San Diego Comic-Con Organizers have responded to criticism from fans and attendees after setting a date for the postponed in-person event due to take place on Thanksgiving weekend.
The organizers announced on Saturday official website that a “Comic-Con Special Edition” will be held as a three-day event from November 26th to 28th at the San Diego Convention Center.
“Hopefully this event will support our financial reserves and mean a slow return to larger personal gatherings in 2022,” said spokesman David Glanzer in one Explanationalluding to the financial impact of COVID-19.
Last year’s personal edition of the popular pop culture convention, Comic-Con, which brings more than 135,000 visitors to the San Diego Convention Center annually, was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Multiple voices on social media rejected the holiday date, especially as the coronavirus pandemic prevented many families from gathering over Thanksgiving in 2020.
“So they planned #SDCC for the same weekend as the first chance most families can (hopefully) celebrate Thanksgiving in two years. See you in 2022!” tweeted Charles Soule, author of the comics “Light of the Jedi” and Daredevil.
“My family missed Thanksgiving last year because of the pandemic.” tweeted Comic book writer Dan Slott. “This year we will all be vaccinated. There is no way I would go to an event instead of spending that time with them. Even if everything were magically back to normal.”
Slott added, “I can’t imagine fans and professionals celebrating Thanksgiving in the US feeling any different.”
“A Thanksgiving Day #ComicCon ?,” tweeted A fan, @TheFirstEcho. “Should I wait in line for Hall H while I eat leftover filling and cranberry sauce?”
Following the criticism, the organizers published an updated publication on the official website explaining and defending the Thanksgiving date with reference to a “very busy calendar of the convention center”.
“Of the dates with the least restrictions, the Friday to Sunday weekend of Thanksgiving seemed to be the best balance between available space and our planned event,” the statement said. “As long-time fans, we attended many conventions this bank holiday weekend and decided to spend Thanksgiving with family and the rest of the weekend with friends and families of our choice.”
“While this is not uncommon in the congressional trade, we understand that this choice is not optimal for everyone,” the statement continued.
More:San Diego Comic-Con is postponing the in-person event in 2021 and will go virtual again this summer
The Comic-Con statement made it clear that the event would not be the full capacity event of the past few years, but rather an “attempt to start slowly and carefully while addressing fans’ desire for a personal show “.
The Thanksgiving event may not even be “doable” due to the pandemic, organizers said, but it is worth trying.
“It was our wish to have something for our fans who have longed for a personal event,” the statement said. “We really hope that you will join us to reenter the world of personal celebrations of the community we love so much.”
There will also be a three-day Comic-Con @ Home online experience from July 23rd to 25th.
