StrangeLoop registration, tickets “locked”

I went to register for StrangeLoop, looking forward to the 4th year in a row. Website opened at 1200CDT. I visited at 1206, entered my alumni code, and got this message: "A locked ticket means that all available tickets are in the process of being purchased. If any of these tickets are not successfully purchased after 15 minutes, they will be released back on sale." I'm not hopeful. Maybe StrangeLoop is just too "special," like rock concerts, MLB, NFL. On the bright side, I save $600 on registration, $500 on airfare, $400 on hotel. Wondering what other conferences I should go to in the future. StrangeLoop probably now going into the history books for me.