FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 21, 2022

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO Mayor Todd Gloria kicked off this years Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center, celebrating the conventions return to an in-person event for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The signature San Diego event is expected to bring thousands of visitors to the City of San Diego from across the nation and world.

Today marks the beginning of an iconic event that is eagerly anticipated every year, where fans and stars alike convene to share their love of comics, video games, movies and pop culture, said Mayor Todd Gloria. Comic-Con is the definition of big city energy, drawing tens of thousands of visitors from across the world. To San Diegans, this isn't just some big, star-studded annual event; Comic-Con is part of the fabric of our city and it helps us fund services like parks and libraries, street repair and more.

Beginning with a few hundred fans in 1970, Comic-Con has become a celebrated San Diego fixture, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators and bringing global attention to the region. In 2019 alone, Comic-Con welcomed more than 135,000 attendees and generated $3.2 million in hotel and sales tax revenue for the city.

Comic-Con is synonymous with San Diego, said State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath, the Chair of the State Assemblys Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media. Its difficult to imagine a better place than here to celebrate your favorite fandom! As a fourth-generation San Diego resident and Chair of the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Internet Media Committee, it's an honor to welcome visitors from around the world to enjoy all that San Diego has to offer."

Comic-Con is the largest comic book and popular arts convention of its kind in the world. Comic-Con's exhibit hall features more than 460,000 square feet of floor space and over 1,000 exhibitors each year. In addition to the San Diego Convention Center, several venues feature over 2,000 hours of comics, anime, movies, gaming, T.V. programs, workshops and events.

We welcome people from around the world to Downtown San Diego for Comic-Con International, said Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, representative for District 3, which includes Downtown San Diego. Attendees will get to see all that our great city has to offer, and theyll spend millions of dollars while there here, adding to our economic strength. Thank you to Comic-Con for its continued partnership with San Diego, and heres to an exciting weekend.

Notable guests attending this years Comic-Con include award-winning writers and artists like Jock (artist, Batman: The Black Mirror, The Losers, Wytches, Ex Machina), Tula Lotay (illustrator, Comixology, Barnstormers, Thought Bubble Festival), Raina Telgemeier (author, illustrator, Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, Guts), Frank Miller (artist, writer, Frank Miller Presents, Daredevil, Batman: The Dark Knight, Batman: Year One), Amy Chu (writer, Rick & Morty, Green Hornet, DOTA: Dragons Blood), Bill Morrison (artist, writer, The Little Mermaid, Bambi, The Simpsons, Futurama).

Since its inception, the convention has been housed in a variety of different venues including the U.S. Grant Hotel, El Cortez Hotel, San Diego's Convention and Performing Arts Center, and the San Diego Convention Center.

With excitement, events and an economic impact that extends many miles beyond the walls of the San Diego Convention Center, Comic-Cons return is a moment for us all, said Clifford Rip Rippetoe, President and CEO, San Diego Convention Center. For decades, Comic-Con has put San Diego on the international map, uniting comic book fans, cosplayers and pop culture enthusiasts from fandoms around the world. It isnt summer in San Diego without Comic-Con, and todayfor the first time since 2019summer truly returns.

Being able to meet in person, after nearly three years apart is nothing short of emotional, said David Glanzer, Chief Communications & Strategy Officer of the San Diego Comic Convention. We look forward to seeing old friends, making new ones and sharing all the best that Comic-Con and San Diego have to offer with the world.

The Comic-Con programming schedule is available through the free Comic-Con App which can be downloaded through the App Store and Google Play. The App will include live updates, a complete program schedule, an interactive map, special guest bios and more.

Comic-Con is San Diego at its most authentic and joyous, said Julie Coker, President and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority. It is not just about attracting more visitors to our region but highlighting all the fun and creativity we have to offer. Welcoming back Comic-Con is also an important milestone in the local tourism industrys ongoing recovery.

The City of San Diegos Police and Fire-Rescue Departments have committed additional resources to ensure the safety of visitors both inside and outside of the Convention Center.

The San Diego Police Department is excited to welcome Comic-Con guests back to our city, said Police Chief David Nisleit. Our teams have been working closely with Comic-Con International, the San Diego Convention Center and our partner agencies to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time. We want to remind everyone to be aware of their surroundings and to alert an officer or call 9-1-1 if they see something suspicious.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is ready to see everyone once again at Comic-Con, Fire Chief Colin Stowell said. Our teams are fully staffed to respond to medical and fire-related emergencies, as well as ensure all restaurants, bars and event spaces are abiding by capacity limits. We wish everyone a safe and fun Comic-Con.

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