SAN DIEGO - Like clockwork, badges for fans hoping to return to San Diego Comic-Con sold out in an hour Saturday morning.
Hopeful attendees logged into the convention's online waiting room Saturday morning, with hopes of being chosen through the system's lottery system to purchase badges.
But, of course, badges went like hotcakes.
The online waiting room opened to users who attended Comic-Con last year at 8 a.m. and the lottery system began at 9 a.m. All available badge options were sold out by 10 a.m. Some users expressed frustration making their way into the purchasing queue, only to find there were no tickets left.
The process for badge sales to the annual convention has traditionally frustrated fans interested in attending. And like years past, users lit up Twitter with their frustrations.
Every minute that passes, my heart shrivels a bit more. #SDCC2017 #RETREG2017 #SDCC
— Andi Gomez (@g0banana) March 11, 2017
@SD_Comic_Con You just let me in but no tickets are for sell! It says zero available!
— Corey (@SpkTruth2Pwr) March 11, 2017
@Comic_Con I don't think it's fair that returning registration get all the tickets. People who have never been do not get the opportunity
— Denise Strattan (@magden888) March 11, 2017
@Comic_Con it took me five years to get one single day badge and now i am not going to get any. This really sucks.
— Candace (@inluvwthmyboys) March 11, 2017
@Comic_Con this system is just not right randomly selected shouldn't be the way. People who've been going for years are being screwed
— Art Velazquez (@poundthenova) March 11, 2017
@Comic_Con WHY would you do this? All badges sold out but still brought me to purchase page!!! pic.twitter.com/CF0lHw1AuC
— Britney ? (@britxSHIELD) March 11, 2017
i will never forgive comic con for not letting me get prereg tickets the ONE year that i could
— shauna ? (@shaunasappy) March 11, 2017
The date for when Comic-Con badges will go on sale to everyone - whether returning or not - is scheduled to take place in early- to mid-Apil. However, many years see those supplies sell out quickly as well.
If you were unable to purchase a badge today, you may be eligible for Open Reg in early-to-mid April. For more info. https://t.co/bu38IRPnfu
— San Diego Comic-Con (@Comic_Con) March 11, 2017
Last year, badges to attend the event sold out within an hour when open registration was held. Prior to 2016's open registration, thousands of badges had already been sold during pre-registration in November 2015.
