The venue was sold out completely. This venue is San Diego, at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, only holds about 700 people. Sells out before the contest beings. The rest have to watch it from video screens held in the area where the vendors are, which usually gets quite full too.
This venue is way too small for the amount of competitors and audience members who want to watch this contest, but it is also one of the best ones in San Diego, located close to a ton of hotels and places to eat.