Date: 2017 June 05 17:06
Posted by Joe
The huge event known as MCM London Comic Con has just finished and they've sent us the attendee numbers. The May 2017 event attracted 130,212 people over the 3 days.
These numbers are slightly down (1,096 people) from the 131,308 attendees at the October 2016 event and down by 2,938 people from 133,150 from the May 2016 MCM London Comic Con.
Considering it was just after the tragic attack in Manchester, this could have impacted the number of attendees with some people not being keen to go to a large event so soon after an attack. From our observations, the MCM group did everything within their powers to increase security at the event and also minimise disruption for attendees.
Additionally, you can't really expect the huge growth the MCM Events have had to always continue. While the London Comic Con is their flagship event. They've experienced consider considerable popularity with their regional events. It makes us wonder, have we hit peak geek? Can these numbers continue to grow, or has the market for geek events hit it's logical limit? After all, there are only so many geeks in the UK and only so many events they can attend each year.
Full Story
Press release as follows:
MCM LONDON COMIC CON – EXCEL LONDON – 26-28 MAY 2017
MCM London Comic Con celebrates 31st show with superhero battles, a Comic Carnaval and cosplaying fans galore
The first MCM London Comic Con of 2017 has just closed its doors to a successful weekend of sun, superhero battles and 130,212 sci-fi fans, gamers, comic collectors, movie buffs and anime enthusiasts attending the three-day pop culture fest.
Alongside an excitingly eclectic mix of sci-fi, film, TV, online video, comic book, gaming, anime and cosplay content, last weekend's Comic Con played host to an exciting line-up of guests who took the show by storm.
"This has been one of our best London events yet," said Josh Denham, event manager for MCM London Comic Con. "From Deadpool cosplay to Beauty and the Beast’s Belle, fans turned out in full force and the buzz on the show floor was just incredible. The atmosphere and feedback we’ve had since, further cements the show's status as Europe’s leading comic con and the third largest event of its kind in the world."
Headlining the scorching pop-culture weekend was international action star and martial arts legend Donnie Yen (Ip Man, Hero), who recently starred on our screens as blind warrior Chirrut Îmwe in Star Wars: Rogue One, and Doctor Who companion Catherine Tate, who brought action to our screens with the world’s most famous time traveller.
Star of popular new teen mystery drama Riverdale, KJ Apa drew in the masses, while Verne Troyer, most famous for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers films had the crowds in laughter with his story-telling, and Firefly cast members Summer Glau and Sean Maher from Joss Whedon’s much-loved sci-fi western and its film follow-up Serenity entertained visitors.
They were joined by British action star Scott Adkins, whose big screen credits include Doctor Strange, The Bourne Ultimatum and The Expendables 2, alongside cast from a legion of sci-fi, superhero and fantasy franchises, from Game of Thrones, Arrow, Star Wars, The Hobbit, Adventure Time, as well as stars from NCIS: Los Angeles, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Originals, Power Rangers and Red Dwarf.
From space operas to time travel, to battles beyond the stars, our Authors Corner featured an exciting line-up of best-selling and debut authors including screenwriter, novelist and comics writer M R Carey (The Girl With All The Gifts), Ed McDonald (Blackwing), Nicholas Eames (Kings of The Wyld), RJ Barker (Age of Assassins), Justina Robson (Keeping It Real), Sam Maggs (Wonder Women).
Other attractions included the bustling VidfestUK – the European event for fans of online video and web series, a packed roster of eSports tournaments; leading videogame publishers and anime distributors; an MCM Fringe Festival and, of course, hundreds of retailers and exhibitors.
NEW for 2017, MCM teamed up with the world’s first ever cosplay carnival band Legion Mas for the first MCM Comic Carnaval on the Saturday night, which proved to be an MCM after-party unlike any other.
Fusing the world of Carnaval and Comic Con together in one spectacular blend, the party featured live performances, musical acts and a bevy of international street cuisine for all the revellers that worked up an appetite.
Denham added: "For anyone looking to expand their horizons in the world of pop-culture, come and celebrate all things Comic Con with us when we return to ExCeL London on 27-29 October!"
NOTE: Superhero battle
Contrary to popular belief and headlines circling the globe, Lou Ferrigno (The Original Incredible Hulk) and Sam J. Jones (Flash Gordon) didn’t butt heads at the show. As entertaining as it would have been to have seen a superhero battle, it sadly didn’t happen. However, it’s certainly given us ideas for the next show...
MCM Northern Ireland Comic Con is next in the MCM series, to be held on 24-25 June at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Belfast.
MCM London Comic Con is currently shortlisted in the 2017
AEO Excellence Awards for Best Consumer Show.
Website: www.mcmcomiccon.com/london
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mcmcomiccon
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mcmexpo