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DreamHack San Diego is open for all ages (visitors under 18 require parent or legal guardian to sign a waiver, below 13 require supervision at all times on-site) but the event—including tournaments, exhibitors and partners showing games and other material—may contain content not suitable for all ages. Updates are posted as soon as possible to dreamhack.com/sandiego. The waiver can be found on the FAQ section. It can be printed out and prepared before attending the event for quicker entry. DreamHack reserves the right without further notice to change the rules.
Each participant must follow the instructions from DreamHack’s crew, fire and security guards, as well as local authorities such as police, fire brigade, etc. (even if these instructions go against DreamHack rules).
BY PARTICIPATING OR ATTENDING THE DREAMHACK EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO A REASONABLE SEARCH BY ESL GAMING AMERICA, INC. (SOMETIMES REFERRED TO HEREIN AS “DREAMHACK”), THE VENUE, OR ANY OF THEIR AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL FOR ALCOHOL, DRUGS, WEAPONS, EXPLOSIVES, OR OTHER PROHIBITED ITEMS BOTH PRIOR TO ENTERING THE VENUE AND AT ANY POINT DURING THE EVENT WHILE YOU ARE AT THE VENUE.
If you elect not to consent to such searches, you may be denied entry to the event without refund or other compensation. Certain items may not be brought into the event premises, including, without limitation, (i) weapons of any nature, whether concealed or open, including but not limited to nonworking replicas of weapons, fireworks, anything that fires projectiles, anything sharp or pointy enough to cut or pierce an individual with moderate pressure, and any explosive or flammable devices; and (ii) drugs of any kind, including, without limitation, alcohol (excluding alcohol bought from permitted vendors), cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (outside of designated areas), illegal narcotics, and prescription medication that has not been legally obtained or is being used in a manner inconsistent with its intended dosage and/or purpose.
DreamHack will be deploying a security screening zone prior to entering the event. The security screening will conduct a visual inspection, bag search, PC inspection, K9 sweep (dog), and you will be required to pass through a magnetometer (metal detector). DreamHack is a weapons-free event. You will not be allowed entry upon detection of a weapon, so please leave any and all weapons at home. The security screening areas will have security guards and armed police officers with the San Diego Police Department stationed there.
Additionally, throughout the event, you should expect to see armed police officers in both uniform and plainclothes, as well as uniformed security guards
DreamHack has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for any kind of harassment, including but not limited to: demeaning language; threats; hate crimes; intimidation; non-consensual photography or recording; stalking; inappropriate physical contact; unwelcome physical attention; statements or verbal exchanges that threaten or express contempt of ethnicity, religious belief, sexual orientation, citizenship, appearance, body size, age, disability, or identity.
The ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY applies to EVERYONE attending DreamHack including but not limited to: Attendees, Crew, Press, Staff, Exhibitors & Guests.
We encourage everyone to immediately report any sign of harassment—both to yourself or if you witness it happening to someone else. Report it to a member of DreamHack crew and/or to local police authorities. The DreamHack crew members have T-shirts clearly marked with CREW on the back.
If you break these rules, you may be asked to leave the event with no refund.
Drugs in any form (excluding alcohol bought from permitted vendors) are not allowed to be taken into the DreamHack premises. People who appear intoxicated and/or under the influence of drugs/other non-allowed substances will not be allowed on the premises at any time. People who appear intoxicated and/or under the influence of drugs will be asked to leave the event. Smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes is strictly forbidden indoors and is only allowed in designated areas outside.
Empty water bottles of all kinds (there will be water filling stations throughout the festival to refill water)
Single umbrella strollers – allowed and subject to search
Empty poster tubes
Computer and peripherals (including a single chair) per BYOC seat ticket including cases for gear – allowed and subject to search
Good vibes
No large strollers
No glass
No coolers
No outside alcohol
No outside food or drink
No illegal drugs
No weapons
No knives
No multitools with knives
No firearms
No fireworks
No laser pointers
No such thing as a bad hair day, you look perfect
No pets
No e-cigs
No cigarettes
No cigars
No tobacco pipe smoking
No open or concealed flames
No explosives
Each table and seat rental is valid for one (1) person and one (1) computer at the event. With each ticket you receive a table space and a chair (seat) and the right to be inside DreamHack during the entire event according to opening/closing times posted on the website.
Your table and seat have a unique barcode number that will help you identify your position when you arrive at the entrance to the show. In exchange for your barcode number, you will receive a wristband that grants you access to walk freely in and out of DreamHack. You are required to show the wristband to our staff and crew each time you enter DreamHack. Our staff and crew may ask you to present your wristband at any time. Each barcode can be used only once! Any attempts to cheat the system will be reported to police immediately. If you are caught, you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
If you have already paid for a ticket to rent a table and seat, your ticket cannot be refunded. Sickness or unforeseen events that prevent you from attending the show do not grant you a refund.
Should the event be canceled, it will be postponed to a later date. Table and seat rentals will not be refunded. The table and seat rental is valid for the new date of the postponed event.
Each registered user of the table and seat booking system is responsible to fill out all contact information correctly.
Any disruptions in the LAN do not grant you a refund or reduced table and seat rental. Any canceled lectures, contests, or other activities do not grant you a refund or reduced table and seat rental.
Participation in the DreamHack event is at your own risk. You understand that participation in the DreamHack event, by its very nature, carries with it some inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care and precautions taken by DreamHack to ensure a safe and fun environment for all attendees. Such risks can include but are not limited to risk of lost, stolen, or damaged property or personal injury. By participating in this event, you voluntarily assume such risks and dangers incidental to the event and expressly waive any claims arising from or related to such causes or otherwise occurring at or in connection with the event against DreamHack and the other Released Parties (as defined below), whether occurring prior to, during, or after the event.
Follow our rules, use caution, and eat and sleep normally. It is highly recommended to get a full good night’s sleep if you intend to be driving to and/or from DreamHack.
DreamHack is not liable for any economic loss in relation to DreamHack, directly or indirectly. For example, in case of a canceled event, electrical failure, or similar event, you will be fiscally responsible for any loss or damages to your belongings.
No person or persons shall hold DreamHack liable or its exhibitors, as well as each of their respective parents and affiliates (including without limitation, ESL Gaming GmbH and DreamHack AB), and their respective successors, assigns, partners, sponsors, licensors, licensees and sublicensees, contractors and subcontractors, or other parties in any way related to DreamHack, including by contract, as well as DreamHack and such parties’ respective officers, directors, employees, and agents (collectively with DreamHack, the “Released Parties”) liable for any claim arising from, occurring at or relating to the DreamHack event, including but not limited to damage, injury, loss to person or property, or use of likeness, character, or voice captured in event footage or photographs.
Neither DreamHack nor any other Released Parties are responsible for personal belongings or equipment. Do not leave valuables and belongings unattended!
You are not allowed to handle or in any other way place clothes or other flammable material on power stations or the like. You are not allowed to hang or in any other way place anything on the electricity or network cables hanging in-between the table rows.
You are not allowed to use homemade electrical equipment. Please use electricity cables and extensions of good quality. Poor quality electrical cables or extension cords can harm your computer equipment and can also create ground leaks that will cause the failover circuits to shut down and result in your equipment being without power until corrected.
You are not allowed to bring any form of: toaster, microwave oven, coffee boiler, refrigerator, searchlight, or any other high power consuming or heat producing appliances. Even standard spotlights and common light bulbs are a fire risk and may only be used with extreme caution, and may not be covered with flammable material such as paper, plastic, clothes, etc.
Fire in any form (candles, lighters, gas stoves, or the like) is not allowed to be used indoors.
You are not allowed to bring a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, or similar transportation gear within the venue property. This does not apply to DreamHack crew.
You are responsible for keeping your table and seat and the surrounding area free of litter. Since litter can be flammable, it increases the risk of fire. Throw your garbage into the recycling bins placed in the aisles. Please help us recycle by placing your litter in the correct bins: compost, combustible, cans, and (most importantly) electrical equipment such as broken keyboards, cables, circuit boards, etc.
You are not permitted to bring an armchair, couch, or the like. A simple office chair is allowed to replace the seat you rented.
You are not permitted to sleep underneath the tables or in the aisles.
You are not allowed to in any way store belongings in the aisle behind your seat. These aisles must be kept free in case of a fire or other emergency requiring evacuation! Your belongings should be able to fit underneath your table area. Do not bring anything that wouldn’t easily fit under an average home office desk.
Use of laser pointers are prohibited at DreamHack. Use of such devices may result in removal from the event without a refund.
Every participant should be aware that a disruption of the electrical and/or LAN grids can occur. The DreamHack crew will repair these problems with the highest priority.
Each participant must connect to their own appointed power outlets supplied by DreamHack at their designated seat and table rental location. You are not allowed to consume power from your neighbor or any other power outlet. This is important in order to make sure that the load on the power circuits is balanced, and thus, decreases any chance of grounding issues.
Each participant will share a single power circuit with 5 other participants. In our experience, this has been enough power for 99% of users. In the unlikely event of a breaker trip, more power will be run to your location by the event staff. All devices are plugged into breakered surge protectors to protect our users’ devices.
You are not allowed to bring any form of PA equipment or large speakers. In order to reduce sound level and power consumption, we kindly ask you to use headphones. If you can’t use headphones, two small computer speakers are acceptable at low volume, but any form of 3D system and subwoofers will not be permitted.
You are not permitted to connect your own WLAN access point or WLAN router to the DreamHack network.
If your computer is causing problems in the network such as viruses, attacks, etc., your computer will be disconnected until the problem is resolved. If you refuse to disconnect your computer from the network, you will be asked to leave the event without a refund..
Each participant must take proper precautions to protect themselves from the network against the spread of viruses, spyware, etc. Everyone is advised to have an updated antivirus program and firewall installed.
Each person may only use one chair at every table and seat rental location. You cannot have more than one chair at your table. You are not allowed to pile two or more chairs on top of each other to create a higher chair, please bring a pillow instead!
You are in no way permitted to build your own table or extend pre-existing ones.
You may not alter or touch the DreamHack cables or equipment. You may only use the designated LAN cables and outlet for your table and seat rental location.
DreamHack has no minimum age requirement, though participants under the age of 18 should have their parent’s permission to attend DreamHack. Parents and/or guardians must be aware of the DreamHack rules. Visitors under the age of 13 must have parental supervision at all times.
Violating local laws, regulations, or ordinances may lead to you being reported to the local authorities. You may be asked to leave the event until local authorities arrive to resolve the situation.
You are not permitted to sell anything without the permission of DreamHack This does not include occasional sales of second hand or personal belongings.
Putting up posters or any other spreading of commercial material, propaganda, or the like is strictly forbidden on the premises without special clearance from DreamHack Stickers and flyers should never be placed at an exhibitor’s booth or in an activity area without permission from the exhibitor or DreamHack.
By participating in or attending the DreamHack event, you grant permission to each of DreamHack, its affiliates, exhibitors, and licensees and their respective parents and affiliates, successors, assigns, partners, sponsors, licensors, and licensees, an unlimited, irrevocable, transferable, sub-licensable (through multiple tiers), worldwide royalty-free, license and right to photograph, record, distribute, and utilize your likeness, character, voice, and, if made available by you, your biographical information, in any live or recorded audio, video, or photographic display or other transmission, exhibition, publication, or reproduction made of, or at, the DreamHack event (regardless of whether before, during, or after play or performance), including reasonable derivatives thereof as such party may make from time to time, in any medium or context without compensation or further authorization.
DreamHack and its authorized parties retain the legal right to place network cameras for publishing on the Internet and also publish photos taken inside and outside DreamHack on the internet without asking further permission from participants that may be visible in the pictures.
DreamHack and its authorized parties retain the legal right to edit, publish, modify, sell and distribute photographs, video, and audio recordings taken inside and outside DreamHack on various content delivery channels such as but not limited to YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud and Twitch.tv, or as a physical copy such as but not limited to DVD, HDCAM SR, and Blu-Ray without asking further permission from any persons that may be visible in the picture.
Subject to DreamHack and individual exhibitors’ terms, conditions, or policies for such exhibitor’s content at the event, you may not record, stream, or transmit, or aid in recording, streaming, or transmitting, content or gameplay from any of screens at the event. You are solely responsible for clearing any and all rights and permissions for any use(s) you might make of the photographs, recordings, transcripts, or other similar material you take while attending the event. Your attendance at or participation in the event does not permit you to make use of DreamHack’s or any individual exhibitor’s, sponsor’s, attendee’s, or participant’s intellectual property rights or rights to their likeness.
IRL (In Real Life) Streaming is allowed and encouraged at DreamHack. However, it’s important to be respectful of our visitors! If, when you are IRL Streaming or filming, and a visitor asks you not to film or otherwise feature them in your IRL stream, you must cease filming them immediately. If you are IRL Streaming and not following this policy, you will be asked to leave the event.
