I suggested a few years back that if the con ever has a projector to spare they should just project the spreadsheet schedule on the wall behind the info booth. that way it's literally up to the minute.
One of the great things about the convention center is that it has actual TV SCREENS embedded in the walls next to each of the upstairs rooms. We will be able to program thes to display not just what is currently in the room but also what will be coming up. That way you don't have 50 people "poking their heads in" or asking when the next panel starts.
From what I can tell there will be two panel rooms upstairs and the Live room downstairs. Much less complicated than last year. However the Rounds room will likely be treated as panel space as well since there are going to be a lot of activities that are labelled panels because they're under Programming.
What themes are we looking at for panel rooms? I dunno, I haven't seen the cave-draft of the schedule (sure to be the ancestor of First Draft schedule) but here's the category break down so far.
Gatherings, discussions, and presentations.
Gatherings are more than a Final Fantasy Photoshoot, these events would be the Gothic Lolita Tea Party and the Ouran Host Club Event. The Gatherings would be over in the Round and would also include scheduled RPG sesions.
Discussions are the classic sort of panel. this is where you get tips on cosplaying, information about Pocky Club, and meet your favorite voice actors. These would be in the rooms upstairs.
Presentations are the biggest of the three, these are the ones that either need resources like a projector screen or just need lots of room. Most presentations really, really need need room because they're popular. Others may not pull in aton of people but they need a stage or room to set up gear. These are your AMV tutorials, art tutorials, the Bakazoku panel, etc. At some conventions these are also special events that can't be held in the main event area like debuts of new movies. Our Karaoke contest has grown big enough to have its own Live room but the rest of the presentations will be across from the Rounds in the Live room on the first floor.