METROCON is a gun-free zone in our rented spaces.

There is a security bag-check at every building entrance, where they will not only be checking for firearms, but also other weapons, and other dangerous or illegal items. If it does not adhere to our costume/prop policy, or it is an item of questionable legality in any way, leave it AT HOME.

Tampa Police Department and Convention Center Security will be enforcing these policies throughout the weekend.

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.

Harassment is generally any behavior that intentionally annoys or alarms another person. This includes any unwanted physical contact, following someone around a public area without a legitimate reason, or otherwise infringing on their personal liberties. Assault is legally defined as an intentional, unlawful threat by word or act to do violence to the person of another, coupled with an apparent ability to do so, and doing some act which creates a well-founded fear in such other person that such violence is imminent; in the state of Florida assault is a 2nd Degree misdemeanor. Neither activity will be tolerated at METROCON. Please remember that if you approach someone and they tell you ‘no’ or to leave them alone, your business with them is done. If you do not leave them alone as they have requested, your actions may be grounds for a complaint of harassment. If you feel that you are being harassed, or you have been assaulted, please report the matter immediately to convention staff, security staff, or Tampa Police Department. Offenders will be required to leave the convention, and may be liable for criminal charges as well.  We recommend that all harassment be reported immediately.

There is no food from outside sources allowed in the Tampa Convention Center. Only food purchased in the convention center is allowed on property.

Please do not post any flyers to the doors & walls of the convention center. They will be removed immediately if they are put up. Also, make sure your flyers stay within a PG-13 rating. If you wish to hand out flyers for your anime club, or other event, there will be a fan table available to place your flyers on, at the discretion of the Head of Registration.

Federal and state laws prohibit serving alcohol to people under the age of 21. Underage drinking will not be tolerated and will result in your removal from the convention.  There is no drinking in public/function spaces, or in the convention area. It is likely that hotel security will be conducting spot checks to ensure compliance in the hotel rooms. If you drink, please drink responsibly, and do it in places that allow it. Public drunkenness will result in your being asked to leave the convention and not return. If you drink, don’t drive! Please have a designated driver. The Tampa Convention Center staff will be happy to call you a cab if you need one. There are plenty of bars and opportunities to drink, however the METROCON show floor itself (all badge-checked convention areas) are a DRY ZONE, meaning that no alcohol may be present in the convention areas, and if a patron is perceived to be under the influence, we may ask you to leave the convention area up to and sometimes including trespass and removal of badge.