ReedPOP and CBS launch 50th Anniversary Star Trek con: ST: Mission New York

More cons! More NICHE cons. And this one is bringing it back to where it all began! ReedPOP, purveyor of New York Comic-Con, PAX, and a bevy of events around the world, have teamed with CBS Consumer Products for Star Trek: Mission New York, to be held Sept. 2-4 at the Javits Center. The event will mark the 50th anniversary of the first time Capt Kirk said “Beam me up, Scotty!” and launched a trillion, billion SF/nerd themed memes. Thsoe who boldly go to the event will find interactive exhibits, exclusive merchandise, celebrity guests, panels, screenings and the like. No guests announced yet, but you’d expect some of the living OST cast and maybe some from Star Trek Beyond, (Aka The Trek and the Furious) which opens in July.

As the PR notes, the first Star Trek convention was held January 21-23, 1972 at the Hotel Pennsylvania, then known as the Hotel Statler and little touched in the intervening years. This first fest, as it were, was expected to be an intimate gathering of 500—little more than a house party on PEDs–but ended up drawing more than 3000 people. There had been comics and Sf conventions in NYC before this, but Star Trek cons became sort of a symbol of then-derided nerd culture, and the source of William Shatner’s classic “Get a life!” sketch from SNL, and of course Galaxy Quest. adding to the note quite serious reputation for such events.

Now, things are very different.

“Star Trek fans set the gold standard of what these type of experiential events are all about, truly establishing this industry that we’ve been so proud to be a part of,” said Lance Fensterman, Global Senior Vice President of ReedPOP in a statement. “Star Trek: Mission New York will be a completely unique fan event unlike anything seen before, giving them the chance to go beyond panels and autograph signings, and immerse themselves in the Star Trek universe.”

Liz Kalodner, Executive Vice President and General Manager of CBS Consumer Products, added, “There has never been a better time to be a Star Trek fan than right now with the 50th anniversary celebration on tap. Star Trek: Mission New York will celebrate everything going on in the Star Trek universe, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring it back to the birthplace of the original Star Trek convention and do so with a partner like ReedPOP.”
 
While ReedPOP has been strong in the international comics and gaming festival market, this is their firt foray into what one might term “Creation” territory. Given the involevement of CBs and the 50th anniversary them, it should be a pretty good event.