Blue Team Con 2021 Updates

Hello all! We wanted to send you all an update to let you know what is going on. To start off, we are still planning on only physically having Blue Team Con 2021 on 28-29 August 2021 at the Fairmont Chicago unless something very significant happens in the next 3 weeks.

Schedule

The Schedule has been posted! Please see it at https://blueteamcon.com/2021/schedule/.

 

Room Block

There are still Room Block nights available. We took out a nice size room block to ensure everyone can get a room.

Please book your room if you have not already. If you booked your room outside of the room block, you can call the Fairmont Chicago and have it moved into the block for the special rate.

 

Attendee Count

We understand that knowing the size of an event helps you currently understand your risk profile and what you are willing to tolerate. We are wanting to inform you that the amount of attendees for Blue Team Con 2021 will be around 500, possibly slightly above. Almost all attendees (99%) are coming from within the contiguous United States.

 

COVID-19 (+Variants) and Vaccine Requirements

As previously stated, we are following all guidance and restrictions directed by the CDC, State of Illinois, City of Chicago, and Fairmont Chicago. In accordance with City of Chicago recommendations, full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results will be required by ALL attendees (including minors) to attend Blue Team Con 2021.

For attendees who are not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 72 hours (3 days) of attending Blue Team Con.

Please bring your vaccine card (copy or picture allowed) or proof of negative COVID-19 test within the last 72 hours to the conference. You will need to present it at registration.

Honor System

We ask that you not attend if any of the following is true for you:

  • Within 14 days before attending the conference you have tested positive for, or been exposed to someone who has tested positive for, COVID-19;
  • Within 48 hours prior to attending the conference, you have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., a fever of 100.4F or higher, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking muscle pain/achiness, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue or any other symptoms associated with COVID-19 identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); or
  • Within 14 days prior to attending the conference, you have travelled to any international territory identified by federal or applicable state or local governments as being subject to travel or quarantine advisories due to COVID-19.

 

COVID-19 (+Variants) and Masks

We see the news just as you all do and understand some people still have concerns or want to know where we stand yet on conference rules for attendees. We are sending you this email to give you some insightful information to help you determine your own risk profile.

We are following all guidance and restrictions directed by the CDC, State of Illinois, City of Chicago, and Fairmont Chicago. As of right now, it is recommended by several of those that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask indoors. Due to this, we likely will require masks, so please plan on wearing a mask. We will be providing a Blue Team Con mask in all attendee bags.

To understand our current environment of where the conference is being held, here are some helpful links and data points as of the sending of this email.

 

Slack

Just a reminder to join our Slack! It will be a place to have good discussions up to, during, and after the conference. The CTF channel is also in there.

We have moved off LaunchPass, so if you had reservations there, we now just have our own URL shortening domain directly to a Slack invite link.

Join us via https://btcon.link/Slack.

 

Hak4Kidz Tickets

We are looking to determine if those that have booked a Hak4Kidz ticket are still planning on bringing their under 18 child, young adult, and/or dependant.

  • If you are planning on still being at Blue Team Con with the Hak4Kidz minion(s), there is nothing you need to do.
  • If you have made a change of plans and will not be needing the Hak4Kidz ticket, we ask that you please log in to Eventbrite and cancel the ticket so we can open it for someone else. This will also help ensure we are getting an accurate count of how many attendees the Hak4Kidz village will have, which is important information for the Hak4Kidz volunteers.
  • Please note that if your kid is under the age of 12, they will not be able to participate in the Cisco CDC or jrCTF. If your kid is under 7, it will be required for you to be present in the village with them. If your child is 7 or above, you are free to leave your child with the Hak4Kidz organization volunteers.
  • If you have an issue removing the ticket, please reply to this email and we can assist you.