It’s Comic-Con week in San Diego. How big is the biggest convention of the year in San Diego as it celebrates its 50th anniversary?
Attendance inside the San Diego Convention Center is capped at 135-thousand but there are another 100,000 or more people who spend time downtown checking out the exhibits outside and checking out the costumed Comic-conners.
Those who started Comic -Con as a very small one day gathering on March 21st 1970, at the U.S. Grant hotel never could have imagined.
Begun by a group of San Diegans that included the owner of an Ocean Beach comic book store, the first one was called “San Diego’s Golden State Comic Con”.It moved to the old El Cortez Hotel for seven years during the 70s, then a few years at Golden Hall at the Community Concourse before moving to what has become Comic-Con’s permanent home at the San Diego Convention Center.
But for how much longer? Having just signed a new three year extension a couple of weeks ago, we know it will be here through 2024. But without an expanded convention center, Comic Con may not be here after that.
The San Diego Tourism Authority says it has an annual economic impact of more than $162 million dollars.
But will voters approve a measure to raise hotel taxes to pay for an expanded convention center? And will Comic-Con stay?
Stay tuned for the next episode!
(Photo credit KOGO News)