Friday, August 15th, was the first full day of Worlds 2025, and my mission was simple: see everything. I wanted to take photos of as many booths, events, and displays as I could, both for the memories and to build out the full event recap later. I also brought along a stack of custom promo cards I made for the site to hand them out to people… at least in theory.
As you can see from the above maps, the main Convention Center was split up into four halls + the Battle Arena and the ACC North building.
- HALL A = merchandising, merchandising, merchandising! But also chill out spots and side events tables.
- HALL B = main event tournament tables, main stage
- HALL C = all the really cool side event stuff
- HALL D = Pokémon Center store (invite needed)
- BATTLE ARENA = where the final rounds took place
- ACC NORTH = where you went to register for the event
Thankfully today I had guides to help my way through the Day 1 chaos. I linked up with PA! Discord members Jeremy (elementsnstuff) and Rowan (merekposting), who was joined with their friend Tobin (rapidlyapproachingbird). It was great to finally meet them in person after so many online convos. After catching up and theorizing about PokéLatin over a quick Pokémon GO party run, we dove into the event together.
Again, the first thing that caught my eye was the massive MASSIVE size of event. I mean, maybe it’s been this way for some time, but for old timers like me, I never thought Pokémon could ever get THIS huge. To give you an idea of just how huge the main hall itself was, here’s a shot of Hall C—home to just the miscellaneous side events (right)—compared to the entire floor from both the WCSTS 2001 in San Diego (left) and Worlds 2002 in Seattle (center).
So it was honestly very helpful that Jeremy, Rowan and Tobin helped guide me through everything. So to return the favor, let’s have you join us to see what Worlds 2025 was all about! Here’s a breakdown of what I saw, experienced, or just observed from the sidelines, starting from where we entered in Hall C. It may also cover moments from other days so please excuse any changes in clothing!
IN GENERAL
Outside the Hall Doors
Before entering the main Convention hall, you were stopped by bag checks. If you want the authentic experience, have a friend go through your backpack, purse, etc, then say you’re good to go, Lol. Couldn’t snap a picture of the bag check, but here’s me chilling off to the side.
Misc Event Photos
Not to get too ahead of myself, but to get a general vibe of the event, here are some pictures that don’t really fit anywhere but are still neat to show. As a sidenote: on everyone’s badge is a QR code that you scanned any time you entered an activity (see picture above), or even entered the hall to begin with. I imagine part of it was for foot traffic tracking purposes.
HALL D
Pokémon Center (missed)
Unfortunately I couldn’t get a ticket into the Pokémon Center (not for lack of trying! dang reservation website…), but if you want the authentic Pokémon Center experience, check out this post from PokéBeach:
HALL C
Programming Stage (attended)
A surprisingly chill spot. The stage hosted interviews and panel discussions with game developers, artists, and other personalities. It was a welcome break from the sensory overload elsewhere and gave the event a casual, convention-like vibe… at least outside of the Quiet Room in Hall A.
Autograph Room (observed only)
Some of the biggest names in Pokémon were here signing a special Worlds 2025 Autograph Book, which looked a bit like a Japanese passport. I missed the registration deadline to get in—apparently you had to join a waitlist well in advance—but I did snap some photos from outside. Also on display were examples of card artwork from the signing illustrators, which added a bit of gallery flair. And yes, I did get my hands on the Autograph Book… thanks to “I-BAE.” … eBay, I bought mine on eBay.
Creator Zone (observed only)
This was a more creator-focused autograph space, featuring folks like Joe Merrick (Serebii), JaidenAnimations, and other YouTubers and fan personalities. I also didn’t have a reservation for this one either (at least that was my understanding), but it was cool to see Nintendo maintaining great relationships with fans.
Pin Trading (observed)
The Pin Rally started here—an event that would become a big part of my Day 3 experience (so keep an eye out for it!). While I didn’t trade any pins on Day 1, it just so happened that I bought a stash of old 2004 Pokémon League pins for whatever might happen. Watching people collect and swap them brought back some League nostalgia.
World Championships History Museum (attended)
This was a huge collection of displays which showcased memorabilia from every Pokémon World Championship since 2004, including promo items, plushies, and merch. It also included a timeline of the mainline Pokémon games and the consoles they appeared in, plus a simple selfie station with Fenniken. Easily one of my favorite corners of the con as I always appreciate it when the past isn’t forgotten or ignored. I spent a while here taking in the history and snapping a ton of photos.
Fan Workshop Zone (observed only)
A crafting station mainly for kids, featuring bookmark making, paper crafts, and Pokémon origami. I didn’t step in, but I loved seeing how many families made time to just relax and be creative together.
Pikachu & Friends (observed only)
Costumed mascots of Pikachu, Snorlax and Eevee danced, posed, and drew long lines for photos. It was cute! But, not my thing. I stayed back and admired other fans enjoying the huggable mascots.
Trading Card Game Gallery (attended)
This art gallery showcased card illustrations from across many sets (focusing on the recent White Flare/ Black Bolt and Mega Evolution sets) with beautifully printed and displayed like fine art. It was nice to see the art in full like it was, including giant Mega Evolution cards that provided insight into the card design process.
Draw-A-Card Station (attended)
This was really the first station I wanted to visit as soon as Jeremy, Rowen and Tobin told me about it. Unlike previous “Create-A-Card” sections I went to at previous Wizards-based events, this station handed out blank Pokémon card templates with empty art boxes. Attendees could choose from five different Pokémon (Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, Lechonk, and Pikachu), draw their own illustrations with colored pencils, and then tape them to a massive display wall. I brought my own art supplies, drew a Lechonk, and had a blast seeing what others made. All of us drew up some really great pieces of art, if I may say so! Take a look:
Then when you were done, you could tape up your masterpiece onto the back wall. The wall itself would fill up quickly, meaning that everything got taken down each day for the next batch of artists. Did the event keep them? Throw them away? Who knows. In any case, there were a ton of other great entries that I spotted on subsequent days… and I hope this saves them from being completely erased from history:
Collect & Trade Corner (observed only)
I’d by lying if I called this a quiet little section… it was a BUSY place where people were trading cards, TCG accessories, and anything else you can think of. Since I didn’t bring anything to trade, I just peeked in briefly.
Toyota Miraidon Project (attended)
If you don’t already know what this is, Toyota made a motorcycle in the shape of Miraidon…. and it appeared at Worlds 2025! Located between the Programming Stage and the Museum, it actually transformed at different times of the event between a Motorcycle Mode and Walking Mode. Super cool!
Battle Selfie with Nidorino & Gengar (attended)
Also located between the Programming Stage and the Museum, this was a clever nod to the intro battle from Pokémon Red/Blue, with life-size models of both Pokémon set up for photo ops. Normally you’re supposed to pose with someone else, but my opponent never showed up… typical!
Pokémon Concierge Psyduck (attended)
A promo tie-in with the Netflix show Pokémon Concierge, located between the Fan Workshop Zone and the TCG Gallery. The centerpiece was a stuffed Psyduck lounging on a miniature set with deck chairs and palm trees. Finally, I found someone on my wavelength!
Draw Smeargle Chalk Wall (attended)
Placed just to the side of the entrence to Hall C near the TCG Gallery, this was another hands-on station where anyone could sketch whatever Pokémon they wanted on a huge chalkboard wall. The wall filled up quickly and was wiped each night. I ended up chatting with one of the staff members there on Day 3; she mentioned that parents kept abandoning their kids at the wall and the kids would erase everyone else’s drawings, so they had to keep guard and try to repair whatever got erased. So, a special shoutout to all the Worlds staffers: you were the unsung heroes of Worlds!
Hall B
Main Stage (briefly observed)
The main stage was the center focus for the event! Backdrop for color commentators, place for major announcements, and it even had a 1965 Cadillac DeVille dressed up as a Pikachu, a perfect intersection between Californian car culture and the the classic Pikachu VW Beetle! And if you couldn’t get to the main stage, there were plenty of screens broadcasting live video feeds of what’s going on.
Tournament Tables (observed)
An endless sea of folding tables, players, and focus. While I wasn’t playing this year, I did run into a few old friends still working as judges! It was cool seeing them still in the mix.
For the record, the events covered: Pokémon GO, Pokémon Unite, Pokémon video game (Junior, Senior & Masters) and Pokémon TCG (Junior, Senior & Masters)
Hall A
Partner & Vendor Booths (attended)
A bustling area filled with sponsors, vendors, and exhibitors. Some were selling exclusive merch, while others just had fun things to see or try out. Some highlights:
Bandai Model Kits (visited, no purchases)
Cool kits, but they sold out fast. I waited too long and missed my chance. But if you want to see what they’ve got, I snapped a few pictures of their collection.
Pokémon TCG Pocket (attended)
This booth featured larger-than-life TCG cards and game symbols you could pose with. Here I’m holding up a Ho-Oh ex card and Darkness energy symbol with woopuwooper, because I’m hot, I’m fly, and yet I’m also dark and mysterious.
They also had a giant map of the world where you could place a sticker representing your hometown. Naturally A LOT of people came from the Los Angeles region.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Demo (observed only)
One of the most hyped areas; if you ever wanted to some of the first to play the upcoming Pokémon Legends Z-A demo, this is where you went. A towering Prism Tower model stood at the entrance. The demo line was massive and capped early, so I skipped it for now.
Pokémon Sleep (observed)
Another cute area—this one centered on a giant Snorlax sleeping in the middle of the convention hall. They handed out hotel-style door hangers, which I pocketed for fun.
Other booths included:
Pokémon GO demo, Build-A-Bear Workshop x Pokémon, and the individual reseller section towards the back wall.
Battle Selfie: Red vs Blue (attended)
Here was another location to take a selfie with large Pokémon props, this time between Blastoise and Charizard. Since this was a baseball field and I was wearing a baseball cap, I had to strike a pose.
Side Event Area (attended)
If you weren’t into shopping or drawing Pokémon card atwork, then this was the place for you. From casual play to structured events, this area offered drop-in tournaments across all formats—TCG, VGC, Unite, Pokémon GO, and more—and then earn prize tickets which you could redeem later. BTW, is it me, or do the prize tickets look a bit like Taco Bell sauce packets?
Since I was on research mode for Worlds, I really didn’t bring any TCG decks, VG teams, or anything else. But I did bring my gumption and my love of the TCG, so I entered the “Ditto Draft” event. (More about my personal event experience will be covered on in Day 2.)
Prize Wall (attended)
After earning tickets from side events, you could trade them in here for merch and packs. I walked away with six packs of cards from two events—not bad for $20 total. Take a look at my pictures to see what kinds of prizes they had on offer, even on Day 3!
Award Display (attended)
Just off to the side of the Prize Wall was a small, glass-enclosed exhibit of the trophies, medals, and prize cards awaiting the champions. What I would give to get one of these!
Quiet Room (didn’t visit)
A designated rest zone for attendees who needed a breather from the crowd, walled off from the rest of the floor… for good reason! I didn’t step in, but the signage made it clear it was a welcome space.
Gaming Lounge (attended)
This was a whole long set of tables full of Nintendo game consoles from years gone by, complete with CRT TV sets! Here’s a picture of me playing Pokémon Puzzle League on the N64. You can also see the overall Gaming Lounge behind the Mega Gardevoir.
Battle Arena (missed)
This space was only accessible from Hall A and housed the main event stage, closing ceremonies, and final reveals. I didn’t visit on Day 1, but I’ll be covering my experience there in the Day 3 write-up.
That said, the tables on the way to the Battle Arena hosted the fan-based “Pokémon Rescue Project” that helped players transfer their favorite Pokémon up from their Gen 1 (RBGY) carts all the way up to modern Switch games and Pokémon Home. Here’s a quick video about their service, and hopefully they appear again at Worlds 2026!
Wrap Up Of Day 1
Jeremy, Rowan, Tobin and I hung out for a bit while we poked around the Halls, only to eventually part ways for lunch. I genuinely appreciated their time guiding me around; it gave me the nudge I needed to start taking it all in.
But once I was on my own again, I started getting in my own head. I mean, here I was trying to get my foot back in the door of the Pokémon fandom… but this was a massive, totally new crowd. I was used to events the size of the Pokémon TCG-only events from back in 2001, not this sea of people with interests and expectations that felt so far removed from what I knew. Pokémon had changed in that time. The people had changed. And it left me wondering: had I fallen too far behind? Would anything I do even matter anymore? Could I change??
I didn’t feel like I belonged… at least, not yet. So instead of diving deeper into each event and having fun, I stepped aside. Sat with my thoughts. Let the moment hit me. And in that moment, something clicked:
This was the deep end I had asked for. It was intimidating, but it was also invigorating. For the first time in years, I wasn’t watching from the sidelines… I was finally here, at Worlds once again in a decade. If there was ever a time to truly understand my next steps, it would be now. And even if I didn’t quite know how to swim in it yet… I was starting to remember why I wanted to.
So I whipped out my laptop, loaded up a fresh install of WordPress, and started designing a brand new website from scratch. Because if I was going to get anywhere, now would be the time to start. Besides, I still had two days left to check everything else out!
(That’s it for Day 1! This was a lot to cover, so I hope you enjoyed reading everything. Please keep an eye out for the next updates when I’ll cover some of the Side Events in a bit more detail, plus a meetup I went to. Huzzah!)
