The City of Adrian hosted its first comic con earlier this month. The idea came from a focus group at Siena Heights University in January 2016. The team at Visit Lenawee wanted to brainstorm activities that would capture college students’ interests and get them more involved within the community. When a comic con event was suggested, Executive Director, Justin Gifford was eager to start planning. He met with John Kalel, owner of Your Comic Con, to make arrangements for hosting an event in Adrian.
The comic con featured more than just comic books. Local artists showcased projects, the audience participated in cosplay costume contests, even stunt sword fighting made a highlight. Thirty-seven vendors from across the state reserved tables while an additional 42 sat on a waiting list. Over 700 excited comic con fans attended throughout the day, and an estimated 60% visited from outside Lenawee County.
Gifford feels this event has opened doors for many closet fans in the area. “Adrian’s first comic con has peaked an interest and uncovered a secret desire for fans here in Lenawee County,” he explained.
What does this mean for economic development? Hosting events like these open a multitude of opportunities to invite new audiences to our area. Local hotels reported increase in revenue of over 20% for the weekend, and businesses reported a significant increase in traffic directly from the comic con. Due to this, overall expectations were exceeded, not just for the event itself, but for the Adrian community.
Planning has already begun for next year’s event. Visit Lenawee and John Kalel are busy brainstorming ideas for a weekend comic con in the Fall with new attractions including a zombie exhibit and food trucks. Stay tuned for updates from the Visit Lenawee Facebook page.
