Toucan Tip #8: Navigating the Exhibit Hall

K. Green © 2024 SDCC

No Running!

• No running is allowed anywhere and at any time at Comic-Con.
• The rule applies to all areas, including Program rooms, the Exhibit Hall, and outside the convention center.• The goal is to maintain a cool, calm, and safe space for all badge holders.
• The No Running rule is rigorously enforced in the mornings when doors open.
• Running poses a safety hazard.
• People who ignore this rule may have their badges confiscated and be ejected from the convention.

Keep To Your Right!

• Keeping to your right when in crowds helps maintain a streamlined flow of traffic and prevents bottlenecks and safety hazards.
• This rule is especially crucial in crowded and congested areas like hallways and lobbies. 
• Comic-Con Floor Managers and Line Management may request attendees to keep to their right, and it is essential to comply promptly.

No Sitting in the Aisles

• No sitting in or blocking areas around the doors, pillars, or aisles of the Exhibit Hall (by order of the Fire Marshal).
• Designated lounge areas are available throughout the Exhibit Hall for relaxation and socializing. Use the lounge areas to meet up with friends or take a break.
• Find the lounge areas using the Exhibit Hall map in the center of the 2025 Events Quick Guide (the free publication you’ll receive when picking up your “bag, book, and lanyard”).

Exhibit Hall Guidelines: Size Restrictions and Prohibited Items

• No oversized strollers allowed in the Exhibit Hall or Program rooms 
  • Double and tandem strollers are not permitted 
  • Designated stroller parking areas are located upstairs Stroller parking is indicated by red ovals on the maps in the Events Quick Guide
    • Stroller parking is indicated by red ovals on the maps in the Events Quick Guide
    • Free of charge, and on a first-come, first-served basis
  • Comic-Con does not provide security for strollers
• No carts, rolling luggage, or oversized costumes allowed in the Exhibit Hall
  • Plan accordingly to avoid bringing these items
  • People in oversized costumes may be asked to leave at certain times for safety reasons

Considerate Clicks: Photo Etiquette at Comic-Con!

• Many memorable moments at Comic-Con are worth capturing and cherishing! 
• Keep the flow of movement going after taking pictures.
• Use of selfie sticks or any other extension device is prohibited.
• Consider the large number of people and diverse directions they are going throughout the facility. For this reason we ask that you step to the side when stopping to pose for or take a photograph. 
• Avoid blocking aisles or causing congestion for others. 
• You’ll find multiple photo opportunities available across various exhibitor booths. 
• Cameras and recording devices are permitted in Program and panel rooms but cannot be used to reproduce the presentation 
• Any recording of panels or programs is allowed only for personal use and not for broadcast in any form.

Navigate with Ease: Follow the Aisle Signs!

• Utilize the aisle signs in the Exhibit Hall to navigate efficiently. 
• Take note of the aisle numbers for booths you want to revisit. Taking a photo of the booth/booth number can also assist in finding those booths again.
• Pay attention to the position of the aisle marker (front, middle, or back of the hall). 
• Compare aisle signs with booth numbers on the Exhibit Hall map. 
• Use the Events Quick Guide or Official Comic-Con App to cross-reference booth locations.• The Comic-Con App can be found in the App Store for iOS and on Google Play

Bypass the Bustle: Unlock the Power of the Lobby!

• Utilize the lobby to navigate around Exhibit Hall crowds and reach booths quickly. 
• Feeling lost or overwhelmed? Take a break and regain your bearings in the lobby.
• Agree on a designated meetup space in the lobby if you get separated from your friends.

NO SMOKING, INCLUDING E-CIGARETTES AND VAPING PRODUCTS AND DEVICES

Smoking is not allowed at any Comic-Con function or space at any time. No smoking at Comic-Con includes traditional cigarettes, any vaping products or devices (e.g., “vape pens”), E-cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. This policy includes all function, exhibit, restroom, and event spaces at the San Diego Convention Center or any other additional Comic-Con venues.

The convention center is a non-smoking facility. You are welcome to use the designated areas outside the building where smoking and vaping are permitted, but please be considerate of others when you do. This policy is in place not only for the comfort of attendees but also to comply with state and local ordinances prohibiting smoking at public buildings near any doorway, entrance, exit, or operable window. Please comply with this policy; noncompliance may result in ejection from the convention.

No Retail Sales Outside Exhibit Space

• Unless you have purchased or were allocated an exhibit space, there are absolutely no outside sales permitted! 
• Sales are strictly limited to the Exhibit spaces in the Comic-Con Exhibit Hall. 
• Noncompliance to these guidelines may result in: 
  • Your badge(s) being confiscated.
  • Being ejected from the convention.

No Handouts or Solicitation

• No handing out of anything is allowed in any area inside or outside the San Diego Convention Center, except in the following cases: 
  • From within a booth in the Exhibit Hall.
  • When pre-approved for placement on the Freebie Tables in the Sails Pavilion. 
• Prohibited items for distribution include:
  • Flyers 
  • Stickers 
  • Cards
  • Any promotional item

No Market Research

• Comic-Con does not allow: 
  • Market research 
  • Surveys 
  • Information-gathering 
• This restriction applies to any public areas: 
  • Indoors or outdoors 
  • San Diego Convention Center
  • Affiliated venues featuring Comic-Con events.

Code of Conduct

Attendees must respect common sense rules for public behavior, personal interaction, common courtesy, and respect for private property. Harassing or offensive behavior will not be tolerated. Comic-Con reserves the right to revoke, without refund, the membership and badge of any attendee not in compliance with this policy. Persons finding themselves in a situation where they feel their safety is at risk or who become aware of an attendee not in compliance with this policy should locate the nearest member of security, or staff member, so that the matter can be handled in a prompt manner.