FFXIV Fanfest 2023 North America safety/security/disability support issues discussion

[Stormpeaks]

That is a complete lie. I've been to Blizzcon, my wife slipped on an event button and damaged her knee. We tried to get a wheelchair for her and they said that all 3 had been loaned out already. 3 f-ing wheelchairs at one event??? We had to rent a wheelchair from a local group and it cost us $100 for the event. Blizzard isn't any better than any other event.

That's how WoW does it, and it sucks.

Still better than WoW with their 6 month - 1 year cycle.

Just say you hate Blizzard and move on lmao, it's literally living rent free in your head

WoW this WoW that

[ValkyrieL]

I was there but honestly besides the huge lines and people actually able to freely go in/out pass metal detection (once pass metal detector there was still a 2 way traffic where people freely walk in, not just going out). I saw a lot of empty handicap chairs, plenty of water stations. But I DON'T KNOW what ADA standards are/should be so I can't say if it was lacking.

[Jeeqbit]

I couldn't have predicted almost collapsing due to the heat.

I do remember something about water bottles not being allowed in, and then it being challenging to fill them or get them inside. They didn't seem to anticipate that sort of heat and some of the developers on stage expressed their surprise at the level of heat.

[Ahzuvi]

I do remember something about water bottles not being allowed in, and then it being challenging to fill them or get them inside. They didn't seem to anticipate that sort of heat and some of the developers on stage expressed their surprise at the level of heat.

For the Symphony (which was held at a different venue, the Virgin Hotels), they were actively confiscating water bottles from people. It did not matter if they were disposable, reusable, souvenir, etc. There are photos all over twitter of tables filled with these bottles that eventually got thrown away.

[Kilieit]

I've been encouraging my multiple(!!) friends who directly witnessed some pretty shocking ADA violations to file witness reports with the DoJ, and the Nevada AG. If you're reading this and you directly saw or experienced something, please do the same.

Instances of shoddy organisation and poor protection for attendees were most acute with ADA attendees, but not unique. EVERY SINGLE ATTENDEE I KNOW has a horror story, ranging from being catcalled repeatedly in the 100 meters between the road and the con hall, having their sentimental water bottle thrown into the trash by security, the entire debacle at the concert with the Elpis flowers, and with the hotel bar staff not getting the memo it was a CONCERT and loudly shouting and throwing items into sinks during the performance...

I honestly think attendees are owed some sort of apology, and I wasn't even one of them. Tickets were more expensive than last time, came with less than last time (no minion or ingame outfit), and the event overall had the organisation and professionality you'd expect from a first year anime con run by a 2-person LLC in a medium sized city. Not an international, multi-billion-dollar corporation promoting their flagship.

And again, that's even outside the ACTUAL law-breaking that took place by staff blatantly and callously failing to comply with the ADA.

Attendees:
If you witnessed a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act by any staff, report it to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Department, and to the Attourney General's Office of Nevada. Even if you're "just" a witness, the victim may be too shaken or embarrassed to come forward; or, might have come forward and not been believed. Your honest testimony is important.

And if your weekend was at all spoiled by something that more staffing, better organisation, better training, or hiring a different venue could have prevented, let Square Enix know. They ought to have done better.

[OdinelStarrei]

Look I'll be honest. Any big event is going to be a jungle. It will always be understaffed and be a mess. This happens in all conventions and fests for the most part. It is not exclusive to SQEX fanfest. While you can complain and whine because things weren't the way you envisioned them I would focus on making the best I can out of the event.

"Oh but they should've been more prepared" "Oh but it could've been better" "Oh they shoulda done this and that". But they didn't, and likely they won't.

1. This is an international company god knows how many contractors and outside organizers had a hand in the pie.
2. Said contractors probably don't get paid much and don't care about you or if they get fired
3. By the time the next fanfest rolls all those employees will be gone and new contractors and employees will be there so #2 will repeat itself
4. Most people will forget and the hype will be back for the next fanfest in 2 years. I'm sure 10 others will take the spot of each person who decides not to go anymore.

It is what it is. People here demanding to be treated like they are in some country club in Monaco they paid millions a month for. It's a cheap mass public event in the grand scheme of things. You are on your own. Count yourself lucky if you find a toilet in working order nearby. I'd just like to encourage people to be realistic about their expectations. You are on your own when you sign up for one of these.

You are out of your mind. There is no way people coming from the East or North or out of country were in anyway prepared for Vegas summer like this. I am a local to the region, and there are several things that even if other events are guilty of, does not excuse the situation. This is the last place for whataboutism. The event was not cheap for the people attending who needed to take flights, and book hotels on the strip. That level of consideration is necessary, we didn't just teleport to the convention center. Shadowbringers Fanfest was handled better than this, and that was because the weather wasn't as bad, there were less attendees, there was a more adequate amount of staff(they tried their best) and it was just planned better, particularly for things like the line management. Square Enix KNOWS how many people were going to this, they are the ones who sold the tickets!

The amount of crush possibilities was frankly horrific. If even a single person took a fall on the stairs leading to the monorail during exits, I am absolutely positive you would've had multiple severe injuries or even deaths. I've seen crush wounds, and crush deaths at poorly planned events, and in this heat, there should have been provisions to prevent that. The water situation/heat stroke potential only exacerbated the risks. It is awful to suffocate in a mass of human bodies that are on top of you.

When it comes to safety, you cannot say, "It is what it is." morally. Because that gets people killed. That's not me being overdramatic, it's the truth. Imagine saying something this stupid if someone actually did die.

[Ath192]

This is the last place for whataboutism.

...

The amount of crush possibilities was frankly horrific. If even a single person took a fall on the stairs leading to the monorail during exits, I am absolutely positive you would've had multiple severe injuries or even deaths. I've seen crush wounds, and crush deaths at poorly planned events, and in this heat, there should have been provisions to prevent that. The water situation/heat stroke potential only exacerbated the risks. It is awful to suffocate in a mass of human bodies that are on top of you.

...

Imagine saying something this stupid if someone actually did die.

And who exactly cares? Tell me? Do you think anyone at LVCC is losing sleep over an event that is over? Did someone actually die? Not that I know of for sure. Therefore, not much will change. Next time could be a bit worse, a bit better. Mostly based on luck and the competence of the general random people there at the time.

You need to understand that when these conventions organize things to be compliant they do so to cover their tracks in case of a law suit, not for the consideration and comfort of the people actually attending, so the experience is going to be subpar but as long as there was an effort to provide said accommodations that's enough to make people doubt the account of the accuser in court that is all they need.

So yeah, It is what it is, and nobody is going to care about you or your feelings more than yourself. So, seeing as you are the most interested party in your well being make sure you bring sunscreen, water bottles, read up on the weather and take precautions. You can bet the convention staff will be putting minimum effort at all events. This one was no different. People here are literally describing every packed event ever.

I just think you need a reality dose and stop believing the marketing brochures that say everything will be perfect. But hey, keep drinking the coolaid and living in a world of misery where all you do is have bad experiences and complain about it. Personally I take responsibility for myself and have a good time.

Just don't forget to make the surprised Pikachu face every time something seemed better on the marketing than it actually was.

[Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeej]

And who exactly cares? Tell me?

I care. I live in Clark County NV, and my elected representative is on the board of the LVCVA. The LVCVA happens to have a board of directors meeting that's open to the general public next Tuesday, so I figured I might as well show up and do what I can in three minutes as a local & a fan of this game to get visibility on this issue. Maybe something gets done, maybe nothing gets done, but if I do nothing even less will be done.

You're coming off as real touchy about something that clearly doesn't concern you, so why are you even here? I suggest exiting out of this thread, and leave this discussion to the actual stakeholders of this topic:
- people who want FFXIV live fan-facing events to succeed,
- people who want to see their fellow disabled brothers & sisters treated as humanely as possible,
- people who live in the Las Vegas region and want fanfest and other expos held here to go smoothly in the future.

It doesn't sound like you're any of these, so why are you spending energy here? Do something you enjoy.

[Ath192]

I care. I live in Clark County NV, and my elected representative is on the board of the LVCVA. The LVCVA happens to have a board of directors meeting that's open to the general public next Tuesday, so I figured I might as well show up and do what I can in three minutes as a local & a fan of this game to get visibility on this issue. Maybe something gets done, maybe nothing gets done, but if I do nothing even less will be done.

You're coming off as real touchy about something that clearly doesn't concern you, so why are you even here? I suggest exiting out of this thread, and leave this discussion to the actual stakeholders of this topic:
- people who want FFXIV live fan-facing events to succeed,
- people who want to see their fellow disabled brothers & sisters treated as humanely as possible,
- people who live in the Las Vegas region and want fanfest and other expos held here to go smoothly in the future.

It doesn't sound like you're any of these, so why are you spending energy here? Do something you enjoy.

I enjoy spelling out the truth, and if it helps anyone become more responsible and aware for their own safety instead of stewing in negativity all the better. I say let your elected representative know, surely we can trust the politicians to fix this one. But hey, it can't hurt so why would I be opposed to that?

On the touchy aspect I do feel your projecting on here, because I'm casually laying out my experience with packed events, they are always like this. You're the one here trying to contact a politician to get all this changed and passively aggressively trying to get me to leave and silence me. It does feel like you take this personally and deeply so I would say you do fit the criteria of being "touchy".

But I'll say what I want, and enjoy doing so.

[Ahzuvi]

You're the one here trying to contact a politician to get all this changed and passively aggressively trying to get me to leave and silence me. It does feel like you take this personally and deeply so I would say you do fit the criteria of being "touchy".

Bruh........