Third Man Riesenrad 564x376
This is from “The Third Man”. Has anyone spoofed this scene, perhaps with Deno’s Wonder Wheel in Coney Island?

While fans were cursing the fates here in the U.S. as they tried to score tickets to New York Comic Con, fans in Austria were jubilant over the announcement of Vienna Comic Con, scheduled for 21-22 November at the Vienna Messe.

VCC-micro-1

Why is there a Ferris wheel in the logo?  It’s a nearby landmark, and one of the largest in the world!  (Auf Deutsch: Ree-zen-rahdt … so fun to pronounce!)

So… the Vienna Messe… What’s it like?  Well, for starters, Reed Exhibitions, the parent company of Reed POP, manages the venue (as well as one in Salzburg, but the Mozartkluge and the Trappists despise each other, so a fan expo there is unlikely).

It was rebuilt in 2001, and looks great.  (Here’s a photosphere “streetview” of the convention center.  Nicely laid out, and lots of light!  And those partitions!  Vienna Woods!)  The exhibition acreage places it somewhere between Denver and San Diego.

It is served by two subways stations (use Krieau).  If you have time, get off at Praterstern Bahnhof and wall along Ausstellungsstrasse!  Or Strasse des Ersten Mai!  If you prefer streetcars, ride to the terminus at Prater Hauptallee and walk a kilometer to the Messe.

It’s part of the Vienna Prater.  Think “Central Park”, double it, then add a convention center, a sports stadium, an amusement park, community gardens, a golf course, a streetcar line…  (Darn… most of the Wurstelprater will be closed then.  But the Wintermarkt will be open! Glühwein am Wien!)

prater map
The grey square on the left is the convention center.

There are three main areas of the convention center:

  1. Exhibition Center:  593,692 sq.ft. total.
    • The Con will be in Hall D, 95,454 sq.ft., a little bit larger than the Artist Alley at New York Comic Con.
    • According to the 2015 price list, the cost for an exhibition hall is €6.12 per square meter for two days, or €54272.16 for Hall D.  $61,580 at current exchange rates.  (I wonder if Reed POP gets an employee discount for renting a Reed Exhibitions site?)
  2. Congress Center OG (Obergeschoss = upper floor)
    • Three restaurants and a bar
    • the Schubert Hall, which can seat 240.
  3. Congress Center EG (Erdgeschoss = ground floor)
    • Three rooms: Stolz (400), Lehár (1005), and Strauss (1,435)

I really hope there’s a Café-Konditerei nearby.  Sachertorte, Kaiserschmarr’n, Wiener Melange…  *sabber*

Need some quiet time?  Waltz (or Moonwalk!) on over to the Danube, two blocks away.

Is there a con wars?  

One month before will be Vienna Comix, two miles away at the Marx Halle.  It’s been taking place twice a year since 1993, and last year’s Fall show drew 6,000 fans. The big draw(er) for the next show?  Don Rosa.  Dayammmmmn…

And then there’s “Comic Con Vienna“, scheduled for September!  It’s (at least) their second year, and while it’s more of what we old-timers would call a science fiction convention, it looks like a fun show!

I had planned on attending the Paris Comic Con in late October, but since this show coincides with my annual Thanksgiving vacation, it looks like I’ll be heading to Vienna before I make my way to Nebraska!


Here’s the official PR:

Vienna Comic Con Premieres This November!

 

+++ Vienna to become the centre of European pop culture with a world-class weekend of artists, celebrities, video games, collectibles and entertainment +++

© ReedPOP

VIENNA (13th May 2015). – On the 21st and 22nd of November 2015 the first edition of „Vienna Comic Con“ premieres at Messe Wien in Vienna, Austria. The two-day pop culture and gaming event will be produced by Reed Exhibitions Messe Wien in cooperation with ReedPOP, the world’s leading producer of pop culture events including New York Comic Con and the PAX video game shows.

New Comic Con Hotspot

Vienna Comic Con will bring the best of pop culture to central Europe with a vibrant exhibit hall floor, entertainment and panels, and the opportunity for guests to meet favourite pop culture celebrities. Just one of the highlights: ReedPOP U.S. is working with Vienna Comic Con to present an International Cosplay Competition, the winner of which will be sent to Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) to compete in the championship finals.

Pop Culture Favourites On Board

Just a few of the companies that have already agreed to participate include Egmont publishers; Panini Verlags GmbH; Figuya; Manga-Mafia; KAZÉ Manga & Anime; Microsoft; Sony Computer Entertainment; Ubisoft; and Legend Icon.

”We aim to make Vienna Comic Con the leading pop culture event in central Europe,” says Dr. Barbara Leithner, New Business Development at Reed Exhibitions. “Fans at Vienna Comic Con will experience unique programs and events, and meet pop culture creatives from all over the world.”

Vienna Comic Con is slated for Hall D at Messe Wien in Vienna. Show hours are Saturday, 21st November from 10:00 to 19:00, and Sunday, 22nd November from 10:00 to 17:00. For more information on tickets, guests, programming and the latest Vienna Comic Con news, go to www.vienna-comiccon.com.

Reed Exhibitions hosts over 500 events and is the world’s leading organiser of conventions. Since its start in 2006, ReedPOP has staged top-ranking pop culture events including New York Comic Con, PAX Prime, Star Wars Celebration and C2E2 in the United States, and introduced Comic Con events across the globe in Europe, India, Asia and Australia.

“Vienna Comic Con will bring together the worlds of comics, movies, television, toys and games,” says Matthias Limbeck, managing director at Reed Exhibitions in Austria. “It will be the place where the creatives, stars and heroes meet their fans, who in turn will be able to experience the latest trends in their favoured fields of international popular culture.”

ABOUT REEDPOP

ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture world. ReedPOP is dedicated to celebrations of popular culture throughout the globe that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) Prime, East, South and Australia, Emerald City Comicon, BookCon, Oz Comic-Con, Comic Con India, Paris Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration, TwitchCon and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan-based group of professionals uniquely qualified to serve those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, India and Australia. (www.reedpop.com)

For more Information on Vienna Comic Con go to www.vienna-comiccon.com, or

Facebook www.facebook.com/viennacomiccon
Twitter @messe_at #VIECC
Instagram https://instagram.com/viennacomiccon/
YouTube www.youtube.com/user/ReedPOPofficial


 

1 COMMENT

  1. The Vienna Prater is GREAT!!! I am going to force Lance Fensterman to allow me to go to this show. Austria is wonderful, wonderful.

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