San Diego already?!

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:46 -0700

I just got my notice that I will be at Booth 4906 once again at the 2008 Comic-Con International: San Diego.

If you are at all thinking of going, make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. If you are going to arrange reservations on your own, do it now. If you are going through Comic-con Housing, they will take reservations in February.

Here is the Comic-con link:

http://www.comic-con.org/

Tounian · Post by **Tounian** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:14 -0700

Comic Con is getting somewhat ridiculous. I still can't believe they sold out of 4 day passes this year. The amount of people who pack the convention center on friday and saturday is just sheer insanity. I can't imagine a bigger place to hold it at, but if it continues to grow, I wonder if we're going to have to expect it to move to another place that can hold it.

Post by **Mayhem** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 13:26 -0700

When I went last year it was real busy and although I wasn't able to go this year, I did hear it was even worse crowd wise. I do agree, attendance has shot up in the last few years and a new location may be needed...

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 16:33 -0700

The con is contracted to have the event in San Diego through 2012.

The only other single facility large enough to house the con is in Las Vegas. Vegas cons have been tried, never with any success. Perhaps one alternative is to have the con at a couple of venues in San Diego--the convention center, the old convention center, and a few hotels. That might alleviate a lot of the congestion, and keep the con in SD.

They will not be selling any memberships or day passes on-site at all during the upcoming con.

Tinlantern · Post by **Tinlantern** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 19:35 -0700

If I can make it, it will be my first comic con.

Any tips? What to bring? Etc?

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 20:03 -0700

Tinlantern wrote:If I can make it, it will be my first comic con.

Any tips? What to bring? Etc?

http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php ... ary/10040/

And for 2007:

LINK

Tounian · Post by **Tounian** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 20:50 -0700

Tinlantern wrote:If I can make it, it will be my first comic con.

Any tips? What to bring? Etc?

Patience, a huge amount of cash to afford water and a crappy hot dog, comfortable shoes with Dr Scholl's inserts, the biggest backpack you can find, a poster tube (I used to always forget them and be mad about it), and whatever you do, leave ALL your credit cards at home. Those bad boys can get you into some serious trouble when you see something you want, can't really afford it, but justify to yourself that you can spend the next month or two trying to find a way to pay for it.

Leonardo-san · Post by **Leonardo-san** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 21:43 -0700

And I regret to say, this year I am going to skip SDC.
They raised prereg to $75, with their idea they don't intend to sell passes at the door. Once the preregistrations are sold out, that's it.
I guess that's one way to work on the crowd situation.
But it's too much money for me for what I get out of the panels I am willing to show up hours ahead for because of the crowds. And what I get out of the dealers, etc.
I will miss seeing the UY fans and Stan, of course. And Kevin...but that's about it.

As for the hotel booking thing? Anyone wanting a hotel room through the Con's service better be ready as soon as it opens, and book fast.

I'm going to some other conventions next year, which should be fun for a change of pace, too. Best wishes to everyone that is going on successfully landing hotel rooms and may you have a fun con!

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:04 -0700

We'll miss seeing you, Kim.

The crowd dynamics at the 2007 con was not what anyone expected. Thursday, which was traditionally a slower day in the Dealers' Room was packed. Saturday, usually the busy day, was very slow.

It's probably because everyone expected Saturday to be mobbed so stayed away. Saturday was also the day many of the high-profile panels were scheduled, so the crowds were upstairs (right, Todd?).

I'd like to remind you that the con is not the only thing in San Diego. There is a world class zoo nearby, as well as Sea World. Wild Animal Park is a bit farther away. Hopefully, the Padres baseball team will not be playing in town, but Petco Stadium is right next to the Con Center. There are some great beaches nearby as well.

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 13:29 -0700

Stan Sakai wrote: It's probably because everyone expected Saturday to be mobbed so stayed away. Saturday was also the day many of the high-profile panels were scheduled, so the crowds were upstairs (right, Todd?).

Yep, that's my theory. Hall H and Ballroom 20 attract a good percentage of the people who have in recent years started plaguing the SD Con like locusts. It has only been in the past, what 4-5 years that the con started featuring big name actors and movie creators out in front of people. That just brought everyone and their mom's out of the woodwork. I remember back in 2002 when they had all the Hobbits on stage... http://usagiyojimbo.com/conventions/sdcc-2002.html -- after that every year attendance just shot up sky high until it has become the circus it is today...with more and more clowns clogging up the incredibly shrinking exhibit hall aisles.

I still go however, and for the most part I still enjoy it. I was miffed to see they started charging $50 a pop for pre-reg at the Con (it was $35 last year), but still plunked down the cash. At least I can get my son in for free for awhile. Now what Kim is saying -- $75?? That's insane! Of course, I paid $110 for Star Wars C4 so maybe it isn't so bad...that was a much smaller event.

I have managed to save money by luck -- I buy my reg at the con, I get a corporate discount on hotels in the area because my company is HQ'd in downtown San Diego. But I book way early (like a month or two after the con).

Eventually I see the whole thing imploding like the real estate market just did. It's only a matter of when...

G4 did a great 4-hour deal on the 2007 con which I TiVo'd while I was there. They went into the ever-decreasing quality of the con and speculated on it splitting up into two cons -- one for movies & TV; one for comics. I supposed there are pro's and con's to each.

Post by **Mayhem** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 16:58 -0700

Even though I've only been once so far (last year), I agree with many of your sentiments Todd... I could see that if only from looking outwards in for a number of years and then being there myself to experience it. It is getting too big for itself and the location... something will have to give eventually. The queues Kris and I saw for Saturday are just part of it...

Mike Nicolai · Post by **Mike Nicolai** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:48 -0700

Stan, do you think you'll make any east coast appearances this year?

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:38 -0700

Mike Nicolai wrote:Stan, do you think you'll make any east coast appearances this year?

I am scheduled to speak at a college in Vermont in April, but I do not know if it is open to the public. I'll ask about that.

Post by **Mayhem** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:54 -0700

With the new year now, I guess my thoughts turn towards San Diego once more... does anyone know yet when the mad scramble for discounted hotel reservations begins next month?

cynlee · Post by **cynlee** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:29 -0700

No idea. All I know is one of my friends tried to book a room on her own at her favorite hotel, and nothing for that date was open. She's going to have to wait until the mad scramble.