We hate to say this was a long time coming, but….it was a long time coming. Wizard World, mainstay in the pop culture convention world for 25 years, is no more. As of this morning, all Wizard World events have been purchased by competitor FAN EXPO.
There were still six Wizard World conventions on the books, one of which, Wizard World Chicago in October of 2021, will be the true very last Wizard World. The other five will be rebranded as FAN EXPO events. These include Philadelphia (TBA 2022), New Orleans (January 2022), Portland (January 2022), St. Louis (May 2022), and Cleveland (TBA 2022).
FAN EXPO HQ President Aman Gupta said in a statement about the news:
“FAN EXPO HQ is devoted to creating unmissable, exceptional fan experiences. We’re beyond thrilled to be able to offer that to fans in six new locations, and pleased that Wizard World recognized our ability to elevate guest experience to the next level. We’re looking forward to getting to know each of these individual communities, learn what they’re looking for, and raise the bar! Personally, I’m eager to contribute to the incredible legacy of the Chicago event, the second oldest comic event in North America (1972), and restore it to its former glory and beyond.”
Also, unclear if FAN EXPO will be honoring Wizard World prizes from previous events, which oftentimes included an all expenses paid trip (air fair, accommodations) to an upcoming event for cosplay contest winners.
Mary Anne Butler (Mab) has been part of the fast-paced world of journalism since she was 15, getting her start in album reviews and live concert coverage for a nationally published (print) music magazine. She eventually transitioned to online media, writing for such sites as UGO/IGN, ComicsOnline, Geek Magazine, Ace of Geeks, Aggressive Comix (where she is still Editor-in-Chief), Bleeding Cool (where she was News Editor), and now NerdBot as News Editor.
Over the past 10 years, she’s built a reputation at conventions across the globe as a cosplayer (occasionally), photographer (constantly), panelist and moderator (mostly), and reporter (always). Interviews, reviews, observations, breaking news, and objective reporting are the name of the game for the founder of Harkonnen Knife Fight, a Dune-themed band with an international presence.
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