Grand Rapids Comic-Con had a good problem with its inaugural event this past Saturday: there wasn’t enough room to fit all the attendees in at one time.
The event took place at the Home School Building in Wyoming, where, according to the event’s Facebook page, around 3,500 people attended, and around 2,000 people were turned away, because they quickly reached capacity.
A line which first began as a few hundred people soon grew so much that it had stretched past the Home School Building’s parking lot and into the grassy area beyond.
It was a bright sunny day, one where some costume-clad fans had to remove some pieces of their guises to beat the heat, but it didn’t diminish the aura of excitement that surrounded the event.
“I’m honestly just glad there’s finally a Comic-Con in Grand Rapids,” said Julia Fisher, 22.
Vendors, artists, and writers packed the event, selling items from original artwork and classic comics, to action figures and rare memorabilia.
While the show is much smaller than most Comic-Cons, the obvious demand seen from how many people attended is a good sign for things to come.
“Seeing how many people came this year, I can’t wait to see how big this event gets in the future,” said Zachary Thomas, 19, an attendee from Wyoming.
In an earlier interview with the Collegiate, co-event coordinator Mark Hodges said the event would likely have to move to a larger venue next year and named the DeltaPlex as a possible option. He said organizers are keeping their options open, because even the DeltaPlex may not be large enough to contain the Comic-Con crowd.
Dates and locations for Grand Rapids Comic-Con in 2014, 2015, and 2016 will be officially announced in the coming weeks on the event’s Facebook page.
Check back for photos from the event.
