E3 is one of the biggest events in gaming every year, with huge news dropping about new games and consoles. But for years, this amazing event held by the Entertainment Software Association hasn’t open to the general public. It’s been a huge bummer for fans to not have actual access to such an expansive gaming expo. (Watching a livestream at home just doesn’t have the same magic as actually being in the crowd at an event like E3, does it?) Well, this longstanding despair is over. According to a report from Gamespot, our cries have been heard, and E3 2017 will officially be open to the general public.

The ESA raised eyebrows last year when it held an E3 Live event just outside the convention center that was open to the people. Fans were excited to get a chance to take part in even a small segment of the expo, with opportunities to play new games and attend E3 Live events, but they were also clear with their feedback: we want to be in the convention center and a part of the main event. Clearly, their voices have been heard.

ESA’s senior VP of communication, Rich Taylor, told Gamespot that the industry is an ever-changing one, and the organization needs to evolve along with it. It was clear that not only did fans want to get to be a part of the event, but vendors wanted direct access to fans, too. After some naysayers had been questioning the relevancy of the event, it was clear to the ESA it was time to make some changes to the expo to best serve the fans and the exhibitors. As of now, E3 2017 will allow 15,000 lucky fans to have direct access to the event. Get excited!

So how do you get tickets? On February 13, tickets will go on sale on the E3 website for $150 apiece as a part of an early-bird discount ($250 normally). Tickets will grant you access to the show floor, panel discussions, and other events that will be held during the expo. This year’s E3 will take place June 13-15 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. So mark all these dates on your calendar! They haven’t officially confirmed that E3 2018 and future E3 expos will be open to the public, so get in while you can!

Are you excited that E3 is opening its doors to the public, or did you like it better as a industry-exclusive event? Will you try to go to E3 2017? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

Feature Image: E3