Was talking with some friends who are considering making the trip to the WPT in April. The subject of alternate seating came up.

Dumb question:

For a WPT championship event, is it likely/possible that a timely registration i.e. morning of the event prior to the cards are in the air, could possibly result in you being given alternate status and sit around waiting for someone to bust? Or is this only likely in side events?

Is this question regarding Hard Rock Seminole Hollywood for the televised WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown?

Sure. Depends on the event and how popular it is. If they sell out, they sell out. The old Shooting Star would sell out well before it started.

Yes

Just so folks know, if you are allowed to register as an alternate, you are allowed to play if you choose to. If you're an alternate who at any point up until getting a seat card chooses to unregister / get a refund, you're allowed to. If you are an alternate who wants to play and there isn't a seat available until after the close of registration, you're able to play if you want to.

The staff at these events do a good job of knowing when to close registration given the number of alternates. No registrant will be in a situation where s/he waits around as an alternate for six hours to find out s/he isn't allowed to play.

e.g. You register at 3pm and are alternate 681. Registration is scheduled to close at 9:20. You will still get seated with a full stack even if it's 9:31.