Convention organizer Reedpop is postponing Emerald City Comic Con, originally scheduled for the Washington State Convention Center next weekend, to new summer dates to be determined due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak in the Seattle area, the company announced today.  “[A]fter many hours of conversation internally and consultation with local government officials and the tourism bureau, we have decided to move next week’s Emerald City Comic Con to Summer 2020 with date and detail announcement forthcoming,” the company said in its announcement. “We did everything that we could to run the event as planned, but ultimately, we are following the guidance of the local public health officials indicating that conventions should now be postponed.”

The move follows the pull-out of major exhibitors and content providers, including DC, Dark Horse, and Penguin Random House on Tuesday (see “Publishers Pulling out of Emerald City Comic Con Over Cornavirus Concerns”), the announcements since then of additional companies withdrawing, and the cancellation of Diamond Comic Distributors’ Retailer Appreciation Breakfast (see “Diamond Companies Pull Out of Emerald City Over Coronavirus Concerns”).

Reedpop is beginning the process of refunding millions of dollars in tickets purchased for the show and promises that all attendees will receive their money within 30 days. 

Reedpop also noted the loss of income to its exhibitors, and offered what help it could provide. “We know that this decision is going to greatly impact many of our individual creators, small businesses and service workers,” the company said. “To those whose careers depend on ECCC - we will do everything that we can over the coming days and weeks to highlight your work and we ask that our entire community support you as we realize your personal livelihoods may be impacted.”

The show draws “nearly 100,000” attendees annually, the company said; it’s the largest show in the Pacific Northwest and one of the largest comic conventions in the U.S.