Yesterday, the organizers of San Diego Comic-Con made the difficult decision to cancel San Diego Comic-Con 2020 this Summer. Social distancing restrictions due to the global COVID-19 pandemic made putting on the show impossible. This is the first time in the shows 50 year history that event will not take place. It will return in July of 2021. Those that already purchased badges fro the show will have the option to get a refund, or transfer their badges to San Diego Comic-Con 2021. Emails for those details will go out to badge holders within the next few weeks. We’ve mirrored the press release, which you can see after the jump.
As many of our readers know, San Diego Comic-Con is an event we have attended since 2009. Along with Toy Fair, SDCC is one of our favorite times of the year. We always look forward to the great new toy and collectible reveals, and sharing tons of photos with our visitors. As with everyone, we’re saddened by the news, but completely understand the decision. If the event had gone on, the chances were very high that Toyark staff would not have attended this year. With the event now officially cancelled, companies are likely going to be sharing their reveals online, as well as offering their exclusives to a broader audience. We’ll be bringing you that coverage, and details on how to obtain exclusives as we find out.
When San Diego Comic-Con 2021 rolls around, and things start to get better, we look forward to celebrating the event as we always do. So, for now we hope that everyone is staying home, and staying safe, and most importantly, staying well.
Comic-Con Announces Plans in Light of the Covid-19 Pandemic
The Current Situation Requires Exceptional Measures
For the first time in its 50-year history San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC), the organizers behind the annual pop culture celebration, announced today with deep regret that there will be no Comic-Con in 2020. The event will instead return to the San Diego Convention Center from July 22-25, 2021.
Recognizing that countless attendees save and plan for its conventions each year, and how many exhibitors and stakeholders rely upon its events for a major portion of their livelihood, they had hoped to delay this decision in anticipation that COVID-19 concerns might lessen by summer. Continuous monitoring of health advisories and recent statements by the Governor of California have made it clear that it would not be safe to move forward with plans for this year.
Similarly, WonderCon Anaheim, which was to have been held April 10-12, 2020 will return to the Anaheim Convention Center from March 26-28, 2021.
In addition to their conventions, Comic-Con has been planning a major renovation of Balboa Park’s Federal Building to be completed for the grand opening of the Comic-Con Museum in the summer of 2021. However, the COVID-19 situation has had an effect on those efforts as well. As such, they will be rephasing the Museum’s initially planned major renovations, but will not scale back the experience to be offered to visitors upon the Museum’s grand opening. They anticipate releasing building plans illustrating the Museum’s transformation and sharing more information about those efforts in the coming months.
SDCC also announced that individuals who purchased badges for Comic-Con 2020 will have the option to request a refund or transfer their badges to Comic-Con 2021. All 2020 badge holders will receive an email within the next week with instructions on how to request a refund. Exhibitors for Comic-Con 2020 will also have the option to request a refund or transfer their payments to Comic-Con 2021 and will also receive an email within the next week with instructions on how to process their request.
In the next few days onPeak, Comic-Con’s official hotel affiliate, will be canceling all hotel reservations and refunding all deposits made through them. There is no need for anyone who booked through onPeak to take any action, including trying to cancel their reservations online or contacting the company via phone as the process will be handled automatically. Those who booked rooms through onPeak will be notified when refunds have been completed.
“Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures and while we are saddened to take this action, we know it is the right decision,” said David Glanzer, spokesperson for the organization. “We eagerly look forward to the time when we can all meet again and share in the community we all love and enjoy.”
San Diego Comic-Con 2020 Cancelled
Can't say I'm disappointed, seems like most of the fun of SDCC left years ago once it became more of a viewing ground for movie trailers than about actual comics, and I personally hate huge crowds, even when there isn't a pandemic going on
*insert Angry Old Man yells at Cloud picture here*
Now everyone has the same odds of getting into the big SDCC panels this year.
As someone who has never been to a Con this suits me, don't have to leave my home and the exclusives will all have to be online.
I’m not shocked. The companies will have to evolve. Toy companies can still do online panels and reveals. And give everyone a shot at exclusives. The companies need our money now more than ever. Heaven forbid they take preorders for exclusives and produce what they pre-sell and satisfy demand. Stop the artificial rarity of exclusives.
NECA already said they're going to do something during the 4 days the Con was supposed to be held. Almost every single exclusive was available online after the fact or before, so it shouldn't make too big a difference except should be easier to order online.
Going to the Con though, one nice perk is saving on shipping and sales tax sometimes. Mezco for instance worked the sales tax in so it's a flat amount. So like last year their Gordon and Bat Signal was $125 even (so like $116.01+tax), but online ordering you'd have sales tax on top of the $125 plus the shipping, so it turns into like a $150 item.
Would be cool if they still did the announcements and panels online
! I can never make it to those events live anyway, so if they do it online, I would definitely watch!
I just hope we still get the exclusives via online maybe
Hoping Hasbro has some cool stuff lined up, especially with the new Transformers Netflix show & such coming out. Anything that would have been in the works is probably already done manufacturing, seeing as it's now mid-April for a likely mid-June shipment for a late July Con.
Awwww, poor Dwight. He won't get to screw everyone over and laugh in their faces this year.
CCC.
*insert Angry Old Man yells at Cloud picture here*
What, they're all afraid of a common flu?
Sarcasm aside , maybe some companies can finally pander their exclusives on a wider audience instead.
These companies need to just sell direct to us or online stores.
Oh no! How are scalpers going to charge non-attendants 5-10 times the cost of an exclusive if they'll just offer them up to everyone! Think of the scalpers, people! Think of the scalpers.
this strikes me as a Bit illogial. By Late July this'll Probably be over.
Add to that, companies were likely already pulling out of the event, and people who bought badges were looking for refunds. So attendance from fans and companies was going to take a hit.
Who is responsible for this?
Keep reading: SDCC 2020 Cancelled - Page 2
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