CBR: LA Inc Speaks On Their Comic-Con Pitch

[CBR News]

CBR News talks first to Michael Krouse - the Senior Vice President of LA Inc and the Los Angeles Convention Center -Â*about his company's bid to bring Comic-Con International to the City of Angels in 2013.


Full article here.

[JimmyDee]

I'm originally from Los Angeles and would love this. The downtown area has changed dramatically in the last 10 years and could probably support a show like this now. While I love the San Diego Convention Center and its proximity to the water front, this could work just as well if not better. I'd be happy either way.

[Comics Ninja]

It could work in LA just fine, but since there is already so much going on there it was sort of nice spreading the action around to San Diego. Either way, outside of the local comic book shops the conventions are the life blood so whatever works go for it.

Comics Ninja
www.comicsninja.com

[jadehorde]

I'm originally from Los Angeles and would love this. The downtown area has changed dramatically in the last 10 years and could probably support a show like this now. While I love the San Diego Convention Center and its proximity to the water front, this could work just as well if not better. I'd be happy either way.

I think it's a two edged sword. Yes there are more resources, but there are more people (and likely bigger crowds in an LA Comic-Con) that use those resources. Also, while I like the passion, the guy comes off as a bit of a douche.

We'll see, and I don't mind either way as Comic-Con right now is on a knife's edge in terms of crowd versus inclusiveness. I want as many people that want to come to be able to, but the crowds have grown to insane levels.

[pariah-1972]

I think they should go ahead and do it the damn thing has already sold out to hollywood anyways.

[DrthVictor]

I lived in San Diego for many years, and it is still my favorite city in the US. I'd hate to see the city lose such an important part of its revenue and would also hate for Comic-Con to go 100% Hollywood by, you know, going to Hollywood.

I could easily see Comic-Con exploding in popularity and attendance in LA. But I also wonder if that would create the same pressure on studios and publishers that led to the breakdown of E3.

I'm biased, but I hope Comic-Con stays at its home in San Diego.

[Mart]

Is this really worth a BREAKING NEWS email? So the comic con will be held somewhere in California or somewhere in California ...

[JimmyDee]

Is this really worth a BREAKING NEWS email? So the comic con will be held somewhere in California or somewhere in California ...

It is the largest pop culture convention in the United States as well as one of the largest conventions in the United States. I think an interview with the city making an aggressive bid is pretty big news.

[briguyx]

This Krouse guy is an out and out liar. Yes, it would be easier for me as an L.A. resident if Comic-Con is moved here. But to say that the Gaslamp District is just a block and a half large with fewer restaurants is just not true. It's many blocks large and includes a shopping mall which lets someone looking for relatively cheap food find it in their food court. Anyone that's been to San Diego knows this.

[pariah-1972]

Ok i'm only half way done with this article but this does not represent the pinnacle of Comic book reporting in the least bit.

First i have only heard small bits of gossip about comic con moving to LA so it's obviously not as big a deal as "Marvel Vs DC" .

Second if the people who go to comic con for promotion can't bother to fly or drive to San Diego then screw them really.

Third name dropping using the staples center? for what purpose ? it certainly doesn't say and i would wonder what exactly they could hold in staples center that would be comic con related?
and could that even be coordinated well in the first place to have the staples center available for comic con when it needs it?

fourth if they move to La they might all change the name to Media con or Pop culture con or hell name it Twilight Con since that seems to be the audience they are more after.

Fifth this Micheal guy sounds like a real tool he could stand to learn to speak more professionally if he is gonna be doing interviews.

the only beneficial thing i can see from the fan standpoint is more availability to hotels and maybe a bigger indoor area.

[StoneGold]

I just don't see it working well in Los Angeles. Even with the new hotels, there isn't a ton of hotel space around the convention center. And there's still not that much entertainment-wise - imagine if the only nearby entertainment was Horton Plaza, and you've basically got what's nearby in Downtown. You don't have that "walk to the nearby theater where the guy who did the theme song for Battlestar Galactica is playing" thing going on.


Really, the only nearby city besides San Diego to provide this is Vegas. But who the hell is crazy enough to put a convention in Vegas in July?

[President Kang]

While going to LA would complete the consummation of the "show is a total LA Hollywood sell-out and not about comics at all" deal, does everything really have to sell out that much? The moviestars can't fucking schlep out to San Diego anymore? It's too hard on them? Come on.

[Buried Alien]

While going to LA would complete the consummation of the "show is a total LA Hollywood sell-out and not about comics at all" deal, does everything really have to sell out that much? The moviestars can't fucking schlep out to San Diego anymore? It's too hard on them? Come on.

It isn't that. San Diego's convention facilities just can't physically contain the crowds anymore. If the San Diego Convention Center were twice the size it actually is, and if there were twice as many hotel rooms and parking spaces available in the immediate convention center area, moving to another site would not even be considered.

It's certainly not because people (movie stars or otherwise) don't like going to San Diego.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[pariah-1972]

It isn't that. San Diego's convention facilities just can't physically contain the crowds anymore. If the San Diego Convention Center were twice the size it actually is, and if there were twice as many hotel rooms and parking spaces available in the immediate convention center area, moving to another site would not even be considered.

It's certainly not because people (movie stars or otherwise) don't like going to San Diego.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

so why not just build more space or is that not applicable?

[Buried Alien]

so why not just build more space or is that not applicable?

They'd have to tear down many of the existing buildings. Like most downtown areas, downtown San Diego has very limited space.

There *is* an entire section of old warehouses to the immediate south of the convention center. I don't know if the SDCC folks have approached the owners of those properties with proposals for redevelopment. It's probably stuff that would be in litigation hell for years.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)