Comic-Con Wars: San Diego wins!

by: the Moleman & Chris Eaton     source: Official Press Release

It looks like the good people over at Comic-Con International have finally made a decision. What do we think about this decision? Will it break us apart?

George’s (Editor) thoughts:
After months of consideration by the organization and tantalizing offers from both Los Angeles & Anaheim, it looks like everyone’s favorite con is staying in the city that birthed it. Some would argue, “Right where it belongs“. Personally I’m just happy that a decision has finally been made. It was starting to tear the cast here apart much like the 90′s argument of “Ginger or MaryAnn”. I will always wonder what Comic-Con might have been like in Anaheim, and be thankful that I will never (at least in the foreseeable future) have to experience it in Los Angeles. Now if they could only do away woth Travel Planners and find a hotel reservation system that works. Dare to dream.

Chris’ (Asst. Editor) thoughts:
Yep.  Comic Con has reached a last minute accord with both the convention center, that is expanding, the hotels and the city to remain in San Diego till 2015.  So for at least the next five years, four of them under construction as the convention center expands, Comic Con will remain at it’s original home.  The San Diego Tribune broke the news today, and Comic Con international will be making the official announcement tomorrow morning.

I have mixed feelings about this.  If you’ve been following the site, I live in Orange County, were Comic Con was considering moving to.  While it would have been kinda neat to have Con less than 10 minutes from my home, I was worried about losing some of the Con rub with it not being in San Diego.  Then again, the except for this year, the last few Cons have been hell.  The need for space was so obvious Stevie Wonder could see it.  Anaheim would have made the perfect home, if anything for the few years the Convention Center is expanding, because believe me, busting ass around that area with construction going on is a fucking pain.

Well, at least this puts to an end to all the nail biting that’s been going on for the last 6 months or so. If anything, all this has spurn forth two really nice shows in the greater LA/OC area.  The Long Beach Comic Con and the Anaheim Comic Con.  Either way, there’s something to fill the void between July and June. I guess I’ll be seeing everyone in San Diego till 2015 (unless the Mayans are right)

Check out the official press release below:

Organization considered other California cities to accommodate growing demand

SAN DIEGO — Comic-Con International: San Diego (Comic-Con), the largest comics convention of its kind in the world, today announced it will be staying in San Diego for the foreseeable future.

Comic-Con reached a self-imposed attendance limit at the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) in 2007 and has had to cap attendance at approximately 125,000 people each year since. In looking at ways to better accommodate the growing demand from attendees and exhibitors, the nonprofit organization considered proposals for a move to larger facilities in Los Angeles or Anaheim after the expiration of its SDCC lease in 2012. This decision keeps Comic-Con in San Diego through 2015.

“We are grateful for the tireless efforts all three cities put into to their proposals,” said David Glanzer, Comic-Con’s director of marketing and public relations. “In the end, we feel this decision is the best for all those who attend Comic-Con and for the organization itself. We are happy that the community has worked with us to ensure that we remain here.”

Comic-Con was first held in 1970 at the U.S. Grant Hotel, where it attracted 300 people. As the event grew, subsequent homes included the downtown El Cortez Hotel in the 1970s and the San Diego Convention and Performing Arts Center in the 1980s. Comic-Con moved to the then newly built SDCC in 1991. Comic-Con celebrated its 41st year in 2010.

The San Diego Convention Center Corporation has scheduled a press conference for Friday, October 1 at 11:45 a.m. at Lobby E of the convention center.

About Comic-Con International:
Comic-Con International: San Diego (Comic-Con), the largest convention of its kind in the world, is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular artforms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture. In addition to its San Diego convention each summer, Comic-Con organizes the San Francisco–based WonderCon each spring and Alternative Press Expo each fall. On the web: Comic-Con.org, Facebook.com/comiccon, Twitter.com/comic_con.