| Metrocon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Anime, Video Gaming[1][2] |
| Venue | Tampa Convention Center |
| Location(s) | Tampa, Florida |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 2003 |
| Attendance | 12,153 in 2021[3] |
| Organized by | Team Dynamite Productions |
| Website | http://www.metroconventions.com/ |
Metrocon is an annual three-day anime convention held during July/August at the Tampa Convention CenterinTampa, Florida. It is Florida's largest anime convention and organized by Team Dynamite Productions.[4][5] The convention evolved from meetups of AnimeMetro.com members.[6]
The convention typically offers an artist alley, autograph sessions, contests, dances/raves, LAN gaming, main events (such as the Anime Human chess Match, Costume and Cosplay Contests, Fantasy Masquerade, Fire Show, and Professional Wrestling), panels, tabletop game rooms, vendors room, video game rooms, and video rooms screening anime.[7][8][9][10] Metrocon also hosts a blood drive.[2] The convention brings $3.5 million to the area's economy.[11]
Metrocon was first held in 2003 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and after growth moved to the Tampa Convention Center in 2005.[12] The convention had issues in 2008 with rowdy attendees from the Red Bull Flugtag event also occurring at the Tampa Convention Center.[13] In 2009, the founder and CEO of Metrocon was arrested in Florida for violating Florida Statute 794.05 (unlawful sexual activity with certain minors) eight days before the convention. The conventions Director of Operations characterized the arrest as "an attack on the convention". The CEO stepped down from his position, with the Director of Operations and Head of Security taking over operations.[14][15]
The convention added a fourth day when unique attendance hit over 10,000, with the first occurring in 2015.[2][5][12] Game five of the 2015 Stanley Cup playoff finals was held during Metrocon 2015 at the Amalie Arena.[16][17] Metrocon 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18][19]
| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 18–20, 2003 | Crowne Plaza Hotel Tampa, Florida | 1,600 | Greg Ayres, Luci Christian, Vic Mignogna, Chris Patton, Gerry Poulos, Monica Rial, Don Rush, and Shadowfax.[20] |
| July 9–11, 2004 | Crowne Plaza Hotel[21] Tampa, Florida | 2,400 | Greg Ayres, Katie Bair, Luci Christian, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Vic Mignogna, Monica Rial, Don Rush, Shadowfax, Doug Smith, and David L. Williams.[22] |
| June 24–26, 2005 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | 3,600 | Greg Ayres, Johnny Yong Bosch, Luci Christian, Eyeshine, Lauren Goodnight, Cynthia Martinez, Vic Mignogna, Chris Patton, Monica Rial, Shadowfax, Doug Smith, John Swasey, and David L. Williams.[23] |
| June 2–4, 2006 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | 4,000 | Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Johnny Yong Bosch, Luci Christian, Eyeshine, Lauren Goodnight, Kyle Jones, Cynthia Martinez, Marc Matney, Scott McNeil, Chris Patton, PikaBelleChu, PLID, Monkey Punch, Random Encounter, Christopher Sabat, seek, Shadowfax, Doug Smith, John Swasey, David L. Williams, and YURAsama.[24] |
| July 6–8, 2007 | Tampa Convention Center[25] Tampa, Florida | 5,400 | Greg Ayres, Laura Bailey, Steve Bennett, Johnny Yong Bosch, Luci Christian, Ashley Clark, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Eyeshine, Lauren Goodnight, Yaya Han, Kyle Jones, Cynthia Martinez, Scott McNeil, Vic Mignogna, Random Encounter, Shadowfax, Doug Smith, John Swasey, and David L. Williams.[26] |
| July 18–20, 2008 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Johnny Yong Bosch, Greg Cipes, Cipes and the People, Ashley Clark, Eyeshine, Lauren Goodnight, Yaya Han, DJ Heavygrinder, The Heroes Alliance, Scott McNeil, Random Encounter, Select Start, Shadowfax, Doug Smith, David Stanworth, and David L. Williams.[27] | |
| June 19–21, 2009 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | Abney Park, ArcAttack, Ashley Clark, Brian Drummond, Yaya Han, Mark Hildreth, Scott McNeil, Kirby Morrow, Outland Armour, PikaBelleChu, Random Encounter, Shadowfax, Doug Smith, David Stanworth, Brad Swaile, and David L. Williams.[28] | |
| July 23–25, 2010 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | 6,665 | Robert Axelrod, Ashley Clark, Richard Ian Cox, Yaya Han, DJ Hellroy, KellyJane, Scott McNeil, Kirby Morrow, Outland Armour, Aaron Pabon, Pikabellechu, Random Encounter, Anna Rosato, RJ Schafer, Shadowfax, Spike Spencer, David Standworth, and TealPirate.[29] |
| June 17–19, 2011 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | 7,477 | Max Brooks, Ashley Clark, Kara Edwards, Crispin Freeman, Yaya Han, Kyle Hebert, DJ Hellroy, KellyJane, Scott McNeil, Outland Armour, PikaBelleChu, Random Encounter, Shadowfax, Doug Smith, David Stanworth, Brad Swaile, TealPirate, and Terrance Zdunich.[30] |
| June 15–17, 2012 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | 8,033 | Amelie Belcher, Ashley Clark, Richard Epcar, Crispin Freeman, DJ Hellroy, KellyJane, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Scott McNeil, PikaBelleChu, Doug Smith, David Stanworth, Takayoshi Tanimoto, and TealPirate.[31] |
| July 26–28, 2013 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | 9,951 | Dante Basco, Amelie Belcher, Ashley Clark, D.C. Douglas, DJ Hellroy, KellyJane, Phil LaMarr, Scott McNeil, PikaBelleChu, Doug Smith, David Stanworth, TealPirate, and Janet Varney.[32] |
| July 11–13, 2014 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | 11,776[33] | Troy Baker, Dante Basco, Amelie Belcher, Richard Epcar, Brittney Karbowski, KellyJane, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Scott McNeil, Nolan North, PikaBelleChu, Random Encounter, Doug Smith, David Stanworth, Ellyn Stern, TealPirate, and Hynden Walch.[34] |
| June 11–14, 2015 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | Laura Bailey, Amelie Belcher, Robbie Daymond, KellyJane, Carrie Keranen, Laugh Out Loud, Russell Lissau, Scott McNeil, Erica Mendez, Nolan North, PikaBelleChu, Stephanie Sheh, David Stanworth, TealPirate, and Travis Willingham.[35] | |
| July 21–24, 2016 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | Zach Aguilar, Amelie Belcher, Steve Bennett, Richard Ian Cox, Robbie Daymond, Haiden Hazard, KellyJane, Max Mittelman, Kirby Morrow, PikaBelleChu, Laura Post, David Stanworth, Brooke Stephenson, Eric Stuart, TealPirate, and Cristina Vee.[36] | |
| August 3–6, 2017 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | 11,604 | Steve Blum, Ray Chase, Robbie Daymond, Caleb Hyles, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Scott McNeil, Vic Mignogna, Max Mittelman, PikaBelleChu, Paul St. Peter, and Cristina Vee.[37] |
| July 19–22, 2018 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | Caleb Hyles, Jamie Marchi, Jason Marsden, Scott McNeil, Noise Complaint, Micah Solusod, David Stanworth, J. Michael Tatum, Jeannie Tirado, and Apphia Yu (Ayu Sakata).[38] | |
| July 11–14, 2019 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | 13,135 | 3000 Brigade, Luci Christian, Kara Edwards, Geekapella, Jessie James Grelle, Caleb Hyles, David Matranga, Nerds Know, NoFlutter, Noise Complaint, Monica Rial, and Alexis Tipton.[39] |
| July 23–25, 2021 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | 12,153 | Justin Briner, Chalk Twins, Ricco Fajardo, Caleb Hyles, David Matranga, Nerds Know, Emily Neves, NoFlutter, Noise Complaint, Anairis Quiñones, and Christopher Wehkamp.[3] |
| July 15–17, 2022 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | Felecia Angelle, Azazus, Tia Ballard, Chalk Twins, Clifford Chapin, Luci Christian, Ricco Fajardo, Caleb Hyles, Kaiju Big Battel, Kristen McGuire, Nerds Know, Noise Complaint, Megan Shipman, and Natalie Van Sistine.[40] | |
| July 14–16, 2023 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | Kevin Bolk, Ricco Fajardo, Bridget Hoffman, Natalie Hoover, Caleb Hyles, Brittany Lauda, Erica Lindbeck, Brandon McInnis, Nano, Tony Oliver, J. Michael Tatum, Chris Tergliafera, Kirk Thornton, Kaoru Wada, and Jonathan Young.[41] | |
| July 5–7, 2024 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | E. Jason Liebrecht, Emi Lo, Elizabeth Maxwell, Adam McArthur, Kristen McGuire, Trina Nishimura, Alejandro Saab, Alysan Tabbitha, Kaiji Tang, and Anne Yatco.[42] |
In 2006, Metrocon held a second convention known as Metrocon: Amano's World, which featured the works Yoshitaka Amano, who is best known for his Final Fantasy character designs and Vampire Hunter D illustrations.[43]
| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 14–15, 2006 | Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida | Yoshitaka Amano, Steve Bennett, Lauren Goodnight, Random Encounter, and Doug Smith.[44] |
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List of anime conventions in North America
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