SaltCON

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.

SaltCON
StatusCurrent
GenreBoardgames/Roleplaying Games/Convention
VenueDavis Conference Center
Location(s)Layton, Utah
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2009
Most recentCurrent
Attendance1142
Organized bySaltCON UT LLC
Websitehttp://saltcon.com/

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 features 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]

Year Dates Location Event
2009 February University of Utah Officers Club[32] Main Event
2010 February 26–28 University of Utah Officers Club[33] Main Event
2011 February 18–19 University of Utah Officers Club[34] Main Event
2012 February 17–18 Royal Garden Inn[29] Main Event
2013 February 15–17 Sheraton[30] Main Event
2014 March 28–30 Davis Conference Center[31] Main Event
2015 March 12–14 Davis Conference Center[35] Main Event
2016 March 3–5 Davis Conference Center[36] Main Event
2017 March 2–5 Davis Conference Center Main Event
2018 March 1- 4 Davis Conference Center Spring
2018 August 31 - September 1 Davis Conference Center End of Summer
2019 February 28 - March 3 Davis Conference Center Spring
2019 May 31 - June 1 Davis Conference Center Summer
2019 August 30-31 Davis Conference Center End of Summer
2020 March 5 - 8 Davis Conference Center Spring

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:

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". 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". 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.
  25. kiersten, Development Officer, Primary Children’s Hospital (2016-01-04). "Volunteers for SaltCON 2016". Retrieved 2016-07-28.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. HENRY GLASHEEN (2015-03-19). "CAPSTONE GAMES REPRESENT AT SALTCON!". Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  27. JP. "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. Steven Poelzing (2011-09-15). "SaltCON: Salt Lake City, Utah; February 17-18, 2012; (Board Game Convention)". Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  30. Steven Poelzing (2012-08-30). "SaltCON 2013. Salt Lake City Utah. Feb 15-17, 2013". Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  31. 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". Retrieved 2016-07-28.
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