By Gabriel Neeb
Don’t believe for a moment that the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con began at 6pm on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 when the doors for Preview Night opened. No, the real Comic-Con began early Thursday when five of the six main escalators broke just before the doors opened at 9:30 am on Thursday, July 24, 2025 created a huge back up of guests in the “sails” area and the driveway on the east side of the convention center.
This story, and the details behind it made up one of the most memorable highlights of the Comic-Con “TalkBack” panel held in the last hours of the convention in Room 25ABC on July 27, 2024. Led by moderator Eddie Ibrahim (Director of Programming), the panel featured David Glanzer (Communications and Strategy), Robin Donlon (President), Paul Pursh (Senior Director of Operations), and Craig Fellows (VP Operations).
Coming at about the midpoint of the panel, the Saga of the Escalators came about from a question asked about the varied opening procedures which seemed to change on a daily basis, with Thursday seeming like there was only one door for entrance from the outside and other days allowing multiple doors. Donlon explained that the escalators had failed and that the convention relies on them to ensure safe access for attendees.
While the convention plans for contingencies, there are always some things that emerge to challenge that. To further explain the issue, a member of the Convention Center staff, Robert (Assistant Director, Maintenance) made an appearance to explain some of the measures taken to mitigate the potential for malfunctions in the future, such as having extra equipment on site. Donlon finished this part of the panel by adding that the staff now has an “escalator idol” they pray to (the audience suggested ‘Otis’) for safe escalator function. No word on whether ‘Otis’ merchandise will be sold next year.
This year’s TalkBack had an uncharacteristically relaxed feeling from the audience as reactions to certain statements from both the panel members and guests that asked questions were greeted with applause and visible emotion to particular statements. It was almost an “interactive” event.
The first question was about vaping. Despite the convention center’s no smoking policy and posted signs, one guest said that vaping indoors and in common areas was out of control- there was even one report of a paper in Hall H. It’s also believed to have set off a few smoke alarms which some guests reported. The guest suggested better enforcement which Donlon agreed with, indicating she’ll incorporate this into next year’s policies.
The next guest requested the return of actual paper guide books with panel descriptions inside. Currently, the “quick guide” is the only printed guide. Glanzer responded that he understands the concern, but keeping panel descriptions digital is the only feasible way to maintain accurate information as thongs often change in the two weeks between when guides are printed and the convention.
One guest asked why some guests were allowed to sleep inside, by Hall G, overnight- for Hall H- while others had to sleep outside under the Hall H tents. Glanzer responded that there weren’t a lot of people sleeping inside and the ones that were belonged to the ADA part of the Hall H line.
A retailer, with 50 years of attendance, who often attended through Diamond Distributors program but almost didn’t this year (ComicsPro ended up providing badges just two weeks before the show) asked about how retailers will be provided badges in the future. Eddie stated that the Convention is wondering about what an industry without Diamond will look like and that they are looking into programs with other industry leaders for the future.
Another guest asked about law enforcement on the Floor. They’d noticed pirated discs of material being sold and wondered if the FBI had been aware or patrolling the Floor. The panel took note of the booth in question and noted that agents had a presence in the past as part of anti-piracy efforts but were unaware of any effort on their part in recent years.
A big question arose when one guest brought up the coming Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. As the Convention only has contracts to 2027, the guest asked if the Committee was thinking of rescheduling the show or canceling the 2028 show (something the large Glasgow show did). The audience responded with a loud “NO!”
Glanzer stated that the idea of skipping a show is deeply unpopular and smaller shows later in the year don’t work well, the Thanksgiving 2021 show having been a money loser, but good to have in keeping the presence alive. A 2028 decision won’t be made lightly and it is a topic of intense discussion in the Convention offices.
The panel took a brief interlude as Donlon asked about a handwritten sign that said “GO OFF QUEEN” on it. The sign holder was quick to say that it was intended to be positive.
The panel continued as a 12 year attendee asked about returning carpet to the Floor. The panel reiterated that carpet is both expensive and unsustainable- it has to be thrown out once the show finished- and it can only be fully laid once all the booths are ready to go, which is not always a thing that happens. Donlon asked the panel if they would mind a 30 minute delay in opening the Floor. Again, the answer was a very vocal, “NO!” One guest did say that, as an ADA attendee, walking the Floor with carpet is easier than the hard ground as his condition required him to rest after too much time walking on hard concrete.
ADA services were noted in the comments by several guests. The Convention was complimented for the efforts made, and the changes made year to year to address concerns, but there are always going to be things that were flawed. For instance, one guest noted door instructions tended to be counter-intuitive as they were directed to one Floor entrance that was far removed from the ADA services area. Another felt that the ADA tent for Hall H entrance was poorly used as some ADA guest ended up stuck in the sun when the ADA guests tent had been moved into Hall H for the day. One guest wanted to know if some of the ADA signs could be placed on the ground for visibility reasons. The panel wasn’t even sure if they could do that or not.
One guest in a wheelchair, towards the end of the panel, told a story about how in the George Takai panel, security staff suggested the guest, ignoring her non-ambulatory state, move to a regular seat when the ADA seats were unavailable. The panel requested the color of the shirt and took notes on the details the guest was able to provide.
An interesting detail dropped by the panel was that a “letter of medical necessity” would be required for ADA guests next year. The panel did not elaborate on this requirement.
Room usage arose when one guest, who claimed to work in convention planning, suggested that some of the larger rooms be cleared between panels. The audience, predictably, responded with their “NO!” response as Eddie replied that if they cleared Hall H, for example, the number of panels they could do in that room would drop from eight panels a day, to two. This of course doesn’t even begin to deal with assorted other issues that would arise from room-clearing.
Room size also came up when one guest noted that the room set aside for “Studio Ghibli’s 45th Anniversary” panel (6DE) was way too small. It sat 800 where 3000 wanted to get in.
Overall, this has to be one of the more interactive TalkBacks I have attended. The audience applauded some of the guests that had been attending for ten, or fifteen, or even fifty years and they were willing to make their feelings about “unpopular” courses of action known. As noted by several guests, the Committee does respond constructively to the feedback both positive and negative.
Now if they’d only fix the Comic-Con app which is currently at around 2.3 out of 5 rating.
Stay tuned to The Beat for more coverage from SDCC ’25.
SDCC COVERAGE SPONSORED BY MAD CAVE
