A Santa Rosa Junior College alumnus held the inaugural premiere of SonomaCon in Santa Rosa, facilitating a space at the Veterans Memorial Center for gaming enthusiasts of all types to interact with local vendors and artists on Memorial Day weekend.
SRJC Alumnus Joe Sapp organized the event in partnership with Outer Planes Comics and Games to provide the opportunity for attendees to meet and connect with vendors and artists, as well as spotlight local businesses and creatives.
Their intention for this debut was to “swing for the fences,” Sean Quattran, co-owner of Outer Planes, said before continuing on to highlight the artists, vendors and even the competitions that took place over the weekend. He noted in particular the various activities event goers could participate in, which included franchises like “Pokémon,” “Magic: The Gathering,” “Flesh and Blood,” and “Warhammer 40k.”
“It’s really cool to see so many people come together who know each other,” Tom Baxa, an artist and card illustrator who attended a SonomaCon booth, said. “Did you even see the Warhammer players?”
The Warhammer tournament required its own room for the sheer volume of players who came to compete in the largest Warhammer event north of the East Bay, where 40 or more players across eight five-person teams participated.
A sizable number of players and hobbyists came to partake in the “Magic: The Gathering” and “Pokémon” tournaments and drafts as well. Players could be seen competing in the popular “Magic: The Gathering” format “Commander” for the coveted grand prize, “Tropical Island”. Others drafted, built and battled decks in a rerelease of the “Magic: The Gathering” set “Bloomburrow” as “Pokémon” fans enjoyed the prerelease of the latest set of cards for “Scarlet and Violet.”
Sapp and the owners of Outer Planes made it their goal to not only provide a welcoming space for local vendors and artists to interact with the community, but also to create an engaging space for experienced and new players alike to enjoy their favorite games.
Despite the untimely placement of SonomaCon, which overlapped the well known and established trading card event, World of Sports Memorabilia Show at Cow Palace in San Francisco, the turnout exceeded expectations, doubling projected attendance, according to Sapp. The success of the event has excited attendees and vendors alike, making a continuation certain for next year. Sapp acknowledged the overlap of events, and said he would endeavor to ensure a more well placed date in the future.
