MagicCon: Chicago - Know Before You Go

The countdown to MagicCon: Chicago has officially begun! 🌟 In just three days, we will be gathering in Chicago, to kick off the first MagicCon event of the year. Get ready to witness new themes and enjoy the thrills of all things Magic: The Gathering. Below you’ll find important information about the show, and some new details that you should review ahead of arriving at the event. From merchandise teasers, a new mobile app scavenger hunt and more, you have a lot to look forward to - check it all out below! 

Begin your MagicCon: Chicago journey at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center, 2301 S Martin Luther King Dr, Chicago, IL 60616. For directions, ride share, parking and more transportation information, please click here. Enter MagicCon at the Lakeside Entrance Level 2 Lobby and follow the signs to the MagicCon entrances. All attendees will be subject to a bag check and security screening when you enter the building.

Direct parking is limited around the Lakeside Center building. Please take note of the available parking lots below and plan your journey before you arrive!

Parking Lot C will be our main parking which is attached to the Lakeside Center where the MagicCon event is taking place. Other Parking Lots available are Parking Lot A and Parking Lot B. There will be no parking allowed at Soldier Field.

Parking Lot B will have a shuttle on Friday and Saturday from 8:00 AM – 1:00 AM and Sunday from 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM.

If you did not receive your badge in the mail, your first stop will be Will Call/Registration in the Lakeside Center Level 2 Lobby. Badge pick-up hours are as follows:

• Thursday, September 22 | 12:00 - 6:00 PM
• Friday, September 23 | 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
• Saturday, September 24 | 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
• Sunday, September 25 | 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM

If you purchased a ticket to the Friday night House of Clue Party or Dinner, please pick up your party wristband at Will Call/Registration during the hours listed above. Please make sure you bring your purchase confirmation email and proof of ID to pick up your badge or wristband. 

Once you have your badge in hand, make sure to take full advantage of all the experiences MagicCon has to offer – including a very S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Scavenger hunt – new to MagicCon!

An Update for  MagicCon: Chicago - All merchandise included with your badge package will be picked up during show hours only. You can collect your Ticketed Merch Pick-Up on the Show Floor, Lakeside Center, Level 3. You will need your badge and purchase confirmation email to receive your items.

Ticketed Merch Pick-Up is open during Show Floor Hours:  

• Friday, February 23 | 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Saturday, February 24 | 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Sunday, February 25 |  10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

All merchandise pre-ordered via Growtix during badge registration can be picked up at the Official Show Store on Level 3 during Show Floor Hours:

• Friday, February 23 | 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Saturday, February 24 | 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Sunday, February 25 |  10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Once you have your badge secured, regardless of whether you received your badge in the mail or picked it up at Will Call, you can wait in the Free Play area or morning queue area in the Lakeside Center Level 2 Lobby. The MagicCon: Chicago show floor will officially open at 10:00 AM!

In addition to being the first MagicCon of 2024, MagicCon: Chicago is going to be our biggest event to date! It's going to be busy and there will be lines to enter the show, so please plan ahead, pickup your badge as soon as possible and arrive early if you have registered for a ticketed play event taking place in the morning.  

The  MagicCon: Chicago merch introduces some new products to the lineup! You can get your hands on new stylish wearables, accessories, and exclusives available onsite at MagicCon: Chicago!

Here are just a few of our favorite things that will be offered onsite in Chicago:

MagicCon attendees will receive a Ponder promo with art by Jay Ryan for every $150 they spend in a single transaction at the Official Show Store on site! (While supplies last)  

Join us at House of Blues on Friday, February 23, from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. for a night of mystery! Dance the night away thanks to our incredible party headliner, Grumgully! 

Mythic Admission and Ravnica: Clue Edition Dinner ticket types are SOLD OUT but General Admission tickets are still available!

• When: Friday, February 23, from 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM (February 24)
• Where: House of Blues, located at 329 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL, 60654
• What: Grumgully will be performing from 11:30 PM – 1 AM in the Music Hall. Karaoke will be available from 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM
• Who: 21+ only. ID required upon entry.
• Wristband Pickup: Will Call/Registration in the Lakeside Center Level 2 Lobby during normal registration hours
  

Please note that to attend the party you must have a valid MagicCon: Chicago Badge for entry. 

It may be chilly in February, but things will be heating up on site at MagicCon: Chicago! Witness some of the best Magic players in the world go head-to-head onsite as they compete in Pro Tour Murders at Karlov Manor. Our competitors are playing for their share of a $500,000 prize pool, invitations to Pro Tour Thunder Junction, invitations to Magic World Championship 30, and of course, bragging rights!

This is the first Pro Tour event in 2024, and it's not one to miss, be sure to check out the action as it happens live throughout the weekend! 

It wouldn’t be a Magic event without play events! At MagicCon: Chicago, there is a full schedule of ticketed play that are available to suit every skill level throughout the weekend. Check out all of the Magic Play and register for your events today. Events can sell out before the event – it is highly recommended that you register for your Ticketed Play Tournaments before arriving onsite!

Check your schedule! If you’ve added a ticketed play event to your schedule on Leap (formerly GrowTix) but haven’t completed the registration/checkout process, you are not currently registered to take part in the event. Please make sure you have completed your ticketed play purchase as soon as possible.

Additionally, you’ll find a large amount of dedicated Free Play on the show floor, a CommandZone that is open to all attendees, and check in at Ticketed Play headquarters to register for On Demand Events. Learn more about all of the play opportunities at MagicCon: Chicago here. 

The MagicCon Mobile App will be your event guide throughout the weekend! This mobile app includes detailed Show Floor Level Maps, Panel and Magic Play Schedules, Exhibitors, Guests, and more! Learn more and download the app today.  

Prepare for an exciting new experience at MagicCon: Chicago with the MagicCon mobile app!

In collaboration with Secret Lair, we're introducing a unique scavenger hunt featuring never before seen sneak peeks of the three upcoming Fallout Secret Lair drops. This extraordinarily S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Scavenger Hunt is crafted exclusively for attendees of MagicCon: Chicago!

This interactive section of the show floor brings you face-to-face with your favorite MTG Content Creators! Lounge in the viewing area or take in a Spectacle Play event! Come meet and greet personalities you know and love at the Creator Play area while you check out their unique playstyles, formats, and live games! Pick up a MagicCon Passport and make some memories as we’re all reminded that the Gathering is the Magic. Learn More about Creator Central!

Want the details of where and when you can meet your favorite Magic personalities? Check out the Meet & Greet schedule for a full rundown of who’s who and where to find them! 

During our 2023 MagicCon events, we noticed some of the youngest Planeswalkers from across the Multiverse started to attend our shows, and we are excited to share that starting this February at MagicCon: Chicago, a new Family Magic area is premiering on the show floor! 

Stop by Family Magic during standard show hours for various self-guided and scheduled activities for kids, families, and fans of all ages! Learn More Today.

The always exciting Art of Magic is headed to Chicago! The Art of Magic is where you can meet some of the talented artists who have created beloved card art during Magic’s lifespan. See the artists who will be joining us at MagicCon: Chicago.

The pin trading program is an exciting show feature that keeps growing! Pin trading is a show feature dedicated to bringing the Magic Community together. How do you start your pin trading journey?  There will be pins available at the Official Show Store for purchase and at our incredible partner booths on the show floor! Get a pin and start trading with other MagicCon attendees and participating staff or exhibitors to collect all of the MagicCon: Chicago pins! Don't forget – participating staff will have super limited staff traders available to trade onsite.  

MagicCon: Chicago has a exciting variety of exhibitors throughout the show floor! Check out our full exhibitor list  and learn about our Featured Exhibitors who will be open until midnight on Friday and Saturday on the show floor.

Phew! That's a lot of information! Keep an eye on @PlayMTG on Twitter or @MTGFestivals on Instagram for further show updates. We can't wait to see you in Chicago!