Attendees’ Favorite Aspects of a Consumer Show are Seeing Unreleased Content, Shopping Exclusive Merchandise, Talking to Other Fans
ANAHEIM, Calif. (March 11, 2020) ― Visit Anaheim, the official destination organization for Anaheim, today released new research revealing the great lengths Americans will go to attend a fan convention. The national survey of 2,000 adults found that a fifth (22 percent) of respondents would be willing to either plan a domestic trip around a convention or drive more than 10 hours to attend (19 percent). For a destination like Anaheim, host to some of the country’s largest consumer shows, this is a common trend with attendees able to enjoy an unrivaled event experience paired with a world-class vacation.
In advance of Avengers Campus opening at Disney California Adventure Park this summer, this research explores the power and passion of superhero fans. The results of the survey found a third (32%) of respondents have been to a fan convention and the study also revealed that fans prefer Marvel to DC (33% to 17%). Additionally, the Avengers were revealed to be the favorite crime-fighting team (30%), confirming consumers’ appetite for a dedicated superhero attraction like Avengers Campus.
“Anaheim attracts fan conventions because the city is a great destination for people looking to spend more time in their favorite fictional universes – from sports to Disneyland®, our city has something for all types of fans,” said Charles Harris, chief marketing officer and executive vice president public affairs, Visit Anaheim.
Of those surveyed who would like to go to a convention, the average respondent would be willing to travel across about a third of the U.S. in order to attend a fan event. Not to mention, 14% of those surveyed would be willing to name their child after a villain in order to attend a convention.
“If you’re invested in a fandom of any kind, whether it’s science fiction TV and film, comic books or pop culture, there’s a convention for that,” said Harris. “Events provide a unique opportunity for fans to bond over a shared passion and to express their enthusiasm through cosplay, meeting other fans, attending panels, and more.”
Other notable highlights from the study include:
TOP 5 BEST PARTS OF A FAN CONVENTION
| 1. Seeing new, unreleased content | 52% |
| 2. The merchandise and things being sold | 47% |
| 3. Talking to other fans | 45% |
| 4. The panels and speakers | 36% |
| 5. Seeing fans cosplay | 36% |
LENGTHS AMERICANS WOULD GO TO IN ORDER TO ATTEND A CONVENTION
| 1. Plan a domestic trip around attending a convention |
| 2. Plan an international trip around attending a convention |
| 3. Drive 10+ hours to attend |
| 4. Name their child after a superhero |
| 5. Name their child after a villain |
For more information on Anaheim and to discover all of the fan conventions the city has to offer, please visit visitanaheim.org.
About Visit Anaheim: Founded in 1961, Visit Anaheim is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit destination marketing organization. Visit Anaheim’s mission is to develop, market, and sell Anaheim to benefit the economic vitality of its neighborhoods. To learn more about Visit Anaheim, visit: www.visitanaheim.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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