Whereas old timers such as myself still call it the San Diego Comic Con, (SDCC), the name was changed years ago to the Comic Con International: San Diego.

Indeed, when listing items for sale on our online store that come from Comic Con, I use the accronyms: SDCC, SDCCI, CCI and the words Comic Con, because those are the most popular names for the Comic Con International: San Diego.

My history with the San Diego Comic Con as a dealer goes back to 1972 when I bought out a dealer on the next to last day at the El Cortez Hotel and proceeded to sell the remainder of what were his wares, and then set up my own table in 1973 when the SDCC was held at the Sheraton on Harbor Island. (See photo top left of this post for a photo of tht.)

So it kind of hurts to think that I may not be going to what I and many others still call the 'San Diego Comic Con' in 2013, when the contract with the San Diego Convention Center expires after 2012.

Yeah, I realize it's probably all politics and bargaining chips being thrown around in the newspapers, on TV, and on radio interviews, but I for one would definitely miss the Comic Con NOT being in my own "backyard".

Sure, Anaheim isn't that far away from myself in North San Diego County, and for that matter neither is Los Angeles where their other convention center is mentioned in this Sunday's North County Times is located.

I have suggested before that the third suggested location, Las vegas, wouldn't make sense for that city to host it.  That's because the 'comic con crowd' is not the gamblers nor high-end restuarant diners that Las Vegas would prefer to have. Note: I notice that Las Vegas isn't mentioned in this referenced article, althought that location was highly touted to be a major contender for Comic Con International in earlier articles.

The following is an excerpt from the North Cunty Times article on the front page, below the fold, Sunday March 14th for those of you that are not local to San Diego, but are interested in what's happening.  Additionally there is a link to the rest of the story that follows the excerpt.

"Even as two cities try to lure Comic-Con International away from San Diego, the mayor and local business and tourism leaders are pushing hard to keep the popular four-day pop culture convention in town.

Parking problems, a lack of vacant and affordable hotel rooms and a cramped convention center threaten to end San Diego's association with the overcrowded fan gathering that in 40 years has grown into an internationally recognized celebration of pop culture and Hollywood fanfare.

"We just don't have space to accommodate the amount of people who attend the show or want to exhibit at the show," said David Glanzer, director of marketing and public relations for Comic-Con International. "Capped attendance means capped income, but costs continue to rise."

This year's convention is scheduled for July 22-25. And although it's still more than four months away, the four-day passes and single-day passes for Friday and Saturday sold out as long ago as September. The only tickets left ---- single-day passes for Thursday and Sunday ---- are going fast.

Some 126,000 people attended the convention last year".