Was this year a bit of a let down?

By cumber-kitty. 26/07/13, 09:21 am

I don't know how I feel about the change in venue. It doesn't really feel like its any bigger, and it has a completely different feel about it. I miss the giant dealers floor and the ability to watch from the top seats. I don't like the walking around the new stadium, it also makes it feel smaller. The stage area was a bit awkward too, I think they need more space, and it was a bit of a shame that the didn't have a screen showing what was happening on stage. It was near impossible to see anything from the back row.

The cosplay, stalls and fun was generally the same, it was just different. I wouldn't be sorry if they shifted back to the old venue, I miss being able to walk to a place across the road to get a snack to eat or wander down to the warf or park in cosplay.

By Mr freelance. 26/07/13, 11:29 am

I'm kind of luke warm about this venue tbh.
The factor that annoyed me was the whole having to walk around circles vab I got. though the benefit of this, is that you wouldn't miss a store. But I do agree that the main stage was pretty bad. However, I'm very glad that we got this venue due to fact that the old venue, you would have traffic jams with the crowd, and even though you would still get the traffic jams here. It was far less chotic.

overall really. I thought this was pretty decent introduction to our new venue

By Toshiya. 26/07/13, 11:46 am

For a new venue it was ok at most. There was just something the old venue had that Wespac stadium didn't - like it felt more exciting to be in there, I don't know why but there was just something missing about it.

I liked being able to get around a lot easier and even if there were some slow crowd moments, I could move around faster than TSB. At least we can agree that there was a stage preference to the TSB arena's. The top bleachers were great - especially for the short likes of me. The new venue I just gave up trying to jump and see what was happening and left to go find something else to do.
I didn't like how it was situated far from any outside food supply - and the food there was quite expensive (not to mention they raised the price of food like the lasagna on the last day :/).

After going to 5 'geddons before moving to a new venue... well TSB still has my heart.

By cumber-kitty. 26/07/13, 05:42 pm

Yeah, it had a different feel to it. I agree that the last venue had more if an energy or excitement to it, I think probably because it wasn't as crowded or colorful or chaotic? I liked the feel of having some unifying mass in one location.

By Pyro. 26/07/13, 08:51 pm

I found the new venue really disappointing. Yes, they needed more space for the convention (after the crowds the past couple of Wellygeddons, that much was clear) but the layout change wasn't worth it, in my opinion. It was too sparse, the space was cold, it was unclear where things were located due to the donut shape, and the audio (and the guests/panels) at the main stage was practically non-existent anywhere behind the first few rows.

I think the other thing that ruined the venue was how far it was from town. It was cold and empty and isolated, and you could really feel it-- if you didn't like how crowded TSB was, you could easily pop out for a couple of hours and have lunch anywhere from Cuba st to Lampton Quay. It was doable. Now, you have to walk 20 minutes just to reach Lampton Quay, a far cry from the previous 5-10-- max! It made everything much less accessible and the isolated convention location made the issues more obvious. Don't like the food? Have fun walking. Need to snag some last-minute safetypins? Hiking time. Eurrrgh.

Bottom line is, I wasn't a fan, and I hope they find a way to use the space more effectively next time... or they move back to the old location.

By azeria. 27/07/13, 06:33 am

Toshiya wrote:: I didn't like how it was situated far from any outside food supply - and the food there was quite expensive (not to mention they raised the price of food like the lasagna on the last day :/).

That was because it was a public holiday, pretty much any restaurant/cafe etc will have a 15% surcharge on it. Tsb food was expensive too, but you had the option of easily walking to a place with cheaper food, and more options.

I'm kind of split about the venue. Yes tsb is far too small (anyone there a few years ago when they stopped letting people in because it was too crowded?...) but as others have said, the donut shape really doesn't work for a convention. It took ages to get anywhere, was eaiy to get lost/disoriented (at least for me) and it reminded me of Chch Geddon last year at the stables, how all we did the whole time was walk up and down a straight line. This one was walking in a circle, but its pretty much the same thing.

I also really don't like the huge walk over uncovered space to get to Westpac stadium. It would be fine, if Wellington wasn't the windiest place ever.

I also felt really weird once I realised that the part the con in was underneath the stadium seating??

By Pura. 28/07/13, 03:42 am

I really didn't like it. I don't like the whole circular arrangement. It reminded me of CHCHgeddon and that is also a pretty nightmare venue. And if you wanted to get to a stall you had to walk the whole way around, you couldn't take short cuts.

And as soon as they announced it was in the Stadium with a date change to winter I knew it would be horrible. That wind was awful. And then we had to walk in it for 15 mins to get there! (Haha, I took a taxi to get there instead |D). It was cold and dark and gloomy with not enough seating unless you waited for someone to get up at the food area and take their food-scrap covered tables.

I would rather be back at the TSB Bank Arena with an overcrowded place than back at the stadium. At first I was like "oh I guess this is okay" but now I just really don't like it at all ):

Not looking forward to another year. The main stage was way smaller. I didn't think it was a terribly bigger venue and I've decided the less crowdedness was due to less people coming because the venue was such a pain to get to (or so I like to think). Does anyone know what the attendance was like this year?

IDK, it just didn't feel as homely this year I guess ):

By azeria. 28/07/13, 04:36 am

Quote :: It was cold and dark and gloomy with not enough sheating unless you waited for someone to get up at the food area and take their food-scrap covered tables.

Oh yeah this sob we stood near the food area then the moment people looked like they were starting to leave swooped in so we could sit down somewhere :<

By kyokyogirl. 28/07/13, 06:11 am

I wasn't crazy about the venue. It would be interesting to see what the attendance was like this year; to see whether all the extra space was due to having more space or just having less people around.
The TSB venue is much better located and has a more...I dunno, convention feel? The stadium felt more like just a side show in comparison. It's a bit of a catch-22. TSB is getting too small, the stadium sucks...where else is there in Wellington to hold something like this?

By cumber-kitty. 31/07/13, 05:20 pm

I'll be glad if they change back, I can handle a bit of crowding. It's more fun. :)

By Mischa. 17/10/13, 02:03 pm

It felt really cold, cheap and sad. I did like the food though. I won't be going back.

By Toshiya. 19/10/13, 12:13 pm

Was this year a bit of a let down? Tumblr_muwmg4XmcZ1qga9ivo1_400

Wellygeddon 2014 confirmed at the stadium again? sad

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