Recently, there has been an uptick in the number of counterfeit badges recovered every year at METROCON. This is largely due to more informed volunteers, badges with security features and constructed of materials that are more difficult to accurately duplicate including watermarks, UV reactive ink, holographic printing, and more. Counterfeit badges will absolutely not be tolerated – if you are caught with a counterfeit pass, regardless of where you acquired it or whether you made it or not, you will have your badge removed, and the Tampa Police Department will have you trespassed from the building. This is akin to scalping counterfeit tickets to a major sporting event, and your trespass from the building does not just apply to METROCON, but to the Tampa Convention Center as a whole – you will legally not be allowed to be on Tampa Convention Center property for one year from the date of the trespass. Combatting counterfeiting and piracy is something the City of Tampa takes very seriously, and so do we – we have a zero tolerance policy for these offenses. It is no different from stealing money from a register or robbing a house, and it is a crime – please consider the repercussions (including not being able to attend any events at the TCC for a whole year) before deciding that counterfeit passes are the way to go, and if buying passes from an individual and not directly from the METROCON registration, understand that you assume this risk. All passes purchased directly from METROCON should have a receipt or confirmation e-mail – make smart decisions when deciding how to attend METROCON.

If you are hosting a room party, you — the person renting the room — are responsible for the legality and well being of your partygoers, as well as any damage or clean-up costs associated with it. Remember, hotel personnel are allowed to spot check your party and have the authority to shut it down. Keep it clean and keep it legal.

Be sure to keep your receipts with your purchases at all times. We know things can get crowded and busy (especially in the dealers room), but please wait your turn and pay for the things that you buy. Shoplifting will not be tolerated, and will be handed over to the proper authority – shoplifters will be prosecuted at the discretion of the vendor or artist that was stolen from, and personal theft will be addressed and a police report will be created.

METROCON, its staff and its affiliates are not responsible for any loss, damage, theft, or injury occurring during the convention. Attendees are wholly responsible for their individual actions and any repercussions that may result. Staff is on hand for assistance in any situation, and will be glad to help in any way they can. Civil or medical emergencies will be handled by the appropriate agencies. Any lost parcels or unattended packages will be taken to the Tampa Convention Center Information Desk, on the second floor of the Tampa Convention Center. Questions regarding lost or misplaced items will be redirected to the building’s information desk as stated previously. See our program book for more information on Locker Rental, located at our Merchandise Booth just outside of Main Events, to avoid losing your personal belongings in the first place.

Room stuffing is not allowed. The limit to standard hotel rooms is 4, except by the hotel’s permission, i.e. an infant. Do not sleep in the convention areas, halls, stairways, and other public spaces. Security will be performing random sweeps and will remove anyone caught abusing convention facilities in this manner.