SaltCON

Last updated
SaltCON
StatusCurrent
Genre Boardgames/Roleplaying Games/Convention
VenueDavis Conference Center
Location(s) Layton, Utah/Bryce Canyon, Utah
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2009
Most recentCurrent
Attendance2000
Organized bySaltCON UT LLC
Website http://saltcon.com/

SaltCON is the largest [1] Board Game Convention [2] in Utah held annually in Layton [3] at the Davis Conference Center with the "aim of bringing people together with games." [4] The event is family friendly, [5] and focuses on hobby [6] and designer [7] board games. [8] Unlike many other conventions, the board game halls are open 24 hours [9] for attendees to play all night long. The event continues to grow in popularity, [10] in large part due to its friendly atmosphere, and volunteer nature. [11] The event had over 1100 attendees in 2016, and continues to grow every year. [12] In 2019 they had over 1900 attendees.

Contents

Events

SaltCON hosts the Ion Award [13] game design competition, the largest board game design competition in the United States. Each year Publishers are asked to judge the competition, based on specific criteria. Notes are collected from judges, tallied, and winners are announced in each category. Games that win the Ion Award are published by game companies every year. [14] Notable winners include Nika, [15] Hold Your Breathe, and Pizza Theory.

Along with the Ion Award competition there are other draws for game designers as well. There are events where game designers can show off their games that are still in development, such as a "Prototype Alley" where attendees are invited to meet the designers and try out these new games. [16]

The events are not only for game designers. Attendees can find many other events to enjoy at the convention:

The event has also featured charities, such as the Extra Life [25] organization.

Occasionally there are a few video games [26] featured at the event.

History

The convention began in 2009, as a follow up to the Gathering of Strangers [27] board game days that were held at the University of Utah. The first few years were held also at the U of U campus Officer's Club, [28] but as attendance grew, they moved to the Royal Garden Inn, [29] then to the Sheraton, [30] and finally to the Davis Conference Center, where it has been held since 2014. [31]

YearDatesLocationEvent
2009July 10–11University of Utah Officers Club [32] Main Event
2010February 26–28University of Utah Officers Club [33] Main Event
2011February 18–19University of Utah Officers Club [34] Main Event
2012February 17–18Royal Garden Inn [29] Main Event
2013February 15–17Sheraton [30] Main Event
2014March 28–30Davis Conference Center [31] Main Event
2015March 12–14Davis Conference Center [35] Main Event
2016March 3–5Davis Conference Center [36] Main Event
2017March 2–5Davis Conference CenterMain Event
2018March 1–4Davis Conference CenterSpring
2018August 31 - September 1Davis Conference CenterEnd of Summer
2019February 28 - March 3Davis Conference CenterSpring
2019May 31 - June 1Davis Conference CenterSummer
2019August 30–31Davis Conference CenterEnd of Summer
2020March 5–8Davis Conference CenterSpring
2021July 30 - August 1Davis Conference CenterEnd of Summer
2022January 14-16Ruby's InnBryce
2022March 3–6Davis Conference CenterSpring
2022September 2-4Davis Conference CenterEnd of Summer
2023January 13-15Ruby's InnBryce
2023March 2-5Davis Conference CenterSpring
2023June 2-4Davis Conference CenterSummer
2023September 1-3Davis Conference CenterEnd of Summer
2024January 12-14Ruby's InnBryce
2024February 29 - March 3Davis Conference CenterSpring

Support for Other Events

SaltCON supports other events and conventions all over Utah. They provide their game library, volunteers, and game teachers to many other events.

Events that SaltCON has supported:

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References

  1. ↑ Rob Cramer (2016-03-31). "SaltCon: A Small Convention Done Right" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  2. ↑ "SaltCon UT, LLC" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  3. ↑ "PHG Event: Plaid Hat Games at SaltCon 2016!". 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  4. ↑ "SaltCON Board Game Convention brings game designers and players together". 14 March 2015. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  5. ↑ Scott D. Pierce (2013-02-16). "SaltCON board gamers not bored in Salt Lake City" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  6. ↑ "QEE 3HG Panic Fire at Salt Con 2016 STANDALONE". YouTube . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  7. ↑ Cody (2016-04-20). "Salt Con" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  8. ↑ Alex Cabrero, xoel Cardenas (2016-03-05). "SaltCON brings together Utah board game aficionados" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  9. ↑ James Kathrein (2016-02-08). "Gravity Dice to visit SaltCon 2016" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  10. ↑ "Best Board Game Conventions in North America" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  11. ↑ ANDREA SILVA (2015-03-16). "SALTCON 2015: NO NATURAL PREDATORS" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  12. ↑ Ryan Decaria (2016-03-19). "Meeple Nation at SaltCON 2016" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  13. ↑ "Ion Award" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  14. ↑ "SaltCon 2016 Ion Award Winners Announced". 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  15. ↑ Ryan LaFlamme (2014-06-10). "The Indie Convention Bump" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  16. ↑ Mark Green (2013-02-16). "Game designers, players gather for convention" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  17. ↑ "SaltCON 2016 in Layton" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  18. ↑ Kristopher McClanahan. "SaltCON - Daredevil S02E01" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  19. ↑ NICOLE STEPHENSON (2015-03-16). "SALTCON 2015: GAME SWAP AND FLEA MARKET" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  20. ↑ NICOLE STEPHENSON (2015-03-14). "SALTCON 2015: THE DRESDEN FILES" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  21. ↑ NICOLE STEPHENSON (2015-03-14). "SALTCON 2015: FIGURINE PAINTING" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  22. ↑ NICOLE STEPHENSON (2015-03-16). "SALTCON 2015: DIGITAL ART PANEL" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  23. ↑ NICOLE STEPHENSON (2015-03-16). "SALTCON 2015: BOARD GAME DESIGN 101" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  24. ↑ anwoke8204 (2015-12-21). "SaltCON Layton Utah Mar 3 - Mar 5 2016" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ↑ kiersten, Development Officer, Primary Children’s Hospital (2016-01-04). "Volunteers for SaltCON 2016" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ↑ HENRY GLASHEEN (2015-03-19). "CAPSTONE GAMES REPRESENT AT SALTCON!" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  27. ↑ JP (13 February 2012). "FORM OF ROCKET, SALTCON, PALACE OF BUDDIES, SISTER DOTTIE S. DIXON" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  28. ↑ Gavin Sheehan (2011-02-18). "SaltCON" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  29. 1 2 Steven Poelzing (2011-09-15). "SaltCON: Salt Lake City, Utah; February 17-18, 2012; (Board Game Convention)" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  30. 1 2 Steven Poelzing (2012-08-30). "SaltCON 2013. Salt Lake City Utah. Feb 15-17, 2013" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  31. 1 2 Dan (2013-10-04). "SaltCON 2014 in Layton Utah, March 28, 29, and 30, 2014" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  32. ↑ Dale Gifford (2009-05-12). "A Gathering of Strangers, Salt Lake City Utah, July 10 & 11 (Board Game Convention)" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  33. ↑ Dale Gifford (2012-10-11). "SaltCON, Salt Lake City Utah, February 26-28 2010 (Board Game Convention)" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  34. ↑ Dale Gifford (2010-08-23). "SaltCON: Salt Lake City, Utah; February 18-19, 2011; (Board Game Convention)" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  35. ↑ Dan (2015-01-25). "SaltCON Boardgame Convention in Layton Utah, March 12-14, 2015" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  36. ↑ Dan (2016-02-19). "SaltCON - March 3-5 2016" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  37. ↑ Michael McFall (2015-09-02). "Salt Lake Gaming Con kicks off inaugural event" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  38. ↑ Crystal Pisano (2015-07-23). "Board Game Convention Preview: STGCON" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  39. ↑ Carrie Rogers-Whitehead (2015-11-18). "6 great board games for kids" . Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  40. ↑ "Tabletop Day". Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
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