Based on its time frame and the current state of affairs in the world, the news about the Comic Con International: San Diego doesn’t really come as a surprise to me. Please read on down below for the official press release about the no longer occurring San Diego Comic Con for 2020.

The Press Release:
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.”

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PiercingMetal Thoughts: Terrible news for sure but such is the world in which we are living right now. The Coronavirus Pandemic has proven that it’s a menace to be contended with and numerous states have it far worse than others. Remember we are reporting from NYC and its bad over here for sure despite some signs of it “slowing down”. As far as our Pop Culture events are concerned, I’ve already shared the news that the Big Apple Comic Con and Five Points Festival are postponed but there has not been any word yet on the Brooklyn Comic Con and October’s New York Comic Con. While I hate to keep sharing the disappointing news, its important to keep everyone in the aware and hope for better, healthier times. Please keep tuning in for the very latest updates about the things that we all enjoy doing and by all means stay healthy out there and follow the directives of your respective region. Stay inside as much as possible, keep healthy, wear a mask and wash your hands should you do any sort of brief errands for supplies. It’s important that we make it through this. See you again soon.

Official Website: http://www.comic-con.org