I. Comic Con runs short on space
BY KAREN LEE ZINER
Journal Staff Writer
kziner@providencejournal.com
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — At least 1,500 Rhode Island Comic Con attendees got turned away Saturday when the crowd exceeded capacity, apparently for the first time in the Rhode Island Convention Center’s 22-year history, said its general manager, Lawrence J. Lepore.
The state fire marshal’s office temporarily “shut things down” at about 2:15 p.m., Lepore said, having determined that the overflow was creating a dangerous situation.
Crowd at RI Comic Con swells to over 20,000, fire marshal not allowing anyone in
Fla. man suspected of snatching actress Eliza Dushku’s bag outside Providence hotel
Lepore said 23,000 tickets had been sold: how many people were in the building at that point was unclear.
What was clear at that hour was the dissatisfaction of the crowd; the costumed among them gnashed their vampire teeth, waved their swords or muttered behind their Darth Vader shields.
That included Chris Prevost, of Hamden, Conn., a green-faced “Drax the Destroyer,” part of a group representing the Guardians of the Galaxy. (“We saved the world. Have a little respect,” a friend of Prevost’s said as they waited behind the ropes.)
Lepore said, “We know at one point as people come and go what we should have done — and didn’t do — was put them in a turnstile on the way in. We did not know the number that was leaving. As we continued to bring people in, clearly we were over capacity.”
By 5 p.m., the crowd had thinned enough so that the people waiting outside were allowed into the building, 100 at a time. (“The problem is, some had to wait two hours,” Lepore said.) Some people who decided not to wait were allowed to exchange their tickets for Sunday’s show.
“I don’t think we’ve ever closed the building for capacity. It opened in 1992,” Lepore said. “I guess it’s a great thing for the city there’s 20,000 people downtown. It’s not good for us, because there are too many people.”
This marks the third year that Providence has hosted Comic Con. Last year, the two-day attendance totaled 17,000. This year it will be about 30,000 after Sunday’s maxed-out show.
“We’ve already got 10,000 pre-sold tickets. We will only sell 5,000 tickets” on Sunday, Lepore said. “That brings us to about 15,000, and that’s what the state fire marshal and city Fire Department is comfortable with.”
Lepore said he believed that the capacity would have been greater, “based on what we were told” in a pre-function walk-through. But in this case, “it’s decreased, because there’s not enough flow. People are not moving around as quickly as they normally do.”
There was an estimated two-hour-plus wait to see William Shatner, this year’s Comic Con featured guest. Shatner gained fame for his portrayal of Capt. James Tiberius Kirk in the television series “Star Trek” and in subsequent “Star Trek” feature films.
Shatner also has starred in the popular TV dramas “The Practice,” “Boston Legal” and “T.J. Hooker.”
Melissa Rioux, of Dartmouth, Mass., managed to get her picture taken with Shatner. Then she and her son stepped out of the building for a few minutes, “and we couldn’t get back in.”
“I need to get back in” to get the picture, Rioux said. She noted that the experience was less than warm and fuzzy: “They herded you like cattle. Hopefully, I’m not cross-eyed” in the picture.
Meanwhile the Convention Center was anything but as silent as a tombstone, amid the great gathering of Spider-persons, galactic warriors, princesses and Trekked-out Trekkies.
Visitors perused a hall full of merchandise. This year’s show offers “sci-fi dating” and the opportunity to get married by a real minister (with a valid certificate).
As zombies and “Walking Dead” wannabes and Power Rangers roamed the crowded Convention Center, Christine LaBarre waited outside in a line that snaked down West Exchange Street.
“I live in Pittsburgh. I flew in this morning. That’s why I have my luggage,” LaBarre said as she gripped a wheeled bag. “My sister and my sister’s niece are inside … hopefully, we’ll get in.”
Behind her stood George Rivera, who drove with a friend from New York City. They entered the show after 1 p.m. — then Rivera decided to take a breather.
“I came out to get a cigarette — it was a little warm in there,” Rivera said. But when he tried to reenter, “they were like, ‘Oops, we’re closed. Fire hazard.’”
Dressed as the Sixth Doctor from “Doctor Who,” Rivera noted happily that his costume called for the umbrella he held, and the jacket “is very warm.” He was hoping he’d reconnect with his friend.
Rivera noted, “He’s up in there with the car keys.”
On Twitter: @karenleez