PokémonXP Lottery Woes: 130K Fans, Only 50K Spots – What's Next?

Ever dreamed of attending a Pokémon convention only to be left out? At this year's PokémonXP in San Francisco, that dream turned into a reality for thousands of fans. With over 130,000 people vying for a spot at the event, only about 50,000 got in. The Pokémon Company is listening, and they're already thinking about how to make things better next time.

Chris Brown, Director of Global Esports and Events at The Pokémon Company International, opened up about the challenges of handling such massive demand. "The public is unaware of the level of demand," he said. "Unfortunately, 50,000 people are coming, but more than that number get the disappointment of not being able to sign up." It's a tough pill to swallow, especially when you've been waiting months for a chance to snag a badge.

Here's the deal: the interest list for 3-day passes opened in April, and the lottery system was the only way to handle the influx. Brown explained that a first-come, first-served system would've crashed under the pressure. "Basically, anytime your demand well outstrips your supply, the interest list into lottery is the only real way you can handle that," he said. It's not perfect, but it's fair—or as fair as a lottery can be.

But the disappointment didn't stop at getting in. Once inside, exclusive activities like autograph sessions and workshops were also lottery-based, with only about 2,000 lucky attendees getting to participate. That's a tiny fraction of the 50,000-plus who wanted in. Brown noted that this percentage is similar to previous Worlds, but that doesn't ease the sting for those who missed out.

So, what's the plan? Brown hinted at increasing supply in the future. "The only thing I can do from an event operator's perspective is think about how do we increase supply over time," he said. That could mean more events, bigger venues, or more activities. But for now, the lottery system stays.

It's clear that PokémonXP's explosive growth—doubling last year's Worlds attendance—has caught everyone off guard. The demand is real, and fans are passionate. The Pokémon Company is aware of the frustration and is already brainstorming solutions. It's a good sign that they're not ignoring the issue.

So, what do you think? Is the lottery the fairest way to handle such overwhelming demand, or should they try something else? Will you be trying your luck at the next PokémonXP? Let us know in the comments!