Sponsorship and Marketing Opportunities for Gamehole Con 2023 (Oct 19-22)

Our 2022 show was our best yet. It really felt like a return to normal after all larger events faced the obvious challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. We were delighted to have attendance numbers that nosed just ahead of our 2019 pre-pandemic total. It is great to be growing again and we hope that all of our vendor partners had a good show as well.

As far as we know, we are the only major tabletop gaming convention that was able to return to pre-pandemic attendance totals which is nothing but good news for our 2023 show.

Speaking of which, we are delighted to announce that we will be back for our big 10th show – Gamehole Con 2023! It will once again be held at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall in Madison, WI. Our dates will be October 19-22.

We are also delighted to announce that all of our major partners, as well as some new ones, will be returning for our 10th show. 

Historically, our show has grown in attendance each year we have run it. Accordingly, we have expanded the size of our vendor spaces to match that growth each year. Because we did not grow in 2021 for the obvious reasons, we did not expand the Dealer Hall. Instead, we re-designed it giving it a more “open” feel. 

This change was universally enjoyed by our attendees. All the feedback we got was positive about it as our attendees expressed their appreciation for a less crowded feeling Dealer Hall despite our much-increased attendance totals from 2021 to 2023.

If we expand the Dealer Hall for 2023, and that is very much an if at this point, at most it will be adding one more row of booths. And rather than necessarily adding additional vendors, this will afford our returning vendors the opportunity to add more space if they like. It is extremely important that all of our vendor partners do well at our show.

Further, we are simplifying the details of booth set up going forward. With each Dealer Hall space you reserve with us, you will get the 10’ x 10’ space, two chairs, and pipe and drape walls. Because so many of you bring your own tables or don’t use tables, all other items, including tables, power and internet drops, will be ordered directly from the Alliant Energy Center. We will follow up with detailed instructions on the process for ordering later in the year.

Once again, our Dealer Hall sold out quickly in 2022 and spaces will go even faster this year. Many past exhibitors have asked to come back and we have had many more exhibitors ask to take part in Gamehole Con 2023. 

We invite you to join us for Gamehole 2023 and to take advantage of Gamehole Con’s continued growth. The following guide contains just some of the different ways you can be involved at Gamehole Con 2023. If you would like to participate in another way, just let us know!

Applications for Gamehole Con 2023 are open now. To apply, go to our Exhibitor page and fill out the application, you'll need to be logged into your account to apply. These applications are necessary for all vending spaces including Dealer Hall and Demo Row spots, as well as for artists, authors, and podcasters interested in space at the convention. If you have any questions about any of this, please contact us directly at marketing@GameholeCon.com.

Official Lanyard Sponsor of Gamehole Con 2023 ($5,000) SOLD

We expect at least 5,000 badge-wearing people at Gamehole Con 2023. If you sponsor this, we will produce a high-quality 5/8th-inch lanyard complete with a bulldog clip from which every person at the show will hang their badge. You can choose the lanyard color and add a repeating logo including up to two colors. This is an amazing opportunity to get your company’s logo in front of literally each and every attendee, exhibitor, and Guest.

Official Sponsor of Gamehole Con 2023 ($500)

As an official sponsor of Gamehole Con you get:

• Your logo listed on our site as a link to your website. 
• Our homepage on desktop and mobile browsers will prominently feature your logo on a rotating basis with our other sponsors.
• Your logo and web address listed in our physical and digital program.
• Your logo as a link to your website will appear in each email blast that we send out.
• There is at least one such blast to our approximately 7,000+ recipients each month.
• As we get closer to our Con and have deadlines and other matters to announce, those blasts become more frequent.
• A stand-alone “thank you” post on our Facebook page (~4,500 followers) and via our Twitter account (~3,000) acknowledging your sponsorship and support and telling everyone what makes your business great.

Lead Sponsor of Gamehole Con 2023 ($2,200) SOLD

As the lead sponsor of Gamehole Con you get:

• Everything that is included with being an Official Sponsor above
• You will be recognized as our Lead Sponsor in each and every one of our email blasts.
• Priority placement in the dealer hall
• A full-page ad in our program.
• A custom door cling on the main entrance with artwork provided by you.
• Signage in the lobby of the Alliant Energy Center provided by you. We will work with you on the options of such signage.

Laughing Otyugh Inn Sponsor ($3,000) SOLD

This area is immediately adjoining our D&D Adventure League Hall. It is outfitted with comfy chairs, drinks, and other amenities and will be seen by the thousands of attendees that play in our D&D AL Hall, which is one of the largest in the country. Our special/charity D&D AL games will be run in this space as well. It can be adorned with some signage and/or branded table coverings provided by you.

Official Reception Sponsor Gamehole Con 2023

We have several exciting party/reception sponsorship opportunities for Gamehole Con 2023.

Lead Kick Off Party Sponsor ($2,500) SOLD

Our kickoff party will be held in a ballroom at the Madison Sheraton hotel on the eve of Gamehole Con, Wednesday, October 18th. If you attended last year, you know that the party featured a DJ, a bar, and a pizza buffet. Included in the Lead Kick Off Party Sponsorship is the cost of the DJ. Further, as the Lead Sponsor, you will have complete control of the programming. Do you want to give a talk/presentation? Great. Do you want to give away product? Certainly. Do you want to run demos? No problem. Do you want to put on some sort of AV demonstration? Sure, we can accommodate that. We can customize that evening's events as you like and we will heavily promote your sponsorship of this event.

Drinks Kick Off Party Sponsor ($1,500)

The Gamehole Con Kick Off Party would not be the same without a drink sponsor! The drink sponsor has the option of simply paying the first $1,500 worth of drinks from the bar located in the party ballroom or to pass out $1,500 worth of drink tickets. In either event, your company will be listed as the co-sponsor of the Kick Off Party and you can place a pop up or similar sign in the party ballroom itself.

Pizza Kick Off Party Sponsor ($1,000)

No party for gamers is a party without pizza! Instantly become the darling of the convention and beloved by all by sponsoring our Kick Off Party pizza buffet! We will handle the ordering specifics. As the pizza sponsor your company will be listed as the co-sponsor of the Kick Off Party and you can place a pop up or similar sign in the party ballroom itself.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Nights Receptions Sponsor ($1,000 each) SOLD

On each of the listed evenings, Thursday, October 19th, Friday, October 20th, and Saturday, October 21st, we throw a reception at the Clarion Hotel. At each reception, like the Kick Off Party above, we will provide a half barrel of Spotted Cow beer to be served free to all reception goers. In a more limited fashion than the Kick Off Party, you can give a brief demonstration, give product away, or just be a charming host of the evening. We will promote each of these events indicating who is sponsoring each evening’s reception.

Exhibiting Space in the Exhibitor Hall ($500 - $750)

Our booth spaces are each 10’ x 10’ and come with two chairs along with pipe and drape walls. Each space is only $500 ($750 for a corner booth) for the entire 4-day convention. If you require an electrical drop or hardwired ethernet for your booth these can be purchased directly through the Alliant Energy Center website. You also receive four universal Gamehole Con four-day badges for your business.

Demonstration Areas in Demo Row ($250)

Our demo row is very popular every year.  Each of these 15 tables can be purchased for the entire weekend for $250. These spaces are strictly limited to game designers demoing and selling their own games and supplements. No sales of third-party products are permitted — that is restricted to the Dealer Hall. Each space comes with a draped table and two chairs. You also receive two universal Gamehole Con four-day badges for your business. 

Artists and Author Tables in the Dealer Hall ($50)

Custom Lounge Area ($3,000)  SOLD 

On the second floor of the convention center, we set up a lounge with couches and comfortable chairs, coffee and end tables and a cash bar that opens each afternoon. This space can be sponsored by your company making this the [YOUR NAME HERE] Lounge. Last year, Monte Cook Games used this space to great effect. We will provide the furniture and configure the gaming/demo/vendor tables in any way that you like. Signage downstairs will direct people to your lounge. Finally, the sponsor of this lounge can place a banner of their creation on the balcony overlooking the show that virtually every Gamehole Con attendee will see.

Official Sponsor of the GM/Special Guest Lounge ($3,000) SOLD

We love our GMs. That’s why we offer a GM oasis at Gamehole Con each year. This is a private area for GMs and Special Guests to prepare, regroup, and relax. Your business can be the official sponsor of the GM’s Lounge. Your name would be affixed to the lounge, you can place your company’s materials, ads and products in the lounge, and you will receive a special mention every time the GM Lounge is advertised.

Official Gamehole Con 2023 Program Ad Space

We produce a fantastic program every year. We offer it in both electronic and print form. We include a fabulous custom map, bios of all the special guests, and tons of other useful information for our attendees. Our program artwork is second to none. We release a digital copy of the program in the weeks before the show increasing your ad’s exposure that much more.

Program ad prices for 2023:

Hotel Key Card Sponsorship ($1,000-$1,500)

There are hundreds of hotel rooms in the hotels surrounding the Alliant Energy Center - The Clarion Suites ($1,500), The Sheraton Madison ($1,000), and The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Central ($1,000). Sponsors at this level can customize the art on every hotel room key issued in our room blocks over the week of Gamehole Con at one or more of these hotels. What an amazing marketing opportunity! Every attendee, vendor, or Guest staying at the hotel(s) you sponsor will see your custom art/message on their room card all weekend long.

Lobby Signage ($200-$400)

Have a cool display or sign you want everyone to see? Contact us about specific pricing and locations in our main lobby area!

Hanging Dealer Hall Sign ($500 – Limit of 3 1 signs)

If you attended Gamehole Con 2022, you could not miss our elevated hanging display in the Dealer Hall. We can hang your sign in the Dealer Hall, where every attendee will be able to see it. This is a powerful marketing opportunity. Don’t miss this chance to get in front of literally thousands of your potential customers.

Custom Window Clings ($175-$325 - Space is limited)

We can produce custom window clings using your artwork for the windows on the second floor of the exhibition hall. These will be seen by attendees as they walk up to the convention and when attending events on the second floor including most of our Special Guest games, our seminars, our streaming games, and the popular custom lounge. There are two sizes of windows available, a nearly square option for $175 (37.5” x 43.5”) or a larger rectangular option for $325 (115.5” x 43.5”). 

Custom Door Clings ($500 Per 2 doors - Limit of 3 2 sets)

We can provide custom door clings using your artwork to be placed on either our interior or exterior main entry doors. These are the primary doors used to enter and exit the exhibition hall so your ad will be seen multiple times per day by thousands of attendees.

Custom Floor Graphics

We have the ability to provide custom floor graphics for your company or business. These can be placed in any number of high-traffic locations throughout the exhibition hall. If you are interested, contact us about prices and possible locations.

Custom Stair Graphics ($1,000-$3,000)

We have the ability to provide custom graphics for the stairway that accesses our dedicated streaming room, Special Guest gaming rooms, seminar rooms, custom lounge, and many other games. These stairs are also visible as attendees walk through our main lobby meaning that virtually every attendee will be seeing your ad multiple times per day.

Anything Else?

Don’t see a promotional item that you want? We are open to new ideas and happy to work with you to create custom solutions that will convey your company’s message in a unique way.