Comic Con International Signs SDCC Contract Through 2021

Every single year, there are rumors that CCI (Comic Con International) will be leaving their home at the San Diego Convention Center after that year’s SDCC (San Diego Comic Con). With attendance around 130,000 in recent years, it comes as no surprise that the company was looking at alternative locations to house the premiere pop culture in the country.

Several times, the city of San Diego has turned down proposals to extend the footprint of the convention center in order to secure the cash cow’s presence, the surge in attendance for SDCC over the past five years has made this a necessity.  But instead of those plans going through to the construction phase, CCI opened up off site events in an effort to alleviate some of the growing pains of the convention facilities.

Today over on SDCC’s official blog website Toucan, it was confirmed/announced that the event wasn’t going anywhere for awhile.  Signing the paperwork all the way til 2021, attendees don’t have to worry about changing their July pilgrimage plans just yet.

After months of contract negotiations to keep San Diego Comic-Con in San Diego past its scheduled 2018 contract, San Diego’s Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Comic-Con International announced this morning that the convention is staying in San Diego through 2021. This is especially poetic, as 2019 will mark Comic-Con’s 50th year in San Diego. Comic-Con International’s David Glanzer said:

“Today is a day of celebration. Comic-Con and all of us are incredibly happy at this agreement, and I have to tell you again, personally, the people here are instrumental in keeping us in San Diego for the next three years.”

The blog goes on to state the hold up on the most recent round of contract negotiations with the city centered on hotel blocks, as Comic-Con International and the city worked to keep both the current rate blocks and prices for attendees in check (with the hope being for a cap of 4% rate increase over a 3-year period). There will be over 60,000 hotel room nights included in the block.

It will be interesting to find out what other stipulations come to light after this year’s San Diego Comic Con International complete’s it’s 47th iteration over July 20th-23rd 2017.