A.G. Gancarski
Comic book fans in Northeast Florida may have a new location for the popular Collective Con in 2017, according to a review of city of Jacksonville emails.
The annual event, held at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds this April, is growing. And with that growth comes an opportunity for change and reinvention.
“Attendance for our pop-culture convention grew fifty percent from last year to 7,500 attendance and we’re confident we can continue to grow this event to a 10,000-15,000 daily attendance,” writes promoter Michael Yokan.
“The Jacksonville Fairgrounds no longer works for us for a number of reasons. I have the Morocco Shrine on hold and need to announce our date for next year soon but the Prime Osborn Convention Center would be the ideal venue which would allow us to grow,” Yokan said.
Yokan had wanted to hold events at Prime Osborn in the past, but SMG, which manages events in Jacksonville, gouged him.
“I’ve met with them in the past and was offered the standard deal with SMG marking up police, fire and security; SMG retaining all food & beverage and parking rights, SMG charging fro all pipe n’ drape, etc. I know the Prime Osborne is cutting deals with at least some promoters or the much smaller Ancient City Con which is another convention would not be able to afford the venue.”
Will Collective Con get a new home at the Prime Osborn?
That’s a cliffhanger most likely answered next week.
