E3 has always been held in Los Angeles, for better or worse, since its inception in 1995, but that may change next year. Due to construction issues surrounding the Los Angeles Convention Center, gaming’s biggest expo may relocate out of LA in 2013 and perhaps even out of California. But, what about the bacon-wrapped hot dogs, sports fan riots, and overpriced ham sandwiches you ask? Well, okay, maybe you aren’t asking but I am!
Michael Gallagaher, president of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), told the Los Angeles Times: “We’re still in discussions with the city of Los Angeles, but we have a number of issues that still need to be resolved. If we can’t resolve them, we are preparing to go elsewhere.”
The ESA is considering San Francisco, New York, Chicago and New Orleans as early candidates for a potential move. Technically, E3 has been relocated outside LA before, for the Tokyo E3 experiment in 1996 but no one really remembers that thing.
So, what would a relocation mean to the public at large? Nothing really. I mean, why are you even reading this article? But, if you ever hope to sneak into E3 as a “serious gaming blogger that started two days ago” or whatever — we don’t judge — this might mean your airfare will cost a lot less or more, depending on what city the ESA chooses. That is, if they make the move at all.
Here’s hoping E3 gets moved to Dubai so we can climb up high rises like Tom Cruise, visit their Sci-Fi fake beaches, and ski down AstroTurf.
E3 convention may leave Los Angeles in 2013[Los Angeles Times]
