There are a bunch of stories running on various websites, including Variety that are talking about Comic-Con possibly moving away from San Diego if the city doesn’t suck it up and make with bigger space. All the speculation about Los Angels, Las Vegas, and Anaheim is nice and all, but it sounds like something I yammered on about a couple of years ago. Back then, everyone called me crazy, and denounced my thoughts, but now…hurm.
So far Los Angeles, Anaheim and Las Vegas are the main contenders for the show, and have offered up their own convention centers and facilities and touting the number of hotel rooms available around those venues to house ticket buyers — which is key to hosting the show.
“They know what the concerns are and each proposal really tries to address those,” [David] Glanzer said. “We have to look at them all and see which makes the most sense.”
Which city will wind up the home of future Comic-Cons will be determined when the event’s board meets over the next several weeks.
At this point, San Diego has announced it will expand the convention center, even though most of the city’s populace poo-poos the convention that brings $60 million to the city each year. Will San Diego remain the home of the con, or will one of my predictions come true?
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Eh, this rumor arises just about every year. Every year comic has to print something to the effect of “We are not even considering leaving San Diego until our contract with them expires in 2014” in their magazine. The future’s anyones guess, but for now, the home of the Big Con remains in San Diego. And the thought of the convention moving to LA makes me a little sick.
Mark Evanier talks about this every so often, since it’s apparently a recurring debate. He’s with everyone else about keeping it in San Diego; he usually cites Vegas’ horrible summer weather, LA’s… well… LA-ness, and Anaheim having a larger tourist draw that already uses most of the city’s visitor resources. I’m with him on all counts – San Diego sounds like it’s a pretty cool city compared to those. They should realize by now that SDCC is a HUGE draw for them and give them adequate facilities – even non-fans know about “that big convention in San Diego”. If they don’t, it’s gonna be their loss.
There is plenty of room here in Orlando for the Comic-Con. HUGE Orange County Convention Center and lots of hotel space!