Phoenix Comic Fest organizers decide to end Phoenix Fan Fest

The organizers of Phoenix Comic Fest have decided to discontinue Phoenix Fan Fest, their fall pop-culture convention.

Square Egg Entertainment announced Thursday on Facebook that it was ending the show after four years.

"Phoenix Fan Fest, traditionally held in October or November, has struggled over the years to find its own identity, audience, balance of price, size, and offerings, and community support," the company said in a post.

The company said it decided to end Fan Fest "in the best interest of the future of all our shows."

Matthew Bejot, owner of Surprise Comics, has exhibited at both Phoenix Fan Fest and Phoenix Comic fest. He said he likes to vend at one show a month, so he'll have to find something else for October. But Fan Fest wasn't a really big show for him so it's not a major hit for revenue.

"I don't feel like they owe me a show," he said. "Fan Fusion (formerly Phoenix Comic fest) seems to be the main focus that is planned a year in advance... and Fan Fest seems to be thrown together last minute."

He says he'll miss the convenience because he doesn't have to travel and get a hotel, so he can "make more money and the overheard is a lot lower."

Melissa Bocconcelli, 39, of Peoria, took her daughter to Phoenix Fan Fest in 2015 when it was at the University of Phoenix Stadium. That's where the then 11-year old girl "caught the 'con bug.'"

"Fan Fest offered a wide variety of guests, panels, and activities that were family-friendly," she wrote in an email. "Fan Fest is/was also more affordable for families to attend... We truly are saddened to hear the Fan Fest has been scrapped by Square Egg."

Bocconcelli said there is more competition now with Ace Comic Con introduced last year in Glenale, and other events in states nearby.

"For us, and potentially other attendees, having one less con to look forward to is disappointing," she wrote.

In addition to last weekend's Phoenix Comic Fest, Square Egg has pop-culture conventions scheduled in Las Vegas and Minnesota this year.

Square Egg launched Fan Fest in December 2014 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. The event moved to the downtown Phoenix Convention Center in 2016.

Other big changes for Phoenix Comic Fest

Square Egg announced Sunday that its flagship show, Phoenix Comic Fest, would be renamed Phoenix Fan Fusion next year. The four-day event was known for 12 years as Phoenix Comicon.

Organizers made major changes to the popular convention this year, especially to security and registration.

SEE ALSO: What worked, didn't work at Comic Fest

The changes came after a man was arrested on the first day of Phoenix Comicon last year. Mathew Sterling had multiple weapons and intended to harm police officers and a celebrity guest, according to court records.

Square Egg has not announced attendance figures for this year's show. Spokeswoman Kristin Rowan said Sunday attendance for Phoenix Comic Fest was above expectations, but lower than attendance in 2017.

The 2017 convention drew just more than 80,000 attendees. In 2016, there were more than 200,000 attendees.

Phoenix Fan Fusion will be held at the downtown Phoenix Convention Center during Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, 2019.

The Republic's Kellie Hwang contributed to this report.

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