Rhode Island Comic Con

Coordinates: 41°49′27″N 71°25′1″W / 41.82417°N 71.41694°W / 41.82417; -71.41694
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Rhode Island Comic Con
StatusActive
GenreComics
VenueRhode Island Convention Center[1]
Amica Mutual Pavilion[2]
Omni Providence Hotel[3]
Location(s)Providence, Rhode Island
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2012[4]
Attendance81,000 in 2016[5]
Organized byAltered Reality Entertainment LLC[1]
Websitewww.ricomiccon.com

Rhode Island Comic Con (RICC) is a three-day comic convention held during November at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Amica Mutual Pavilion, and Omni Providence Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island.[1][2][3] The convention was Rhode Island's first Comic Con.[4] Organizers also run Terror Con, a horror convention at the same location,[5] and starting in 2023, the Rhode Island Anime Con was held at the same location as well.[6]

Programming

The convention typically offers artists, celebrity guests, cars, comic book authors, a costume contest, gaming, kids-con, professional wrestlers, vendors, video game tournaments, and voice artists.[1][4][7][8] In 2013, the convention also hosted several wedding ceremonies.[8] The 2018 event brought an estimated $4.2 million to the area's economy.[9]

History

Rhode Island Comic Con held its first event in 2012 at the Rhode Island Convention Center and took two years to prepare.[4] David Anders, Anthony Michael Hall, Madison Lintz, Jett Lucas, Nichelle Nichols, Chanel Ryan, and Raphael Sbarge could not make it to the 2013 convention due to the 2013 Los Angeles International Airport shooting.[10][11] A Halloween party was held on Friday before the convention in 2014.[1] The fire marshal shutdown RICC temporarily on Saturday due to over capacity caused by poor attendance flow.[12][13] Rhode Island Convention Center has a maximum occupancy of 17,000 and attendance at the time of shutdown was over 20,000.[14][15] It was the first time in Rhode Island Convention Center history a shutdown due to over capacity occurred.[12][15] An estimated 1,500 or more attendees were unable to enter the convention.[12][16] Many were attendees who left the convention but could not re-enter.[14][17] The attendees in line suffered from poor weather conditions and chants for refunds began.[18][19][20] Attendees were later allowed to enter in small groups (100 people) or could exchange tickets for Sunday.[12][16] Refunds were later issued for attendees who purchased tickets but could not enter the convention.[20][21] Crowding was also caused by the convention's 50 percent growth, not using all available space, and the convention center not being prepared for attendees to stay so long.[20][21] Sunday did not experience the same levels of crowding and ticket sales were capped.[22][23]

Prior to the 2015, RICC changed its press policy due to concerns that it limited negative free speech about the event.

Dunkin' Donuts Center, increasing to three days, ticket scanning to accurately know attendance figures, a 17,000 ticket sales cap per day, and increased vendor food supply.[2][25] Carrie Fisher cancelled her 2015 appearance due to illness.[2][26] Jorge Elorza, the mayor of Providence, participated in the Comic Con's opening ceremony.[27] Saturday's ticket sales for Rhode Island Comic Con stopped at 10:30 a.m.[28] The convention in 2015 had over 500 volunteers.[25] Before 2016's convention, Kate Beckinsale canceled her appearance due to work commitments.[29] Friday and Saturday tickets sold out for the 2016 convention.[30] "Rhode Warrior", the conventions comic book, launched at the 2016 event.[31][32] Due to issues with photo ops after 2016, a different company was used in 2017, and RICC added ballroom space (Narragansett Ballrooms) in the Omni Providence Hotel.[3][5][33] Additional line space was added in a large tent behind the Dunkin' Donuts Center.[33]

Several major guests cancelled before the 2017 convention, including

Veterans Memorial Auditorium.[37][33] The convention used the Omni Providence Hotel for almost all panel content in 2018.[38] An additional entrance was also added to the convention to reduce wait times.[39] Rhode Island Comic Con 2020 and Rhode Island Comic Con Summer Edition 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[40][41][42][43] The 2021 convention had mask requirements, but enforcement was poor.[44][45]

Event history

Dates Location Attend. Guests
November 3–4, 2012 Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island
15,000 (est.)[4] or 16,000[25]Billy West, Claudia Wells, Dan Gilvezan, David Orange, David Yost, Dirk Benedict, Gil Gerard, Ian Robb, Jake Roberts,[4] Jason David Frank, Jim Duggan, John de Lancie, Lee Meriwether, Mark Goddard, Nicholas Brendon, Peter Mayhew, Quinton Flynn, Richard Hatch, Robert Picardo,[46] Tom Kane, Walter E. Jones, and Walter Simonson.[47]
November 2–3, 2013[8][48] Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island
17,000[12]Adam West, Alan Harris, Andrew McCarthy, Barbara Goodson, Billy Dee Williams, Burt Ward, C. Thomas Howell, Catherine Mary Stewart, Catherine Sutherland, Claudia Wells,[10] Dana Snyder, Danny Glover, David Yost, Ernie Hudson, Ethan Phillips, Gil Gerard, Gremlina, Howard Finkel, James Tolkan, Jason David Frank, Jason Narvy, Jessica Nigri, Jimmie Walker,[48] Joe Chin, John Amos, Jonathan Silverman, Julie Newmar, Keith Johnson, Kevin Nash, Larry Kenney, Larry Storch, Marky Ramone, Marty Kove, Nakia Burrise, Nicholas Brendon, Nicki Clyne, Paul Schrier, Richard Hatch, Richard Hatch, Riki "Riddle" LeCotey, Rikishi, Robert Axelrod, Robert Picardo, Rusty Gilligan, Simon Fisher-Becker, Tawny Kitaen,[8] Terry Kiser, Walter E. Jones, William Zabka,[49] Yaya Han, and Yvonne Craig.
November 1–2, 2014 Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island
30,000 (est.)[50] or 47,000 (est.)[51]Abby Fellows, Alaina Huffman, Anthony Michael Hall, Austin St. John, Belle Chere, Colin Baker, David J. Fielding, Destiny Nickelsen, Eddie McClintock, Eliza Dushku, George Takei, Gigi Edgley, Jim Beaver, Jim Steranko, John Coppinger, John Rhys-Davies, Jonny Ruckus, Karan Ashley, Karen Allen,[16] Mark Sheppard, Matthew Wood,[7] Michael Biehn, Michael Kingma, Michael Rooker, Neal Adams, Nichelle Nichols, Orli Shoshan, Peter Mayhew, Ray Park, Richard Horvitz, Rick Worthy,[52] Rikki Simons, Samantha Newark, Saul Rubinek, Scott Wilson,[53] Seth Gilliam, Steven Williams, Veronica Taylor, Vic Mignogna, Walter Koenig, and William Shatner.
November 6–8, 2015 Rhode Island Convention Center
.
November 11–13, 2016 Rhode Island Convention Center
Dunkin' Donuts Center
Providence, Rhode Island
81,000
November 10–12, 2017 Rhode Island Convention Center
Dunkin' Donuts Center
Steve Blum, Steve Cardenas, Steve McNiven, Sting, Ted McGinley,[64] Todd Haberkorn
, Tom Cook, Tony Fleecs, and William Shatner.
November 2–4, 2018 Rhode Island Convention Center
Dunkin' Donuts Center
Omni Providence Hotel.
November 1–3, 2019 Rhode Island Convention Center
Dunkin' Donuts Center
Omni Providence Hotel
Tim Rose, Tom Berenger
, and William Shatner.
November 5–7, 2021 Rhode Island Convention Center
Dunkin' Donuts Center
Omni Providence Hotel
Terence Winkless, Terry Michos, The Finest, The Honky Tonk Man, Thomas G. Waites, Tom Arnold, Tony Dow, Tony Todd, Trevor Fehrman, Trina Nishimura, Walter E. Jones, William Shatner, William Zabka,[73] Xolo Maridueña, and Zach Aguilar.[74][75]
November 4–6, 2022 Rhode Island Convention Center
Tait Fletcher, Tara Strong, Tim Blaney, Timothy Zahn, Tom Gibis, Trish Stratus, Vincent D'Onofrio, William Daniels, William Zabka, Yuri Lowenthal, and Zachary Levi.[77]
November 3–5, 2023 Rhode Island Convention Center
Amica Mutual Pavilion
Providence, Rhode Island
Adrian Hough, Alex Garfin, Alison Sealy-Smith, Ally Sheedy, Alyson Court, Amy Jo Johnson, Andrew McCarthy, Angela Goethals, Anna Diop, Anson Mount, Anthony Daniels, Anthony Michael Hall, April Bowlby, Barbara Eden, Barry Gordon, Bill Diamond, Billy West, Bob Eubanks, Brandon Routh, Brent Spiner, Brett Azar, Brittney Karbowski, Cal Dodd, Cam Clarke, Carey Jones, Carl Weathers, Carrie-Anne Moss, Cary Elwes, Cerina Vincent, Chad L. Coleman, Charlie Hunnam, Chris Bartlett, Chris Britton, Chris Potter, Chris Sarandon, Christina Ricci, Daniel Logan, Daniel Ross, David Errigo Jr., David Henrie, David Sobolov, Dean Cain, Denise Crosby, Diane Guerrero, Dorothy Lyman, Doug E. Doug, Edward Furlong, Edward James Olmos, Eric Vale, Erika Harlacher, Ernie Reyes Jr., Eugene Clark, Evangeline Lilly, Famke Janssen, Felicia Day, Garrett Hedlund, Gates McFadden, George Buza, Gerard Christopher, Gigi Edgley, Gina Gershon, Greg Nicotero, Hanna Hall, Harry Hamlin, Harry J. Lennix, Heather Thomas, Holly Marie Combs, Hynden Walch, Irene Bedard, James Murray, Jed Brophy, Jenna Frank, Jeremy Palko, Jeremy Shada, Jessica DiCicco, Jim Cummings, John de Lancie, John DiMaggio, John Glover, John Ratzenberger, John Rhys-Davies, John Schneider, Jordan Elsass, Josh Radnor, Judd Nelson, Judith Hoag, Katey Sagal, Katy O'Brian, Keith Coogan, Kevin Eastman, Kimiko Glenn, Larry Houston, Lauren Tom, Lenore Zann, LeVar Burton, Leon Robinson, Linda Hamilton, Logic, Lou Ferrigno, Malcolm Goodwin, Malik Yoba, Marisa Tomei, Mark Britten, Mark Metcalf, Marley Shelton, Martin Klebba, Mary McDonnell, Mary Oyaya, Matt Hardy, Maurice LaMarche, Michael Rosenbaum, Mike Starr, Mindy Cohn, Ming-Na Wen, Molly Ringwald, Nalini Krishan, Nolan North, Olivia Olson, Orange Cassidy, Paige Turco, Paul Williams, Paula Abdul, Paulo Costanzo, Peter Facinelli, Phil LaMarr, Randy Quaid, Rawle D. Lewis, Renae Jacobs, Rikishi, Rob Paulsen, Rodger Bumpass, Ron Perlman, Ron Rubin, Rose McIver, Ryan Potter, Scott Steiner, Seth Green, Shannen Doherty, Shawna Waldron, Spencer Wilding, Stephanie Czajkowski, Taimak, T. C. Carson, Theo Rossi, Todd Haberkorn, Tom Welling, Townsend Coleman, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Tyler Hoechlin, Vicki Lawrence, Vincent Martella, Walter E. Jones, Walter Koenig, and Wayne Knight.[78]
November 1–3, 2024 Rhode Island Convention Center
Amica Mutual Pavilion
Providence, Rhode Island
Angela C. Santomero, Carlos Alazraqui, Charisma Carpenter, Dean Norris, Dee Bradley Baker, Donovan Patton, Ernie Hudson, Giancarlo Esposito, Hayden Panettiere, J. D. Pardo, Jon Bernthal, Josh Dela Cruz, Kellan Lutz, Logan Kim, Matthew Lewis, Mckenna Grace, Raymond Cruz, Steve Burns, Steven Michael Quezada, and Traci Paige Johnson.

References

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External links

41°49′27″N 71°25′1″W / 41.82417°N 71.41694°W / 41.82417; -71.41694