Sports fans aren’t the only ones missing out on seasonal events. Comic lovers and pop culture enthusiasts alike lost San Diego’s biggest convention, Comic-Con, to COVID-19. The loss of the in-person convention comes with an estimated $166 million in lost revenue for the local economy.
This lost revenue hits businesses in various sectors, including restaurants, retail, hotels, and other income from tourism-based businesses. The tax revenue generated from Comic-Con helps fund crucial city services like the police, fire department, parks, libraries, and so on.
The restaurants that thrive off of the Convention Center have been hit the hardest, suffering from dismal sales that put many of them on the brink of closing permanently. It’s become especially difficult for all restaurants to survive the pandemic, but the ones that rely heavily on tourism to stay open have been hurt the most.
“This isn’t just a show,” said San Diego Convention Center CEO Rip Ripetto. “Comic-Con International places San Diego on the international map.” Though virtual events were hosted, they don’t hold a candle to the real thing, leaving many international fans feeling the loss of the celebration.
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Comic-Con has been in San Diego dating back five decades, and is a major part of the culture. It’s a community focal point with importance that goes far beyond the revenue it brings, and its presence is one of many things San Diegans have missed out on during this difficult year.
