Well, this is relief. The San Diego Union-Tribune has reported that Comic Con international will be staying in San Diego… at least until 2015. The deliberation stemmed from negotiations regarding the prices that surrounding hotels had been charging during the convention. You’ll remember that room costs at SDCC this summer were widely criticized as outrageous and exploitative of the show’s captive audience. There’s also the lingering issue of there not being enough room in the convention center to hold the con, anymore. As part of this resolution, the number of dedicated convention hotels rooms has been double to around 14,000 and Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego Marriott and Hilton San Diego Bayfront are giving up 300,000 square feet of meeting space to the convention, for free.
Other (very vocal) cities who were vying to host the convention in San Diego’s place were LA and Anaheim. Considering that Comic-Con brings $163 million and the highest hotel occupancy rate is the highest in the country to San Diego, you can understand why keeping this “whimsical” trade show was such a competition. The only lingering issues right now is the need for a more permanent expansion of the convention center - - a project that still needs to round up $750 million for completion.
Big numbers aside, I’m relieved by this, simply because I love San Diego as a location. It’s a beautiful place to visit, if only for just one week out of the year. As much as I like my new home town, I don’t think every single major event needs to take place in LA and Orange County, even if there is more space.
So there you go… the answer to one of comics’ biggest topics du juor. Are you Comic Vines delighted or disappointed by this?
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here.