Already back to work and reality but still thinking about Phoenix Fan Fusion this past weekend. Before I get into anything, let me just plead my case to bring to any of the Fan Fusion staff that may read this: PLEAAAASE bring back the 3rd floor Hall of Heroes. I loved having a dedicated space for the cosplay groups and a separate area for the signings/photo ops. Okay, now with said, how did my Fan Fusion experience go?

I can’t speak for other attendees or vendors but I feel like this edition of Fan Fusion felt similar to 2019 before everything changed. What was especially nice to see was the thought that went into handling the big crowds. Not once did I see or hear of any issues getting through security, no long lines waiting for hours to get in. Expanded seating areas, expanded food offerings (the price is another topic but that is not something Fan Fusion controls), and a ton of panels and events to spread out the crowd (as best as possible without that 3rd floor Hall of Heroes *hint hint*). Was the exhibit hall still very busy at times? Yes. Those crowds will hopefully lead to bigger and better things for the convention but I felt like the con did everything right in planning for those crowds.

I don’t want to bore you with paragraphs of my ramblings but here are some bullet point thoughts:

  • + Guest line up was solid
  • – Cosplay gatherings looked to be a bit unorganized
  • + Wrestling room always seemed to be popular (would love to see it moved somewhere larger)
  • – Arcade/console gaming was a bit… lacking
  • + A dedicated food cafe on the exhibit floor
  • – Large room for tabletop gaming that never seemed full
  • + No entry hiccups

Would love to hear your thoughts as everyone has their own experience and perspective. Encourage you to reach out on Twitter or Instagram!

On to the photos!