San Diego Convention Center
Credit: George Marston (Newsarama)
July’s Comic-Con International: San Diego is “unlikely” to take place given the latest comments about mass gathering restrictions and the likely timetable for easing restrictions from California governor Gavin Newsom.
On Tuesday at a press conference, Newsom said (via Variety) that “the prospect of mass gatherings is negligible at best until we get to herd immunity and we get to a vaccine. So large-scale events that bring in hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of strangers, all together across every conceivable difference, health and otherwise, is not in the cards based upon our current guidelines and current expectations.”
While he reportedly resisted setting a timeline, he did say “When you suggest June, July, August, it is unlikely.”
Newsom said that a series of conditions – including ramped-up testing, contact tracing, and hospital capacity – would be the key parameters in deciding when to relax the state’s stay-at-home order.
Last week, the San Diego Tourism Authority said SDCC was “evaluating any financial liability” that a decision to cancel this year’s convention would bring. SDCC’s Chief Communications and Strategy Officer David Glanzer said that they hope to make an announcement soon, and are exploring a possible “online component” if the convention is canceled.
“We understand that many stakeholders rely upon our conventions as a major portion of their yearly income and livelihood, but we are truly in uncharted territory,” Glazner said. “We do not want to disappoint the people who have saved, planned, and are looking forward to the show this summer, but the primary concern, what is chief among all our concerns, is the health and safety of not only our attendees, but the public as well.”