Heist of the Century (Furrydelphia 2017)
Furrydelphia 2017, also known as Heist of the Century, was a convention run by Furrydelphia. Held in August of 2017, it was the first annual installation of Furrydelphia, as well as the first furry convention to be held in the greater Philadelphia area since the relocation of Anthrocon in 2006. The con hosted two guests of honor, those being Maryland-based artist Lady Rain and Space Cat Creations, a local fursuit maker.
Venue
The DoubleTree Valley Forge hotel, located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, was chosen as the inaugural location for Furrydelphia. Owned by popular hotel brand Hilton, the venue allowed the convention to be located within just a few miles of major attractions such as the King of Prussia mall. The hotel is located approximately 15 miles northwest of Philadelphia, and currently operates under the name "The Alloy King of Prussia."
Theming
Furrydelphia 2017 was officially referred to as "Heist of the Century," drawing inspiration from the concept of heist crime. Promotional materials, including the official website, were themed around this.
Official Description
"You have been selected for this job because you are the best at what you do. Whether you crack safes, pick pockets, plant bugs, or hack firewalls, your contribution to our team is vital to our success. Alone we are but petty criminals, scraping together just enough cash to get by. But together, we are a force unlike any other. I can’t guarantee it will be a smooth ride. I can’t guarantee we’ll succeed. But I guarantee you this: if we pull this off, it will be the greatest heist this town has ever seen."[1]
Promotional Materials
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"Heist of the Century" banner used on the official Furrydelphia website in 2017. -
"The Heist is On" poster, designed by Gideon Hoss.
Registration Tiers and Attendance
Furrydelphia 2017 offered four registration packages, ranging from $45 to $255 per attendee[2]. A total of 718 people attended the event, with 127 fursuiters taking part in the fursuit parade[3]. The following registration tiers were adapted from the Furrydelphia website as it was published in 2017 and reflect the registration options available at that time.
Thief (Basic Registration)
Price
$45
Official Description
"The Thief is a master of the art of the swift hand. There is no wallet, purse, or ridiculously expensive diamond the Thief cannot snatch. You are a crucial part of the operation; without you, the heist cannot happen."
Package Contents
Weekend long convention access, a convention booklet, and a limited edition 'Heist of the Century' poker chip.
Infiltrator (Sponsor Registration)
Price
$85
Official Description
"The Inflitrator is essential to the operation. This role is responsible for breaking behind the target's security and gathering intel. The Inflitrator is our unit on the inside; providing us with information we need to coordinate."
Package Contents
All previous package benefits, plus a deck of 'Heist of the Century' playing cards, a 'Heist of the Century' t-shirt, and special recognition in the convention booklet.
Hacker (Super Sponsor Registration)
Price
$140
Official Description
"You see those cameras and laser trip wires? No, we can't have that. For this mission to be successful we are going to need total and utter control of the target's security system. We need you for the job. The hacker is a crucial part in helping the Thiefs and Infiltrators penetrate the walls of the target and make the operation successful."
Package Contents
All previous package benefits, plus a ticket to the catered guests of honor dinner, early admission to all main events, and an engraved 'Heist of the Century' badge
Mastermind (Elite Registration)
Price
$255
Official Description
"The Mastermind is the brains of the entire operation. Without this role, the whole operation wouldn't even exist. You've thought of it all - the secure locations, the getaway plan, and now you are ready to implement your life's goal. Do you think you have what it takes to pull the ultimate heist of the century?"
Package Contents
All previous package benefits, plus a 'Heist of the Century' messenger bag, a limited edition Furrydelphia mascot figurine, and front-of-the-line admission to all events.
Charity
Bella Reed Pitbull Rescue, a local pit bull rescue serving Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, was chosen as the primary charity for Furrydelphia 2017. $4,260 were raised by attendees for the organization over the course of the convention.
Board of Directors
The following list was adapted from the Furrydelphia website as it was published in 2017 and reflects the Board of Directors at the time of this event. A current and up-to-date list of Furrydelphia staff can be found here.
- Drayne the Wolf - Convention Chairman
- Higgawits Vice Chairman and Secretary
- Fray the Husky - Public Safety Director
- Veulix Rythen Web Developer and Software Engineer