This business of going in and hoping and waiting (and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting) seems kind of annoying to me. Would it be possible to change the mechanics slightly? For example, you could buy your ticket, indicating that you want to play. You don't go directly into the game area, but instead you can continue to wander around the world and do as you please. When enough people have bought tickets, WHOOSH! You get whisked away to a fun game of crowns, and are dropped back where you were when it's all over.
(anyone else have any ideas?)