Gencon at 50

Would Gary be Sad?
This week is Gencon, Gencon number 50. According to sources (including Wizards of the Coast's D&D website) the first Gencon was held fifty years ago (1967) in Gary Gygax's house in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It was attended by about a dozen gamers. White Box (1974) had not been published, even Chainmail (1971), the miniatures rules that preceded White Box, had not been published. Participants at that event played wargames with miniature figures and on maps using cardboard counters. History was a major theme in most of the games. The concept of getting together to share fun, meet new gamers and exchange ideas caught on. 1968 saw the convention expand to the Lake Geneva Horticulture Hall and the title Gencon I (1968) was used.
In the summer of 1978, I was living in Kenosha, Wisconsin near the University of Wisconsin-Parkside campus where Gencon XI was held that year. My girlfriend noticed an add/article in the local newspaper and we headed over for the day. Wow! Was I ever blown away. I had been playing wargames for a number of years and had been working at the task of learning White Box since the previous Christmas, but never had I imagined the multitude of products available, variety of game subjects and numbers of people who shared the hobby, my hobby and their's. Everyone was happy and enthusiastic to share the games they enjoyed with others. "All were welcomed and encouraged to join in the fun." And that is the unofficial motto of my hobby philosophy.
My experience in 40 years of gaming is that this hobby is friendly, welcoming and inclusive. It seems anyone running a game tries very hard to find a spot for everyone wishing to join in. Rarely have I seen anyone turned away from a game for any reason other than the table being absolutely full. Even then, it seems every effort is made to pull up another table and extend the game to include everyone interested in joining the fun. Sharing, teaching, accommodating and occasionally tolerating are the hallmarks of the gaming hobby.
For the first time in its fifty-year history Gencon is sold out. That obviously indicates Gencon is growing and that the 50-year celebration is something many people would like to be a part of. As I prepare to make my short hour commute over to the Indianapolis convention center to join in the celebration myself, I can't help but wonder about the idea of a "sell-out". Won't this mean turning some folks away? For the first time there will be no on-site badge sales. If you didn't pre-order your admission ticket to "the greatest four days in gaming", you may be denied.
Fifty years ago Gary Gygax opened his house and invited people to join him for a day (or two) of playing the games he loved and wanted to share with others. He must have been very proud (and happy!) when years later after publishing White Box and many other games, he saw how popular the hobby is and how many people share in the fun. I have to wonder how Gary would feel about turning people away.