It is no secret that conventions are very big business and as such, are prime assets to any community. However in recent years the convention circuit has started to resemble the way sports franchises work in that cities are played against one another to get bigger and better facilities. During a recent trip to Anaheim we notice that the convention center has a large expansion currently underway as numerous banners touted the expanded floor space in rooms that would be available once the project is completed. We also notice that in Las Vegas the abundantly sized convention center and spacious parking lot which holds many temporary structures is also seeing the potential for massive expansion as properties surrounding the center are being acquired when they become available and flattened to prepare for future construction.
The benefit of new conventions is not only the rental fees they generate, but a surge in hotel, restaurant, rental car, shopping, and entertainment dollars that visitors and exhibitors pumped into a community during the shows. San Diego Comic Con is attempting to gain an update to the convention center in order to keep the show in San Diego and expand their offerings to accommodate the massive demand for tickets to this phenomenal show. You also have events such as PAX Prime now known as PAX West will continue to grow and expand and have in many people’s opinion outgrown their current home at the Washington State Convention Center. A recent fan survey sent out to PAX West attendees asked guests if they would be interested in attending the show at locations which included Las Vegas and The L.A. area as well as Portland, and Vancouver B. C.
the moves by Anaheim and Las Vegas are very aggressive moves that not only expand offerings such as The D23 Expo, Blizzcon, CES, and numerous other shows that are held throughout the year, but enticing options for other conventions that are dissatisfied with their current venue options and are considering moving to new locales. The proverbial ball is in the court of the host cities to match or better what can be found elsewhere in terms of facilities or business deals as the ramification would be the potential loss of the event as well as the jobs and income that are derived from.
I am all for tradition and keeping things where they originated but I also understand the nature of business and growth and that if you cannot get what you need to properly accommodate your attendees, it only makes sense to see what other options are available. It will be interesting to see how this plays out going forward but for now the pressure is mounting for host cities to step up to the aggressive challenges made by other locales.
