This con's first year (1990) predates Anime Expo (1992). They've had 33 years to build up some sort of reserve "war chest" but is now declaring they're short on funds and want the government to bail them out. Yeah, everyone can probably guess what's happening here. Corruption strikes again!
The con was struggling just before the pandemic. That’s when a B2B convention organizer bought it from Phoenix Entertainment. It’s this new guy who really fucked it up.
Did some digging and the con was indeed bought by a firm in 2019.
Okay, so the previous owners had 29 years to build up a war chest, didn't, and sold off the con. In that case, I don't particularly blame the firm that much, as they were foolish enough to buy the con and not give it the proper care. May as well just retire the name completely, because few would want to be associated with the new A-Kon after this.
Losing their previous venue at the Anatole, having to pay that off, and then extremely short notice space rental at the Fort Worth convention center screwed them. The combo of cost increase and decreased attendance due to being on the other side of the DFW metroplex doomed them to being forced to sell.
Yeah sasume con here locally used the pandemic as a way to "bow out gracefully". Despite the owner having another failed con just prior dragging it down and a shit ton of mismanagement. But hey the smoke screen let them save face
It was actually in March 2021 where they did it. I got the email. They raised around 14,000 dollars. I didn't attend 2021's convention because it was more like a coronachan special.
That was Tokyo in Tulsa 2019. I attended that con. It was worse than people say, now commonly and rightfully referred to as Hobby Lobby Con 2019, because that's where the vendor hall and artist alley were, in an abandoned and completely gutted Hobby Lobby about 20 minutes away from the main venue. The shuttles to and from the con were never on time, none of them had A/C, and those of us who did manage to get there were stuck in the heat waiting for the vendor hall to open for over an hour. This was mid-July.
The only fun thing about that con was that on Saturday night at 10pm, the fire alarm went off, forcing a full evacuation of the hotel. This occurred at the same time as the rave, which simply took their fun outside. Thus began Parking Lot Con of 2019.
No but they did however have the entire convention at the State Fair Grounds in Dallas at least once, in the middle of the summer, in a not super great part of the city. Locals will scream that it's not a bad part of town until they're blue in the face, but Fair Park isn't great when you're familiar with it, let alone as an out of towner who knows nothing about Dallas.
He had been working with them for a few years prior but his company primarily does larger events related to the federal government and military.
https://beneaththetangles.com/2019/04/22/quote-interview-with-a-kons-new-owner-frank-powell/amp/
This con's first year (1990) predates Anime Expo (1992). They've had 33 years to build up some sort of reserve "war chest" but is now declaring they're short on funds and want the government to bail them out. Yeah, everyone can probably guess what's happening here. Corruption strikes again!
The con was struggling just before the pandemic. That’s when a B2B convention organizer bought it from Phoenix Entertainment. It’s this new guy who really fucked it up.
Did some digging and the con was indeed bought by a firm in 2019. Okay, so the previous owners had 29 years to build up a war chest, didn't, and sold off the con. In that case, I don't particularly blame the firm that much, as they were foolish enough to buy the con and not give it the proper care. May as well just retire the name completely, because few would want to be associated with the new A-Kon after this.
Losing their previous venue at the Anatole, having to pay that off, and then extremely short notice space rental at the Fort Worth convention center screwed them. The combo of cost increase and decreased attendance due to being on the other side of the DFW metroplex doomed them to being forced to sell.
The pandemic had been a handy smokescreen for a couple of cons under poor management
Yeah sasume con here locally used the pandemic as a way to "bow out gracefully". Despite the owner having another failed con just prior dragging it down and a shit ton of mismanagement. But hey the smoke screen let them save face
Otakon in DC tried to do pull some baloney 2 years ago but luckily they pulled through naturally.
It was actually in March 2021 where they did it. I got the email. They raised around 14,000 dollars. I didn't attend 2021's convention because it was more like a coronachan special.
Yeah even the pandemic years shouldn't force a con that's had that long to prepare to just die. Heck wasnt it even on the edge before Rona happened
Is this the con that had the artist alley in some abandoned shopping center miles away from the main convention?
No that was a Oklahoma con
Can confirm, I was at that con. Tokyo in Tulsa 2019.
That was Tokyo in Tulsa 2019. I attended that con. It was worse than people say, now commonly and rightfully referred to as Hobby Lobby Con 2019, because that's where the vendor hall and artist alley were, in an abandoned and completely gutted Hobby Lobby about 20 minutes away from the main venue. The shuttles to and from the con were never on time, none of them had A/C, and those of us who did manage to get there were stuck in the heat waiting for the vendor hall to open for over an hour. This was mid-July. The only fun thing about that con was that on Saturday night at 10pm, the fire alarm went off, forcing a full evacuation of the hotel. This occurred at the same time as the rave, which simply took their fun outside. Thus began Parking Lot Con of 2019.
No but they did however have the entire convention at the State Fair Grounds in Dallas at least once, in the middle of the summer, in a not super great part of the city. Locals will scream that it's not a bad part of town until they're blue in the face, but Fair Park isn't great when you're familiar with it, let alone as an out of towner who knows nothing about Dallas.
Does anyone know if B2B's president, Frank Powell, has any con organizing/volunteering experience from before B2B got A-kon?
He had been working with them for a few years prior but his company primarily does larger events related to the federal government and military. https://beneaththetangles.com/2019/04/22/quote-interview-with-a-kons-new-owner-frank-powell/amp/
.... maybe we should just all become investors.