A convention hall this size given over to card games is a once-a-year sight in Los Angeles, and the door costs nothing — you can spend an afternoon walking vendor aisles, watching top-table Magic matches on stream, and getting cards signed by the artists who painted them without ever entering an event. Friday runs until 9 p.m. and Saturday opens at 8 a.m., so there is a version of this that fits around whatever else is on your weekend. For anyone who has ever had a shoebox of cards in a closet,
What to expect
A single large exhibit hall split between tournament rows, vendor booths and artist tables. Expect long banks of playing tables with judges circulating, a prize wall where tournament winnings are redeemed, and queues at the bigger vendors on Saturday, the busiest of the three days. Cosplay and casual pickup games are part of the floor culture.
Good to know
- Entry to the convention floor is free; tournaments and side events are paid separately through Star City Games.
- The hall is South Hall HJ at 1201 S Figueroa Street; Convention Center parking is paid, and the Metro A and E lines stop at Pico.
- Saturday is the longest day, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday closes earliest at 6 p.m.
- Bring cards you want appraised or signed — vendors buy at the booths and guest artists sign at their tables.
- Check the event page for the tournament schedule before you go if you want to play rather than browse.
Going? Keep it.
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Common questions
Does it cost anything to get in?
No. Star City Games states that SCG CON is free to attend; only tournaments and side events are ticketed.
Which games are being played?
Magic: The Gathering, Flesh and Blood, Riftbound, Wonders of the First and several other trading card games.