Citing ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, San Diego Comic-Con canceled in 2020

   SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Comic-Con International announced today it is canceling this year's San Diego Comic-Con in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

   The 2020 celebration -- which had been scheduled for July 23-26 -- would have been the 51st iteration of the convention, one of San Diego's largest and most lucrative conventions. In 2019, more than 130,000 people attended.

   Organizers said the event will return next year to the San Diego Convention Center from July 22-25.

   ``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,'' event organizers said in a statement. ``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.''

   The organization also runs WonderCon Anaheim and made the decision in March to cancel that event -- which was to have been held April 10-12. It is scheduled to return to the Anaheim Convention Center next year on March 26-28.

   In addition to their conventions, the Comic-Con organization has been planning a major renovation of Balboa Park's Federal Building for the grand opening of the Comic-Con Museum in the summer of 2021. However, the COVID-19 situation has slowed those efforts, as well.

   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. 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.''