Posted in: Comics | Tagged: calgary, comic, con, expo

Calgary Comic Con Forced To Turn Thousands Away

Published Sun, 29 Apr 2012 09:00:16 -0500

It's a problem that once comic conventions never thought they'd have to face. Too much success.

This weekend, the Calgary Comic And Entertainment Expo (at which Avatar are appearing) did their best impression of the first year of New York Comic Con, with fire marshalls denying access to the show due to overcrowding and fears of a stampede, as too many people tried to get in at once.

This included those who has paid hundreds of dollars to get in and get photo opportunities with the likes of Stan Lee or the cast of Star Trek Next Generation reuniting for the first time, including Wil Wheaton and John deLancie.

The Calragy Herald reports angered fans, "I am beyond angry…They obviously sold more tickets than they had room for." "They said 'Go stand over there' and 'maybe.' There's lineups all around the building and you can't get through anywhere." And one man who stepped out for a cigarette, and then couldn't return to get to his children.

The show insisted that tickets were not oversold, rather that it was issues of timing, but this is the kind of scenario that most larger conventions have learnt to plan for. It looks like Calgary Comic Con is going to have to join that select crowd, shows that are just too popular for thier own good!

The show is offering full refunds for those who were not allowed in, and will also allow purchased Saturday tickets to be used for Sunday.

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