SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE COMIC EXPO IN CALGARY

Organizers of Calgary’s comic expo are already planning for next year and aiming for the stars — trying to top the celebrity lineup and better handle shutout crowds.

As refunds are sorted and planners begin debriefing, an important question remains.

How can they top this year’s star-studded lineup?

Organizers are looking to a galaxy far, far away — the cast of Star Wars.

“There’s iconic casts of characters, more members of the Star Wars cast, principal cast members we’re pursuing,” said spokesman Steven Hodges.

“We want to reach out. I would love to see a Star Wars focus, a big cast reunion. I think we have something with the cast reunion and the iconic characters.”

The high demand for tickets to this year’s event caused headaches and heartaches for fans who were turned away or locked out when the popular event reached crowd capacity at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo on the weekend.

Organizers had anticipated 35,000 fans — about 5,000 more than last year — but the Stampede Park BMO Centre was mobbed by a crowd of nearly 50,000.

This year’s dramatic spike can be attributed largely to the event’s stellar celebrity lineup.

Iconic comic book creator Stan Lee, TV’s Batman Adam West and a highly anticipated cast reunion of Star Trek: The Next Generation was a dream come true for organizers.

Having that kind of star power thrust the seven-year-old Calgary event into the big leagues, competing for stars with New York, Las Vegas and San Diego.

The show may be a victim of its own success. But organizers say they’re already looking ahead to next year and how it could be run more smoothly.

“Because of the amazing successes, we’re dealing with challenges and opportunities that shows with 10 or 12 years behind them are having,” said spokesman Steven Hodges.

“Now we need to get into a room with our partners and talk about how can we make this show better and talk about how we can top 2012. We’re going to work with the Stampede until our hiccups aren’t hiccups anymore.”

In its short seven years, the Calgary comic expo has skyrocketed from a community centre gathering to a major convention player.

With that are its obvious growing pains. This year’s star-studded lineup attracted fans far and wide.

Long waits were ordered by the fire marshal when huge crowds descended in high volume.

Director Kandrix Foong likened the backed up crowd to rush-hour traffic.

“It’s straight up volume.”

Sunday morning looked to be much of the same, as lines stretched outside of the park.

But shortly after 10 a.m., hoards were turned away when organizers announced no more general admission tickets would be sold.

Pass holders walked with ease into the BMO Centre to again begin lining up to pay for autographs, photos and food.

By late morning, there was no lineup at all.

The comic expo made great strides attracting original Star Trek stars over the past two years.

“We brought Leonard Nimoy to Vulcan, Alberta. When people witnessed history made, they said how are you going to top 2010? That’s when we brought in William Shatner. We topped Shatner with Next Generation. We were one of a handful of shows that were picked for this opportunity,” said Hodges.

“We’ll scour the globe if we have to. These pop culture icons, there’s not a lot of them left.”

Ticket holders came from Australia, Italy, and all over the United States and Canada.

Sean Flint arrived for the weekend from Regina, but was locked out Saturday.

“People were packed in like cattle. My wife was on the inside,” he said.

“I was on the outside with everything prepaid. They told us we had to go home, no one else is being let in at 3 p.m. The volunteer used a bullhorn to announce this. They sold too many tickets for the event. It was not a rush hour. They ruined my vacation.”

Calgarian Karen Jackson bought prepaid weekend passes as a birthday present for her husband, Todd.

But the party was dimmed when friends waiting for general admission passes were turned away.

“It was really disappointing,” said Karen. “He’s a total comic fan, and he couldn’t get in.”

szickefoose@

calgaryherald.com