Rhode Island Comic Con

Rhode Island Comic Con
Status Active
Genre Comics
Venue Rhode Island Convention Center[1]
Location(s) Providence, Rhode Island
Country United States
Inaugurated 2012[2]
Attendance 17,000 in 2013[3]
Organized by Altered Reality Entertainment LLC.[1]
Website
http://www.ricomiccon.com/

Rhode Island Comic Con (RICC) is an two day comic convention held during November at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island.[1][4] The convention was Rhode Island's first Comic Con.[2]

Programming

The convention typically offers artists, celebrity guests, cars, comic book authors, a costume contest, gaming, kids-con, professional wrestlers, vendors, video game tournaments, and voice artists.[1][2][5][6] In 2013, the convention also hosted several wedding ceremonies.[6]

History

Rhode Island Comic Con held its first event in 2012 at the Rhode Island Convention Center and took two years to prepare.[2] David Anders, Anthony Michael Hall, Madison Lintz, Jett Lucas, Nichelle Nichols, Chanel Ryan, and Raphael Sbarge could not make it to the 2013 convention due to the 2013 Los Angeles International Airport shooting.[7][8] A Halloween party was held on Friday before the convention in 2014.[1] The fire marshal shutdown RICC temporarily on Saturday due to over-crowding.[3][9] Rhode Island Comic Con has grow so quickly that on Saturday at 2:00 pm the attendance at the show had reached over 20,000[10][11] It was the first time in Rhode Island Convention Center history a shutdown due to over capacity occurred.[3][11]The attendees in line suffered from poor weather conditions[12][13][14] Attendees were later allowed to enter in small groups when the crowds began to allow or they could exchange tickets for Sunday.[3][15] Refunds were later issued for attendees who purchased tickets but could not enter the convention.[14][16] Crowding was also caused by the convention's 50 percent growth in one year and the convention center not being prepared for attendees to stay so long.[14][16] Sunday did not experience the same levels of crowding and ticket sales were capped.[17][18] Solutions that the convention center have suggested include expanding the show to three days and using space in the Dunkin' Donuts Center.[14][16]

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
November 3–4, 2012 Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island		16,000 (est)[2] Nicholas Brendon, John de Lancie, Quinton Flynn, Jason David Frank, Gil Gerard, Dan Gilvezan, Mark Goddard, Richard Hatch, Walter E. Jones, Tom Kane, Peter Mayhew, David Orange, Robert Picardo, Billy West, David Yost,[4] Jim Duggan, Lee Meriwether, Ian Robb, Jake Roberts, Claudia Wells,[2] Dirk Benedict, and Walter Simonson.[19]
November 2–3, 2013[6][20] Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island		25,000[3] Robert Axelrod, Nakia Burrise, Nicki Clyne, Jason David Frank, Gil Gerard, Barbara Goodson, Yaya Han, Alan Harris, Ernie Hudson, Walter E. Jones, Larry Kenney, Riki "Riddle" LeCotey, Jason Narvy, Jessica Nigri, Ethan Phillips, Robert Picardo, Paul Schrier, Dana Snyder, Catherine Sutherland, Burt Ward, Adam West, David Yost,[21] Joe Chin, Danny Glover, Howard Finkel, Simon Fisher-Becker, Gremlina, C. Thomas Howell, Keith Johnson, Terry Kiser, Marty Kove, Andrew McCarthy, Kevin Nash, Julie Newmar, Marky Ramone, James Tolkan, Rikishi, Jonathan Silverman, Catherine Mary Stewart, Larry Storch, Claudia Wells, Billy Dee Williams, William Zabka,[7] Nicholas Brendon, Rusty Gilligan, Richard Hatch, Tawny Kitaen,[6] John Amos, Yvonne Craig, and Jimmie Walker[20]
November 1–2, 2014 Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island		40,000+ Karan Ashley, Colin Baker, Michael Biehn, Eliza Dushku, Gigi Edgley, David J. Fielding, Anthony Michael Hall, Richard Horvitz, Walter Koenig, Peter Mayhew, Eddie McClintock, Vic Mignogna, Samantha Newark, Nichelle Nichols, Ray Park, John Rhys-Davies, Saul Rubinek, William Shatner, Mark Sheppard, Orli Shoshan, Rikki Simons, Austin St. John, George Takei, Veronica Taylor,[22] John Coppinger, Seth Gilliam, Michael Kingma, Michael Rooker, Scott Wilson, and Matthew Wood,[5] Neal Adams, Jim Beaver, Belle Chere, Abby Fellows, Alaina Huffman, Destiny Nickelsen, Jonny Ruckus, Jim Steranko, Steven Williams, Rick Worthy.[23] and Karen Allen.[15]
November 6–8, 2015 Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island		 TBD

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Smith, Andy (October 30, 2014). "R.I. Comic Con offers a chance to mingle with sci-fi stars". Providence Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Hendricks, Jordan (November 5, 2012). "First R.I. Comic Con draws celebrities, gamers". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Ziner, Karen Lee (November 1, 2014). "What's the attraction? Overcrowded R.I. Comic Con runs short on space". Providence Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Rhode Island Comic Con 2012 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2014-11-02.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Weisberg, Tim (October 30, 2014). "Rhode Island Comic Con: 5 things you can't miss". South Coast Today. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Pelletier, Jenna (October 31, 2013). "Fantasy becomes reality as R.I. Comic Con swoops into Providence this weekend". Providence Journal. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Weisberg, Tim (November 10, 2013). "Reflections on an epic Comic Con". South Coast Today. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  8. ↑ Salit, Richard (November 3, 2013). "Some celebrities a no-show at RI Comic Con due to shooting at LAX". Providence Journal. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  9. ↑ Ponte, Erica (November 2, 2014). "Comic Con officials apologize for overcrowding". WPRI. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Ziner, Karen Lee (November 1, 2014). "Crowd at RI Comic Con swells to over 20,000, fire marshal not allowing anyone in". Providence Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Rhode Island Comic Con ticket holders turned away". ABC6. November 2, 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  12. ↑ Kolb, Jeff (November 1, 2014). "RI Comic Con turns away ticket holders after exceeding capacity". NBC10. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  13. ↑ Ponte, Erica (November 2, 2014). "RI Convention Center hits capacity during Comic Con". WPRI. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Naylor, Donita (November 3, 2014). "Fans locked out of R.I. Comic Con in line for ticket refunds". Providence Journal. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Semon, Craig S. (November 7, 2014). "This year's Rhode Island Comic Con had it all". News Telegram. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Putman, Cierra (November 3, 2014). "Convention center says refunds available for RI Comic Con". NBC10. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  17. ↑ Reyes, Gabriella (November 4, 2014). "In costume, thousands trek to Rhode Island Comic Con". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  18. ↑ Putman, Cierra (November 3, 2014). "Convention center says refunds available for RI Comic Con TV". NBC10. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  19. ↑ Alvarez, Victor (October 31, 2012). "Geek heaven at the Comic Con". The Phoenix. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Rosenberg, Alan (September 13, 2013). "Comic Con: Rhode Island's 2nd annual pop-culture convention is not to be missed". Providence Journal. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "Rhode Island Comic Con 2013 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2014-11-02.
  22. ↑ "Rhode Island Comic Con 2014 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2014-11-02.
  23. ↑ Melo, Courtney (November 3, 2014). "Was Comic Con Too Popular - Fire Marshall and Social Media Less Than Pleased". GoLocalProv. Retrieved 15 November 2014.

External links

Coordinates: 41°49′N 71°25′W / 41.817°N 71.417°W