Comic-Con International Opts to Stay on in San Diego Through 2018
July 2, 2015
Just days before Comic-Con International kicks off its annual convention, San Diego likely is breathing a huge sigh of relief, with its biggest event signing on to stay in the city through 2018.
With 130,000 attendees expected July 8-12 at the San Diego Convention Center, the event has grown so large, there was talk that it might move somewhere else when the current contract expired next year.
But, even with hotels booked for miles around and the halls filled to the brim with exhibits, the show will stay put.
“We are thrilled to be the home for Comic-Con International for two additional years,” said Carol Wallace, president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, which oversees the center.
She added, “We have had a successful partnership since 1991 and we look forward to continuing our shared success.”
The announcement, made by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, capped a successful effort by San Diego’s hospitality industry to retain the signature event.
The economic impact is significant to San Diego and the surrounding area:
• Regional Impact: $135.9 million
• Direct Attendee Spending: $80.4 million
• Tax Revenues: $2.8 million
• Attendance: 130,000
The show started in 1970 in a hotel in San Diego with just 100 attendees. Now, besides the massive attendance, the event also has more than 460,000 square feet of exhibit space and last year had 700-plus separate events.
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.
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