COSPLAYTIME: Costumed attendees were in abundance at Comic-Con 2022. (Courtesy SDCC)
Over 135,000 Attend First In-Person Version of Confab Since 2019
Comic-Con, the iconic convention that is the San Diego Convention Center’s most high-profile annual event, returned to the California city for the first in-person version of the event since the pandemic struck.
“After two summers without Comic-Con, San Diego’s level of energy and excitement for this event was unparalleled,” said Clifford ‘Rip’ Rippetoe, president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center, in an email to VenuesNow. “With a sold-out crowd, full exhibit halls, bustling downtown activities and celebrity guests as major as Keanu Reeves and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Comic-Con returned in a big way.”
According to the SDCC, the sold-out July 21-24 event drew over 135,000 attendees.
That’s more than in 2019, when Comic-Con brought also drew more than 135,000 attendees, its most to that point, and generated a regional economic impact of approximately $150 million.
This year’s event is estimated to have spurred $164.1 million in regional economic impact, including $3.2 million in hotel and sales tax revenues to the City of San Diego, officials report.
“Visitor spending on restaurant, bars, hotels, attractions, and transportation is just a piece of the estimated regional impact,” an SDCC spokeswoman relayed. “The impact also extends to the \businesses involved in an event of this scale — photographers, florists, printers, design firms, media companies, and so much more.”
The San Diego Convention Center has hosted more than 90 events since reopening in August 2021 and Comic-Con 2022 was the highest attended event yet.
“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,” according to a statement from San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “
IN THE SPIRIT: San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, with his dog Diego dressed as Baby Yoda, at the launch of Comic-Con 2022. Clifford ‘Rip’ Rippetoe, president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center, is at rear left in the colorful suit. (Courtesy SDCC)
The event has grown into a globally recognized phenomenon, even inspiring others around the world that seek to capture at least some of the magic that began with a handful of attendees in 1970.
“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,” according to a statement from San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “
Or as Rippetoe put it: “Here in San Diego, July felt like July again.”
