Gen Con celebrated its 50^th convention with its ninth consecutive year of record turnstile attendance, reaching 207,979, an approximate 4% increase over 2016. The convention also sold out of all attendee badges prior to the show for the first time in its 50-year history. For the third consecutive year, Gen Con targeted an approximate attendance of 60,000 unique attendees.

2016’s turnstile was 201,852 up from 2015’s 197,695 and uniques were 60,819 in 2016 which was down from 2015’s 61,423.

Marking the convention’s first year utilizing the field level of Lucas Oil Stadium, Gen Con 50 also is notable for the convention’s first usage of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, which featured a concert by Grammy winning recording artists They Might Be Giants. This concert set a record as Gen Con’s largest single event in its 50-year history, surpassing 5,500 tickets sold. Gen Con’s further expansion into Lucas Oil Stadium allowed for growth of its 24-hour games library, additional event space, and a special museum exhibition that highlighted 50 years of gaming history and artifacts.

This year’s convention featured approximately 500 exhibitors, over 19,000 ticketed events, and more than $26,000 raised for local charity partner Child Advocates. This initial estimated sum pushes Gen Con’s aggregate charitable contribution to more than a quarter million dollars since moving to Indianapolis.

Gen Con will return to Indianapolis August 2-5, 2018.