Funko, as well as CCI, have now confirmed that Funko will be moving to a Sails ticket distribution method this year – and it perhaps more closely resembles a mash-up between LEGO and Bandai’s current distribution methods.
Attendees who arrive in Sails in the morning will draw for a winning wristband – and each wristband will have one of four timed purchase sessions on it. There is no guarantee of receiving a winning wristband, as the process is randomized, and there is also no guarantee which purchase session you’ll be chosen for – so the first person who draws a wristband could potentially get group 4. If you don’t draw a winning ticket/wristband, you won’t have another chance to try again until the following day.
However, we’ve confirmed with Funko that they’ll be re-stocking between sessions “so each group gets a fair shot at exclusives” – and that this is the method that CCI requested. The changes are to try to clear congestion around the booth, as well as ease the buying process.
There’s no official word on if their booth will be first-come/first-serve on Preview Night – but they may already be assuming their 100 wristbanded Funko Funatics board members will take up all of those spots.
You can read the complete post on their site, but here’s the gist:
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Attendee badges only.
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One drawing per person, per day.
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This random drawing is for a chance to get a wristband to purchase items at the Funko booth.
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Winning a wristband does not guarantee you of any specific item at the Funko booth. Items may sell out by the time you reach the front of the line.
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Wristbands are for a specific date and time and must be redeemed for that specific session.
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Wristbands are not transferrable.
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There will be a strict limit of one of each item per wristband.
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You will not be able to line up at the Funko booth before your session begins.
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ADA attendees must also go through the lottery process outside the Sail Pavilion, as noted above.
The good news is that this potentially curtails some exhibitors from getting the jump on the line, as it’s harder to line up in Sails before doors open than it is on the general exhibit floor. The other good news is basically that this has the potential to be organized and less chaotic — which is always a plus in the already-chaotic world of Comic-Con.
Do you think this is good news? Bad news? Let us know in the comments.