| Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Comic,pop culture |
| Venue | Stampede Park |
| Locations | Calgary,Alberta |
| Country | Canada |
| Inaugurated | 2005 |
| Attendance | 95,000 in 2017[1] |
| Organized by | Fan Expo HQ/Informa Connect |
| Website | www |
Calgary Expo, known in full as theCalgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, is an annualfan convention held atStampede Park inCalgary,Alberta, Canada.
Originally taking place in theBMO Centre, the show began in 2005 as acomic book convention before moving on in 2009 to include actors fromtelevision shows andmovies. The convention has since become the second largest convention in Canada.[2] The convention became famous for having reunited the cast ofStar Trek: The Next Generation for the show's 25th anniversary in 2012, and two years later, reuniting nearly the entire cast ofAliens (1986).
In 2017,Informa acquired the convention, placing it under itsFan Expo group.[3][4]
A smallercomic book convention had historically been held atMcMahon Stadium's Red and White Club. The Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo was first held in 2006 by Kandrix Foong, an aspiring comic book writer who pitched an event that would be more in line with larger events such asSan Diego Comic-Con.[5] The inaugural convention was hosted on a single floor of Stampede Park's Big Four Building, attracting an attendance of around 3,400.[5]
By 2007, the event had become more established, attracting higher-profile guests and expanding into theBMO Centre. Eventually, the convention would use nearly all of Stampede Park, and would regularly attract around 100,000 attendees annually.[5] By 2014, Calgary Expo was ranked as the second-largest fan convention in Canada, behind onlyFan Expo Canada in Toronto.[2]
In 2012, Calgary Expo organized aStar Trek: The Next Generation cast reunion for the series' 25th anniversary, resulting in a major increase in ticket sales. On the day of the panel, the venue exceeded its capacity, with an estimated attendance having been projected as 45,000. At 1:00 p.m. the Fire Marshall was called; it was deemed safe for 100 people to be admitted every 15 minutes. Many people were turned away and not let into the venue. Despite this, Expo staff had issued a statement claiming the convention was not oversold, and they hadn't been charged because no violations took place.[6] A week later, the organizers issued a refund plan for people who were not admitted.[7]
In 2016, the convention began to hold the Calgary Expo Holiday Market at BMO Centre, with a focus on vendors and gift shopping.[8][9]
In October 2017, Calgary Expo was acquired byInforma, the current parent company of Fan Expo Canada. Foong would remain the producer of the event.[5][4] In 2018, the first year under Informa ownership, Calgary Expo faced criticism for ending a long-standing policy that allowed wheelchair users free access to VIP lanes to receive priority access to celebrity autograph and photo opportunities. The organizers stated that the revised policies were intended to provide balanced access for all attendees, were part of a goal to provide an "equal and accessible" experience for all attendees (as the result of the change was to make all attendees require a VIP pass for such access, regardless of disability), and that they were in compliance with relevant legislation.[4]
The convention offers an extensive range of panels that take place in locations throughout the park. In addition to the exhibitors' hall taking place inBMO halls A-C, and celebrity autograph sessions taking place in D and E, multiple conference rooms throughout the BMO such as the Palomino room host smaller panels. Bigger names will often also have their panels in theStampede Corral, and some also taking place in the Boyce Theatre. In addition to the regular panels which last 45 minutes, 2012 and 2014 included special, extended panels often labeled as "EXPOsed", which typically last from an hour to two hours long. These have ranged from concert-type panels to discussion panels.[citation needed]
Since 2012, a parade throughdowntown Calgary known as the "Parade of Wonders" is held on the morning of the convention's opening day, which featurescosplayers, marching bands, and appearances by some of the convention's guests. It traditionally finishes atOlympic Plaza; due to construction, the parade would end at BMO Centre itself on its 2025 route. The 2019 parade was noted as having around 5,000 public participants and nearly 15,000 spectators.[10][11][12][5]
In 2012, theEdmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo, anEdmonton-based spin-off of Calgary Expo, was first held at theEdmonton Expo Centre inNorthlands.[13] The inaugural edition hosted 15,000; by 2016, attendance had grown to 40,000. The 2017 edition featured an appearance byWilliam Shatner and a concert byGene Simmons ofKiss.[14][15]
In 2014, the convention began an affiliation with theSaskatchewan Entertainment Expo inSaskatoon,Saskatchewan, first held in 2013, which was re-branded as theSaskatoon Comic and Entertainment Expo. The affiliation ended in 2018 following the sale to Informa.[16]
In 2016, the convention began to hold theCalgary Expo Holiday Market atBMO Centre, with a focus on vendors and gift shopping.[8][9]
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