What is a LAN party? What does “BYOC” mean?

We set up rows of tables and then run tons of power and network switches across them. Attendees bring their own computers (“BYOC”) and attach them to our local area network (“LAN”) so they can play games with the other attendees.

 

I need help troubleshooting a specific game, what should I do?

During the event we'll try to highlight any common issues we're noticing in real time. If you're testing any games in advance of the event we highly recommend that you search for your game on PCGamingWiki, they have a ton of info on how to get older games running & usually link to necessary patches / fixes.

 

I'm travelling from outside of Canada, How do I get a letter of invitation to enter the county?

If you require a letter of invitation, you can download our template here and complete it with your information.

 

When can I enter the LAN?

The start time for the LAN will be displayed on full event ticket printout & available on our event schedule. It could change per-event so be sure to check the schedule before traveling.

 

When will the full LAN schedule be available?

The complete schedule will be made available one week in advance of the LAN on our schedule tab here. We may release some details in advance via our socials.

 

Where do I park?

Check out the Parking & Drop-off page to learn where to park when attending the LAN.

 

Do kids get in for free? Do I need a guardian to attend?

Children aged 6 and under can get in without a ticket, must be accompanied by a paying guardian at all times, but they will not receive their own seat without a ticket.

Children aged 7-13 must have a ticket and need to be accompanied by a paying guardian.

Attendees aged 14-17 must be accompanied between the hours of 10pm - 7am.

 

My partner / friend / parent / etc. doesn’t have a LAN ticket. Can they come into the LAN?

No, you will need a ticket to enter the LAN. The only exception is for parents / guardians of ticket holders who can ask for a temporary guest pass and kids under the age of 6 who must be accompanied by a paying guardian at all times.

 

Can I take pictures / videos while at the LAN?

You are permitted to take pictures, video and live stream the event. However if you are blocking official WHALE LAN activations, productions, broadcasts or photography you will be asked to move or stop your video / stream.

 

Will there be food at the LAN?

At this time we are not providing food or beverages to attendees. It is recommended that attendees bring their own meals, snacks and beverages.

Alcoholic beverages are NOT allowed on the premises or within the event, if attendees appear to be intoxicated they may required to leave and their pass revoked for the remainder of the event.

 

Can I get a refund for merchandise purchased at the LAN?

If there is a complication with merchandise purchased at the event we will do our best to provide you with assistance on the issue. This will depend greatly on the item purchased and what condition it is in.

 

Will there be free Wi-Fi?

Yes, but bandwidth is limited and is only meant to support mobile devices for general use. Each seat will come with an ethernet port for computers or other gaming devices and our network is equipped with a LANcache server to enable fast downloading of games to devices.

If we see devices on the Wi-Fi that are using large amounts of bandwidth and data they may be blocked from using the Wi-Fi.

 

How do I sign up to be a volunteer?

Check out the volunteer page for more information on signing up to be a volunteer!

 

How accessible is the facility?

Smash Champs has wheelchair accessible entrances / exits and the space will be held in an entirely flat area with gym flooring.

The event floor is carpeted but should generally be clear of obstructions. The carpets could present a bit of an issue for some mobility devices, but should generally be ok.

 

Can I wear a costume / cosplay?

While we do allow costumes/cosplay at WHALE LAN we have restrictions on real, fake or simulated weapons as well as full mask/face coverings. If you have any specific questions regarding our policy we have more info on our safety/policy page or you can email us via support@whalelan.com

 

What can I bring or not bring to the LAN?

See a detailed list on our What Do I Bring? page.

 

Can I bring a rolling cart to help me move my stuff?

Yes, just make sure you leave it in your car when you’re done. We don’t want it taking up space in the LAN.

 

How does the seating work?

Seating is first-come, first-serve. There are no assigned seats. When claiming your seat please do not leave a single-seat gap between you and the person next to you.

 

If I show up before my friends, can I save them a seat next to me?

Yes, the standard way to do this is to take the provided center chair and flip it upside-down on the table to mark the seat as taken. You can also put a jacket or bag or something on the seat to mark it as taken. If you really can’t leave anything in the spot, come up to the admin desk and we’ll give you a piece of paper with the word “taken” on it.

If we see anyone abusing this system to try and save more than a few seats we will re-evaluate our process for seat saving.

 

Is my stuff going to be safe if I leave it unattended?

We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. We do our best to keep track of large items on check-in and check-out. However, you should always make sure you don’t leave small items lying around, such as your wallet and cell phone.

 

Can I bring more than one external display?

No, only one external display per person.

There's been a ton of confusion around this so let me elaborate. Each person can bring one external display, in addition to whatever display is built into their primary device. For example, one desktop and a monitor, or a laptop and a monitor, or a Steam Deck and a monitor. What you can't do, for example, is bring a laptop and two additional external monitors. Got it? Good.

 

Can we sleep in the LAN?

No, sleeping is prohibited. You can take a power-nap on your keyboard, but if you are found lying down under your desk, across multiple chairs or anything of that nature, you will be woken up and warned. Multiple infractions will cause you to be kicked out of the LAN.

 

Can we smoke/vape inside the LAN?

Nope, please go outside for these activities. If you’re caught vaping or smoking within the facility, you may be asked to leave on your first offense.

 

How do I join the discord server early?

If you're interested in joining our discord server before the LAN starts purchase a ticket you can join the server HERE. During the ticket purchase process you will be asked to input your discord username, which we'll use to verify your account and provide you with the necessary permissions during the LAN.

A QR code will be provided on-site for attendees who have yet to join the discord server. Any updates to activations and scheduling changes will happen via the discord and via our venue-wide PA system.

 

How do I sign up for a activations?

Sign ups will happen on-site. Announcements and instructions will be sent out on the Whale LAN discord.

 

Can I participate in every scheduled activity?

Yes! And no… Everyone is welcome to participate in every activation. There is no skill floor or entry fee. However, some of our activities may overlap so be sure to check out the schedule in advance of the LAN.

 

Are there prizes?

Yes! There are tons of prizes for a majority of our activations.

 

Is there really nothing going on in the LAN from 2am - 9am? 

While there are no official activities during this time (the admin team needs to sleep!), there will be people gaming all night on their own and we may be able to allow free-use of some of the projectors during this time.

 

When do we have to be out of the LAN?

Load-out will be listed on the schedule. Once we announce the end of the LAN everyone needs to be out of the facility within the hour as we need to start tearing down and cleaning up.

 

TICKET SPECIFIC FAQ

Are items in my cart held until checkout?

Unfortunately due to a limitation with  items in your cart are not held while you navigate the website, we highly recommend creating an account in advance of ticket sales going live to help expedite your checkout process.

We also recommend that you have your payment information readily available to you during the checkout process.

Please keep in mind that we do require a name, shirt size and email address to be provided for each ticket in your cart before you can start the checkout process.

 

What payment method do you accept?

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Amex
• Discover
• Diners Club
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Shop Pay

 

Can I use lttstore.com gift cards to purchase tickets & rentals?

No, unfortunately it is not possible for us to accept gift cards from lttstore.com

 

What if I can no longer attend the LAN?

In most cases tickets and any add-ons are non-refundable and non-transferable. Please reach out to our support staff with any inquiries via info@ltxexpo.com

 

How do I register once I've bought my ticket?

Tickets will be automatically emailed to your inbox once you’ve completed your purchase. These tickets will include a QR code that is used for check-in at the door. A registration schedule will be available closer to the event, but once you've picked up your event badge you’re free to enter / leave the facility as needed.

 

Do you get to keep the computer that is listed with the WHALE VIP tickets?

Yes! The computer included with the Whale VIP ticket will be set up at the LAN so you can just sit-down and game! Ideally you should prepare to bring the computer home with you from the expo, but in the event that this is not possible, we can assist you in finding a local courier company to ship it home to you.

 

Tax Breakdown for Tickets