The Telescope

Issue Date: 3/8/10

Keep Comic-Con in San Diego

Our Viewpoint

As a 40-year tradition and generator of $60 million annually, Comic-Con International is essential to San Diego but we are in danger of losing it for good. That should worry everyone because it affects the economy through tourism taxes, jobs and maintaining local traditions.

In 2012, Comic-Con's contract with San Diego expires and the event organizers are free to move to another location. Anaheim has proposed moving Comic-Con to the animated mouse-loving city to the north, an idea detrimental to San Diego.

Comic-Con might be tempted to go. Organizers complain that San Diego's convention center is too small for its 126,000 attendees and hoteliers aren't providing sufficient lodging for convention goers.

A limited amount of space is by no means a reason to move Comic-Con.

It helps the local economy

The produced revenue doesn't include the amount of money being spent at local shops and other establishments. Losing Comic-Con would have a negative economical impact on the area. The lack of the event would also take away potential jobs and sales yields.

It's an important community event

The event has been a long-lasting San Diego tradition. Comic-Con is a big deal: people travel to San Diego from all over the world to come to the event. The convention offers various discussion panels, allowing the public an opportunity to meet their favorite stars. Not only can this serve as a spark for a students' passion in the field, it also serves as a networking opportunity.

The San Diego Comic-Con directly helps Palomar as well. Last year, Rocco Versaci, a Palomar English professor, discussed his book at the Comic-Con. Increasing awareness of our college and the classes offered is something that a local event is more likely to provide.

On a grander scale, it brings Hollywood closer to San Diego and that means more chances for Hollywood contracts.

It opens up opportunities for more jobs

Behind the scenes, there are hundreds of people working. While Comic-Con may not directly employ all of the people who work the convention, there are companies looking to hire people for the four-day event.

Examples of such jobs would be custodial staff, security guards, booth girls/guys to promote products and a good number more. The convention also offers volunteer opportunities.

The city is urging hoteliers to reserve more rooms during convention season. Assuming that the event remains in San Diego, three hotels have already committed to donating about 300,000 square feet of meeting space from 2013 to 2015, according to a Feb. 21 article from nbcsandiego.com. A citizen task force endorsed a $753 million proposal to expand the convention center by 1.27 million square feet. The committee welcomes comments and can be reached on its Web site at www.conventioncentertaskforce.org.

With the threat of Comic-Con leaving San Diego creeping closer, it's important to spread the word about why this move is bad. Don't let San Diego's 40-year tradition slip away from its birthplace.

If Comic-Con leaves, it would take with it 126,000 guests and a $60 million economic boost.

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