San Diego Comic-Con International has agreed to stay in San Diego for two more years, through 2018, the mayor’s office announced.  The agreement extends the convention’s commitment to the city for two additional years; it was previously only contracted with San Diego through 2016.  Negotiations with hotels were a key issue. 

This outcome was in doubt after the planned $500 million expansion to the San Diego Convention Center collapsed after a court ruling on the financing plan (see “Comic-Con on Staying:  ‘We Will See’”). 

The event generates around $135 million annually for the San Diego economy, and $2.8 million in taxes, the statement from the office of Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer said. 

Meanwhile, it looks like the lawsuit between the convention and the organizers of Salt Lake Comic Con over alleged trademark infringement (see “Salt Lak Asks Court to Cancel Comic-Con Trademark”) may be headed for trial.  A Federal Magistrate Judge is expected to enter a schedule of deadlines in the case this month, and efforts to negotiate a settlement have been unsuccessful to date, according to an announcement by the Salt Lake Comic Con organizers.  “While the parties are no longer engaged in the District Court’s Early Neutral Evaluation process, Salt Lake Comic Con hopes nonetheless than an out-of-court resolution can still be reached,” the announcement said.