As we drove east on Interstate 8 yesterday morning, we heard Mayor Jerry Sanders of San Diego say something nasty about Comicon attendees on Cantore in the Morning on 91X. While talking about the end of Comicon weekend and American Idol’s descent on San Diego, he said,
“We’ve put up the superheroes and now we’re on to the people with actual talent.”
John swears he heard Sanders say, “We got rid of the superheroes,” but whether he said “got rid of” or “put up” or “put away”, the impression is that the mayor of San Diego barely tolerates our presence during Comicon weekend. 140,000 people spending money in his city is nothing to scoff at, despite the inconvenience of gridlock in front of the convention center and people walking around the Gaslamp in costume.
The Comicon is San Diego’s biggest money maker, and for the mayor of a city in economic trouble to publicly make a statement like that is insulting. It’s as if Sanders is saying, “Just give us your money and get out.”
Ask yourself, Jerry, why are there so many hotels around the convention center? Why was the convention center expanded in 2001? It wasn’t for the Irish Dance Competition in September. It wasn’t to accommodate the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour in June.
I overheard a lot of people talking about the Comicon leaving San Diego for Las Vegas. Part of the fun of the Comicon for me is visiting San Diego itself. It’s green. There’s water and beaches. I’m not allergic to everything that grows there.
I already live in the desert – I don’t want to go to Las Vegas. However, I get the distinct impression that that is what Mayor Jerry Sanders wants.
edited to add: This little post has already been picked up by AMCTV.com and Cityfeeds.com – San Diego, among others. Be sure to spread the word and be sure to let the Mayor know that his ungrateful commentary is not appreciated.
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[...] this link here to see what the Mayor Jerry Sanders had to say about us comic-con attendees: The Mayor of San Diego on Comic-Con – Pink [...]
[...] the superheroes and now we’re on to the people with actual talent.” – San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders, looking forward to American [...]
[...] further here and here (H/T [...]
In my line of work I do a lot of conventions, hotel conventions, wireless service conventions, and for the last 12 years I’ve attended Comic-Con. The only convention I go to just to enjoy. So the mayor has a problem with Comic-Con weird because the last hotel conviction for choice hotels I attended the people that attended this event were some of the most unaccommodating people I have ever seen. I have spent more that my fair share of time in the San Diego metro area, Old Town and mission beach. I’ll give you that the traffic can suck but no matter what event is happening. The traffic sucks. I wonder if the mayor thinks that the idol show will bring more talent to his fair city. After all Paula Abdul is a judge on Idol. Not Dane Cook, Jessica Alba, Robert Downey Jr, Xibit, Elijah Woods, Ben Foster, Peter Fonda, Sam Jackson, Neil Gaiman, Zack Snyder, and so many other amazing directors and actors that I CAN’T EVEN NAME THEM ALL that come to the Comic-Con. (well thank god that Idols in the house with the real talent) Because according to Jerry Sanders all the names mentioned before just don’t cut it. Right Mr. Sanders, I mean after all what’s better then watching allot of no talent singers get berated by a panel of almost no talent judges. Oh wait I forgot to count Ryan Seacrest so now the staff of Idol as a hole has just weighed in at a zero. Where’s Emilio Estevez when you need him. I know that San Diego gets allot of conventions but I wonder if the Idol will come to San Diego next year in search of their next big flop. I some how doubt it. But you never know I mean after all what city was it that Kelly Clarkson was found in……. oh yeah no one cares. Maybe Jerry’s got a cousin that’s going on Idol. Wonder what Jerry will think after Simon tells his cousin that he sucks.
http://www.sandiego.gov/mayor/pdf/convention_factsheet_7_7.pdf
Look at page three where it states,
“Comic-Con has been an annual event at the Convention Center since the building opened 17 years ago. This enormously popular event is an annual gathering of comic, toy, television and film enthusiasts. The group has signed a contract to return to San Diego through 2009. Last year, the event drew approximately 100,000 attendees.
Comic-Con 2006 Economic Benefits for San Diego:
Economic Impact $32.1 million
Tax Revenues for City of San Diego $ 692,000
Comic-Con 2007–2009 Cumulative Economic Benefits for San Diego
Economic Impact $96.3 million
Tax Revenues for City of San Diego $2.07 million
[...] Dirk and Heidi reported on this yesterday … according to the site pinkraygun.com, the mayor of San Diego went on the radio and said, “We’ve put up the superheroes and now we’re on to the people with actual talent.” [...]
Comic Con has a contract with the convention center until 2012. But I doubt if it will ever move from San Diego. Apparently they’ve looked at other venues, but San Diego is the most convenient for the attendees. Technically, it doesn’t matter where it is, there will always be complaints, because you just can’t please everyone.
Hi Sue; yes it will move on if nothing is done to expand. I've volunteered to work there for nine years during the comic-con, and the last four years I've sworn once 'transporting' via the trolly that I would never do so again. The lines stretch on forever, but that's to be expected; once inside, there is literally no room to move around without firmly clasping the hand of someone who wants to stick closeby. I witnessed countless older adults, glassyeyed, trying to hear and respond via their cell phones to find missing family members.
When it is so crowded that you literally are shoulder to shoulder with others wherever you walk, you get frustrated, exhausted, and sometimes give up. Unfortunately, this means less money is exchanged between vendors and visitors. Smart folk go across the street to sit, grab a drink and something fa cheaper to eat, still richer for not spending money on sale items BECAUSE of the crowds.