NEW YORK COMIC-CON ANNOUNES '07 DATES/LARGER EXHIBIT SPACE

[MattBrady]

According to an email sent this week to exhibitors at February’s inaugural New York Comic-Con, the organizers of the event, Reed Exhibitions, have officially announced February 23-25th 2007 as the dates for the next year’s second show and are currently taking reservations for exhibit space.

In addition, Reed has announced that they have acquired the main exhibit hall at New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Center, doubling the amount of exhibit space from this year’s first event. NYCC Director Greg Topalian told Newsarama in February that those were the original dates the con organizers had in mind for next year, but that those dates would “will undoubtedly be moved” in order to acquire larger exhibition space. Apparently Reed has been able to keep the original dates and book the larger space needed.

The email announcement reports that over 33,000 people attended February’s debut event, and readers may recall on the show’s first Saturday, an estimated 20,000 people showed up, double the capacity of the exhibit hall's 10,000 person limit. The unexpected turnout resulted in long lines to get onto the main exhibit hall as well as a brief lock down that resulted in would-be attendees and even some ticketholders being turned away that day.

That issue appears to be addressed for next year with the larger exhibition space.

Look for an interview with Greg Topalian here early next week when we’ll revisit last year show – the criticism the show organizers received for underestimating Saturday’s attendance and praise they received for their handling of the situation – and of course look to next year’s show, the larger venue, and the future of the New York Comic-Con.

[Nate28]

but the question this time is.


Will they have specific lines for VIP and pre paid ticket holders? and not just jam everyone in one line and make you wait wether you paid in advance or not.

[Dave Fury]

The space wasn't the only issue. They need to insure that they have a better staff. The staff at that convention was rude and didn't have a clue to anything that was going on.

The staff had no clue what the VIP pass was for, nor did they care. They had people that already bought their tickets wait in the same line with people that didn't.

To be fair, I did receive a refund. But, they could have controlled the situation a lot better if their staff was better.

[jza1218]

I was able to get in with no problem

[LearArt]

I was able to get in without a problem either, but I think I was one of the lucky ones . . . but after seeing the amount of people there and talking to a few friends who had tables at the show, I'm definitely getting one in Artist Alley for 2007.

[sequart]

We had a great table this past February, and we signed up for the same table for next year. Now, with the larger hall for the show, I hope they put our table in roughly the same spot even though it's a larger room!

[defjoe]

i'm just glad it's not the same damn weekend as MegaCon

[thegreataven]

This is great news. This show was great any which way you slice it. Yes, there were some issues. I mean jeez it was the first big scale comic-con in NYC in years! If you look at Reeds email they moved the show to a bigger room, and I'm sure that the layout will be different. Hopefully that manager guy Topalian can tell us in the interview about some more cool details about how the flow of traffic will work. At the end of the day they are ackowledging the issues and making changes to make the show better. The NY Con is great for the indusrty. I got into the show on Saturday and Sunday and it was amazing to see major companies in my own backyard. It was crowed on Saturday, and I went broke buying everything up, but I had a great time. I ran into some old buddies too. New York deserves a great show and I am going to support them again. I've been waiting too long for a show close to home, and I'm not going to sit home and sulk about what happened last year. I can't wait for 2007.

[Ambience]

Here's hoping they also correct the other issues that arose while there. I enjoyed the con, but I heard many were disappointed with the not-so-VIP tickets. My big issue was the overcrowding, and I hope this fixes that up.

Also, I hope they don't sign me up for junk mail like they did this last time around. I started getting magazine subs, and when I called and asked why, they said Reed signed me up for it. Must have used the info when i ordered online.

[SAM451]

Originally Posted by defjoe

i'm just glad it's not the same damn weekend as MegaCon

I second that!

[wishlish]

In the months since my bad experience at the Con, I've received a written apology, a refund, and a nice box of swag. I'm willing to believe that they're getting their act together, and I'm looking forward to going next year.

[EyesBL7]

I'm taking this year off as a "wait and see" approach.

[Derek Ruiz]

I'll be there.

[khuxford]

Originally Posted by Dave Fury

And you're now my favorite "I'm with..." poster.

[KenScud]

Originally Posted by thegreataven

This show was great any which way you slice it. Yes, there were some issues.

An understatement along the lines of "the war in Iraq is going a little less well than we thought it would."

Bigger space should deal with most of the problems, and they do seem to be saying all the right things. They get one more chance with me, let's see how they do.

[DJ Sloofus]

The space wasn't the only issue. They need to insure that they have a better staff. The staff at that convention was rude and didn't have a clue to anything that was going on.


Did you happen to notice where the con took place? It's par for the course.

[tralfaz]

Originally Posted by jza1218

I was able to get in with no problem

and for free double

[comicbookotaku]

A mix of everything has happened to last year's show. I was one of the 20,000 people that got turned away and I like how they have handled the situation. I got my gift package recently and can't wait till next year.

comicbookotaku

[Ourobor]

last time was so horrible...I'm glad they wised up

[VinnyPic]

I'll be there, AGAIN.

[EmeraldGuy32]

I hope they give free tickets to all the ticket holders who weren't allowed in....

[NeroMan]

as my school (who bought the tickets for my group last year) has decided not to use them brains regarding anything ever anymore, I won't be able to make it back there for a second year, which really, is a shame. Since I -loved- the first one.

[E.Ortiz]

Cool...that means we get a second shot at there again. Excellent...

E.Ortiz
www.lietv.com

[ILuvTop10]

Originally Posted by tralfaz

and for free double

Awesome. You didnt have to pay for unfettered access to the cramped convention floor?

[Derek Ruiz]

Originally Posted by EmeraldGuy32

I hope they give free tickets to all the ticket holders who weren't allowed in....

Did you have a ticket already?