With so much talk of a convention center expansion, some proponents of a non-contiguous plan —that is to say an expansion that is unconnected to the current facility — seem to use Comic-Con as an instrument to rally their supporters.

Some signature gatherers even featured signs reading “Keep Comic-Con in San Diego,” giving the false impression that Comic-Con supported those efforts. And recently Comic-Con was mentioned in a statement from the San Diego Chargers as the team announced its support of a multi-use stadium facility unconnected to the current convention center.

We will say what we have always said: Comic-Con believes that a contiguous convention center expansion (one that is connected to the current facility) would be best for Comic-Con, and most beneficial for any large event San Diego might host in the future.

The ability to have all exhibitors under one roof is considerably more beneficial for attendees and show organizers. There have long been a variety of challenges facing Comic-Con in our desire to remain in San Diego that go beyond just a convention center expansion. But with the help of the current and past mayors, City Council members, local hoteliers and convention center staff, we have been able to successfully address many of those issues.

If a convention center is built across the street or blocks away from the current location, any convention considering an event in San Diego would be forced to determine who gets to stay at the main facility and who is relegated to the “other” venue. Comic-Con experienced a similar scenario some years ago when we attempted to create more exhibit space by moving some exhibitors upstairs to the Sails Pavilion. Even though all exhibitors were in the same building, the fact that some were only one floor removed from others caused a great deal of consternation as they objected to not being on what they considered to be the main exhibit floor. And while Comic-Con currently has some meetings and events offsite, with the exception of Comic-Con’s own T-shirt vendor, they are non-retail in nature, and some offsite event have no official connection to Comic-Con at all.

If a non-contiguous facility is built, any convention considering San Diego as a venue will have to consider whether they will need to rent the new facility even if they had little or no plan for its use. If nothing else than to prevent the very real threat of rival events securing that space or ambush marketing that would draw attendees, and revenue, away from the original facility, their programs and exhibitors.

We have been very public in our desire to stay in San Diego and that has not changed. We also understand this is a very difficult decision and one that citizens should not take lightly.

The bottom line is any convention center expansion should be considered because of the value that new facility will bring to the city as a whole, and not just whether it can accommodate one convention.

We still believe strongly that a contiguous expansion is the best solution for the city. And Comic-Con will continue to do what we have done for all of our years in San Diego. We will examine whatever the final decision is and try to work within whatever parameters we are given.

We are San Diego-born and the fact that America’s Finest City has embraced our quirky, geeky, nerdy event and continues to proudly and rightly champion it as its own is not lost on us. And because of this we honestly hope to remain in San Diego for many more years to come.