LA Comic Con is celebrating its 10 anniversary this year and as crazy as the world has become, the September 25-27, 2020 dates were impossible to pull off.
However, CEO Chris DeMoulin and the staff of LA Comic Con have been working with the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and the LA Convention Center to find the safest way possible to bring about LA Comic Con this year. The event itself has been pushed back to December 11-13, 2020.
The extra five months gives them time to comply with CDC regulations, social distancing allowing everyone to have 28 sq ft of space to themselves, one way aisles throughout the entire convention and masks will be required. On top of that LA Comic Con has rented out the entire LA Convention Center, which covers 1.1 million sq ft of indoor and outdoor space.
Virtual tickets will also be made available for those who are still not comfortable enough to venture out into bigger crowds or have pre-existing health conditions that will not allow them to attend in person.
The full details are in the press release bellow and for even more in depth answers, listen to our interview with Chris DeMoulin above.
For more info about L.A. Comic Con, please visit: www.comicconla.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
LA Comic Con Press Release –
WHAT: Los Angeles Comic Con (L.A. Comic Con) has been excited this whole year to celebrate its 10th anniversary in the entertainment capital of the world at the Los Angeles Convention Center, but with COVID-19, the event’s fate has been up in the air. Well-known for memorable celebrity panels, autograph signings, activations, comics, cosplay, shopping and pop culture fanfare over the course of three days, organizers for L.A. Comic Con 2020 hope to bring the same enjoyable experiences to fans in a new, COVID-conscious way.
“We’ve been working with the LA Convention Center and all of our vendors, taking in the health guidance from the Mayor’s Office, LA County and the State, to figure out what we need to do differently to create an event that is both fun and safe in this time of COVID,” said Chris DeMoulin CEO of Comikaze Entertainment, L.A. Comic Con’s parent company. “We’ve concluded, given recent developments and as a result of those conversations, that hosting our event September 25-27 will not work to meet our goals of creating the best possible event given these unprecedented times. Thankfully, because of our long-standing relationship with the convention center, we’ve been able to reschedule the event to be held five months from now, on December 11-13. We have every hope and expectation that at that point in time, we can do a show that is both terrific and safe.”
At L.A. Comic Con 2020 attendees and participants will have the chance to experience a fun and safe event, complete with some of the biggest and best names in the entertainment industry, along with a handpicked selection of panels, events, exhibitors, artists, costume contests, and meet and greet opportunities. Organizers will continue to monitor the development of the current pandemic and plan to release tickets and further details for LACC 2020 after Labor Day Weekend. “While we believe strongly that the steps outlined below will allow us to put on a safe event,” continued DeMoulin, “if at ANY TIME we receive guidance from the City or County authorities which indicates that isn’t possible, we will reschedule the dates into 2021.”
In the meantime, here are the Top 10 Changes that have been put in place for this year’s Con:
More space – L.A. Comic Con has rented out the entire LA Convention Center – over 800,000 SqFt of exhibit and panel room space, plus over 400,000 SqFt of indoor & outdoor space to manage lines and waiting with appropriate social distancing options.
Face Masks – everyone in the building and grounds will be required to wear a regulation face mask at all times. Masks will be provided for free to any who needs one. Wearing masks will be enforced by Con and Security personnel at all times. “Real heroes wear masks!”
Maximum Density – each person who enters L.A. Comic Con will have a minimum of 28 SqFt of space – the equivalent of standing in a circle with a 6’ diameter. This ensures a minimum of 6’ between all guests at all times.
Limited Capacity – ticket sales will be limited to no more than 12,000 tickets at any individual session of the event. This is a significant decrease from 2019, which, along with the additional space leased, means attendees in 2020 will be less than one-third as crowded as in 2019.
Main Stage relocation – the Main Stage for L.A. Comic Con, which typically draws 2,000 to 4,000 people for each panel, will be moved from the South Hall to the West Hall. The entire West Hall A – over 145,000 SqFt – will be dedicated to Main Stage content.
Autographs & Photographs reimagined, pre-purchase Con Exclusives – Celebrity autographs and photographs will have their own hall, and tickets will be sold online assigned to 30-minute time windows. Only those who have a photo/autograph appointment in that ½-hour “slot” may enter the hall, so lines will be managed with 6’ separation. Con exclusives will be sold online, with designated 30-minute pick-up window time slots.
Fewer celebrities and panels – the space constraints for celebrity line management and panels will reduce the overall number of celebs somewhat, but there will still be 15-20 celebrities and 5-8 panels to choose from at all times.
One way aisles – to assist in guest flow and avoid bottlenecks, all of the South Hall aisles – among the 400+ exhibitors and artists — will be one way.
More cleaning, more often – cleaning standards as advised by the CDC and LA County Health Dept. will be followed before the show, between all sessions, and after the show. In addition to frequent deep-cleaning with industrial cleaners, there will also be hand sanitizer stations throughout the venue.
Digital broadcasting – all Main Stage and other panels will be broadcast via live stream to all onsite ticket holders, so lack of space will not mean fans have to miss their favorite stars. Digital-only access passes will be sold to fans who cannot, or choose not to, attend the show in person.
WHEN:
The Los Angeles Comic Con will take place December 11-13, 2020
(previously set for September 25-27, 2020)
WHERE:
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
WHY:
Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world, and home to the most high-profile entertainers, artists, studios, and the center of the film and television industry. L.A. Comic Con wants to continue bringing the focus back to the city of LA and create a sense of community connecting fans with their favorite A-list locals. L.A. Comic Con is a celebration for all things pop culture and is meant to be a place where fans can meet their superheroes, comic book characters, and the creators behind them. In light of new COVID-19 developments, show organizers are working day and night to ensure fun and enjoyment are still able to be had while safety of attendees, vendors talent and staff are maintained.
