Crowds filled downtown Kansas City this weekend as vendors and fans gathered for one of the region’s largest pop culture events.Planet Comicon Kansas City returned to Bartle Hall, drawing tens of thousands of attendees and delivering a boost to local businesses.“It’s bigger every year,” said William Binderup, owner of Elite Comic and a vendor at the convention.Binderup, who has participated in the event for years, said this year stood out.“Oh, it’s fantastic. We made all kinds of new customers,” he said. “This is the best one.”He said events like Planet Comicon allow vendors to showcase items that can be harder to move in a traditional storefront.“At a show this big, you have buyers from all over the country. It’s your chance to show high-dollar books to high-dollar buyers,” Binderup said.Organizers said the impact reaches well beyond the convention floor.“It generates a tremendous economic impact for downtown Kansas City,” said Chris Phelan with Planet Comicon.Phelan said the event was expected to draw around 75,000 attendees, filling hotels and supporting nearby businesses.“Seven different hotels, more than 2,000 hotel nights, and nearly $14 million in economic impact just from this weekend,” he said.Binderup said the convention is also a place to connect with new audiences and explore different areas of pop culture.“There’s all kinds of anime and video game people, and I have no idea who they are. I’m like, ‘That’s awesome. What is it?’” he said.Despite the celebrity appearances and expanded programming, he said comics remain at the center of the event.“The vendors like that this is a real comic book convention. Even though we have all these celebrities, comics are still the main thing,” Binderup said.As for business this weekend, he said simply: “It’s been killer.”
Crowds filled downtown Kansas City this weekend as vendors and fans gathered for one of the region’s largest pop culture events.
Planet Comicon Kansas City returned to Bartle Hall, drawing tens of thousands of attendees and delivering a boost to local businesses.
“It’s bigger every year,” said William Binderup, owner of Elite Comic and a vendor at the convention.
Binderup, who has participated in the event for years, said this year stood out.
“Oh, it’s fantastic. We made all kinds of new customers,” he said. “This is the best one.”
He said events like Planet Comicon allow vendors to showcase items that can be harder to move in a traditional storefront.
“At a show this big, you have buyers from all over the country. It’s your chance to show high-dollar books to high-dollar buyers,” Binderup said.
Organizers said the impact reaches well beyond the convention floor.
“It generates a tremendous economic impact for downtown Kansas City,” said Chris Phelan with Planet Comicon.
Phelan said the event was expected to draw around 75,000 attendees, filling hotels and supporting nearby businesses.
“Seven different hotels, more than 2,000 hotel nights, and nearly $14 million in economic impact just from this weekend,” he said.
Binderup said the convention is also a place to connect with new audiences and explore different areas of pop culture.
“There’s all kinds of anime and video game people, and I have no idea who they are. I’m like, ‘That’s awesome. What is it?’” he said.
Despite the celebrity appearances and expanded programming, he said comics remain at the center of the event.
“The vendors like that this is a real comic book convention. Even though we have all these celebrities, comics are still the main thing,” Binderup said.
As for business this weekend, he said simply: “It’s been killer.”