Comic Con International in San Diego, one of the largest events in the city, draws massive crowds with its array of cosplay, panels, and activities, generating significant revenue for San Diego annually.
Comic Con International: San Diego
Date: July 20 – 23, 2017 (Preview Night on Wednesday, July 19)
Where: San Diego Convention Center
Be prepared for one of the biggest events in San Diego – the city will be completely taken over by “Super Heroes, Anime and Comic Book Characters…”.
You won’t want to miss it! Just walking around and getting to see all the amazing cosplay is one of the most enjoyable parts of this event. There’s a TON of fun going on outside of the Convention Center as well including ComicCon themed parties and events!!
Here are some fun facts about ComicCon and different things that fans flock to see:
1. The first official San Diego Comic-Con was a three-day event, which was held 46 years ago from August 1 to August 3. The original event was called San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Con.
2. The first Hollywood panel at SDCC was, appropriately, about Star Wars. Charles Lippencott, the film's marketing director, showed off slides from the film. Reportedly, only a handful of attendees showed up. The capacity for the 6th Annual San Diego Comic- Con in 1975 was approximately 3000.
3. The convention’s full name, Comic-Con International: San Diego, was first introduced in 1995. Prior to this, the event went through two more name changes. Before settling on the final name, the event was called San Diegos West Coast Comic Convention in 1972 and San Diego Comic-Con in 1973.
4. The last day of San Diego Comic-Con is Kids Day, which features film festivals, events, and family friendly activities for children ages 12 and younger (who get into the convention for free with a paid adult admission).
5. Attendance in 2015 was 167,000 people. The first comic con had 100 people.
6. The non-profit organization in charge of comic- con, San Diego Comic Convention, also hosts WonderCon. WonderCon is a convention that is similar to Comic-Con International and it takes place in Anaheim.
7. Each Year, Comic-Con hosts a masquerade. This event honors and showcases the creativity and costuming abilities of the attendees. The winner of the masquerade receives a $1,000 prize and a medallion. In 2015, a group with Haunted Mansion themed costumes won the Best In Show prize.
8. The masquerade is not the only event that features fans in costumes. On the convention floor, which is where autograph and merchandise booths are displayed, fans dress up as their favorite characters and walk around the convention.
9. Other cities, like Los Angeles have tried to bring the convention into their cities. Comic-Con International’s original contract with San Diego has the convention taking place in the city until 2016. Comic-Con International and the city of San Diego were able to renegotiate this contract into keeping the convention in the southern California city until 2018. At the moment, the next destination for the convention is unknown.
10. Thanks in large part to the popularity and box office success of 2000's X-Men, films and television shows were becoming a bigger part of SDCC by 2001. Franchise movies like Spider-Man and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones were the big highlights of the convention that year.
11. Comic-Con International: San Diego generates an estimated $165 million each year in revenue for the city of San Diego.
