Two more years for the pop culture convention in San Diego, thanks to an agreement announced Thursday. NBC 7’s Elena Gomez reports.
The costumed characters and superheroes of make-believe will be roaming downtown San Diego a while longer.
On Thursday, organizers of San Diego's largest and most celebrated convention announced it’s here to stay through 2018.
That came after what Comic-Con officials called "touch and go" bargaining with downtown hoteliers over jacked-up room rates that had challenged the budgets of the event's faithful followers.
"The hotel community really believes it has pricing power when there's demand, and that's not unusual,” says Tourism Authority CEO Joe Terzi. “But they've been really good at recognizing the customer of Comic-Con, and that's what Comic-Con's concern was -- 'We don't want to price ourselves of that market'."
Mayor Kevin Faulconer makes an announcement Thursday about Comic-Con’s future in San Diego.
Voice of San Diego editor Scott Lewis told NBC 7 the same scenario figures to materialize in the next round of negotiations:
"This is capitalism, right?” Lewis asked, rhetorically, in an interview Thursday. “They're going to charge for their hotel rooms the most that they can. So unless a regulatory force steps in and says 'You have to, for the good of the civic cause, lower your prices for this convention that comes in every year', there's still going to be a problem from year to year."
Another perennial sticking point -- the undersized Convention's Center's crowded confines -- have become less of a problem, at least through 2018.
In recent years, off-site venues offered by nearby hotels have created a festive 'campus' atmosphere, sort of a 'moveable feast'.
But the inescapable issue of how and where to expand the center is the focus of a city report later this month.
Says Terzi: “It will, I think, reinforce what was said before, that if you're going to expand the center, it needs to be contiguous to the building to maximize the functionality."
Whatever the outcome, Comic-Con only figures to keep growing.
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Actor Chris Hemsworth attends Marvel's Hall H Press Line for 'Ant-Man' and 'Avengers: Age Of Ultron' during Comic-Con International 2014.
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Actress Emma Roberts attends Entertainment Weekly's annual Comic-Con celebration at Float at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on July 26, 2014
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Ben Affleck attends the Warner Bros. Pictures panel and presentation during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014
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Actress Anna Paquin attends HBO's 'True Blood' panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014
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Actors Josh Brolin and Robert Downey Jr. attend Marvel's Hall H Press Line for 'Ant-Man' and 'Avengers: Age Of Ultron' during Comic-Con International 2014
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Actor Kit Harington attends HBO's 'Game Of Thrones' panel and Q&A during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2014
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Actress Sophie Turner attends Entertainment Weekly's annual Comic-Con celebration at Float at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on July 26, 2014
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Actor Jeff Bridges attends The Weinstein Company Presents 'THE GIVER' At Comic-Con 2014 at Hilton Bayfront on July 24, 2014
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In this handout photo provided by Warner Bros, Grant Gustin of 'The Flash' attends 'Warner Bros. Television Presents A Night of DC Entertainment' at Comic-Con International 2014
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Actress Elizabeth Olsen attends Marvel's Hall H Press Line for 'Ant-Man' and 'Avengers: Age Of Ultron' during Comic-Con International 2014
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Actor Orlando Bloom attends 'The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies' Press Line during Comic-Con International 2014 at Hilton Bayfront on July 26, 2014
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Actor Matthew McConaughey attends the Paramount Studios presentation during Comic-Con International 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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In this handout photo provided by Warner Bros, Evangeline Lilly and Cate Blanchett of 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' attend Comic-Con International 2014 on July 26, 2014
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Megan Fox attends the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" press line on Day 1 of Comic-Con International on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in San Diego. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
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Actor Mark Ruffalo (L) and actor Lou Ferrigno attend the signing for Avengers: Age Of Ultron during Day 3 of Comic-Con International 2014
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Actors Paul Rudd (L) and Michael Douglas attend the Marvel Studios panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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In this handout photo provided by Warner Bros, Jada Pinkett Smith of 'Gotham' attend Comic-Con International 2014 on July 26, 2014
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Actor Jeremy Renner attends Marvel's Hall H Press Line for 'Ant-Man' and 'Avengers: Age Of Ultron' during Comic-Con International 2014.
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Actor Samuel L. Jackson attends the Marvel Studios panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actor Chris Evans attends the Marvel Studios panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actress Jessica Alba attends 'Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame To Kill For' panel during Comic-Con International 2014
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In this handout photo provided by Warner Bros., Nikolaj Coster-Waldau of 'Game of Thrones' attends Comic-Con International 2014 on July 25, 2014
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In this handout photo provided by Warner Bros., Gwendoline Christie of 'Game of Thrones' attends Comic-Con International 2014 on July 25, 2014
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Actor John Bradley attends HBO's 'Game Of Thrones' panel and Q&A during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2014
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Actor Chris Parnell attends the Nintendo Lounge On The TV Guide Magazine Yacht At Comic-Con #TVGMYacht during San Diego Comic-Con International 2014
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(L-R) Actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders and Paul Bettany onstage at Marvel's "Avengers: Age Of Ultron" Hall H Panel Booth Signing during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actress Cobie Smulders attends Marvel's Hall H Press Line for 'Ant-Man' and 'Avengers: Age Of Ultron' during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014
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Actress Angela Bassett attends the 'American Horror Story: Coven' panel at Comic-Con International on July 26, 2014
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Actor John Cho attends Entertainment Weekly's annual Comic-Con celebration at Float at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on July 26, 2014
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In this handout photo provided by Warner Bros, Michael Emerson of 'Person of Interest' attends Comic-Con International 2014 on July 26, 2014
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In this handout photo provided by Warner Bros, Jim Caviezel of 'Person of Interest' attends Comic-Con International 2014 on July 26, 2014
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(L-R) Actors Norman Reedus, Lauren Cohan, and Vera Farmiga attend the Playboy and A&E Bates Motel Event During Comic-Con Weekend, on July 25, 2014
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Actors Andrew Lincoln (L) and Steven Yeun attend AMC's 'The Walking Dead' panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2014
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Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson (L) and Chris Hemsworth attend Marvel's "Avengers: Age Of Ultron" Hall H Panel Booth Signing during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actor Corey Stoll attends the Marvel Studios panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actresses Jessica Alba (L) and Rosario Dawson attend "Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame To Kill For" panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson (L) and Paul Bettany attend the Marvel Studios panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actor Judah Friedlander poses for a portrait at the Getty Images Portrait Studio powered by Samsung Galaxy at Comic-Con International 2014 at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California.
Weird Al Yankovic prepares for the long line of fans waiting for his signature at Comic-Con in San Diego on July 26, 2014.
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"Game of Thrones" author George R. R. Martin signs autographs for fans at Comic-Con in San Diego on July 26, 2014.
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From left, Actress Genesis Rodriguez, screenwriter Kevin Smith, and Haley Joel Osment attend day 2 of the WIRED Cafe at Comic Con at Omni Hotel on July 25, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actor Freddie Highmore attends "Bates Motel" press line during Comic-Con International 2014 at Hilton Bayfront on July 25, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Natalie Dormer attends the mtvU Fandom Awards at MTV Fan Fest at Comic-Con on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in San Diego.
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Clark Duke attends the "Paramount Pictures" panel on Day 1 of Comic-Con International on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in San Diego.
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Kellan Lutz, left, and Rob Riggle present the fandom feat award at the mtvU Fandom Awards at MTV Fan Fest at Comic-Con on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in San Diego.
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Mike Shinoda, left, and Chester Bennington of the musical group Linkin Park perform on stage at the mtvU Fandom Awards at MTV Fan Fest at Comic-Con on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in San Diego.
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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson attends the "Paramount Pictures" panel on Day 1 of Comic-Con International on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in San Diego.
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From left, Tyler Hoechlin, Dylan Sprayberry, Tyler Posey and Dylan O'Brien pose backstage at the "Teen Wolf" panel at Comic-Con International on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in San Diego.
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Diego Luna, left, and Channing Tatum attend the mtvU Fandom Awards at MTV Fan Fest at Comic-Con on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in San Diego.
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Jack Black at Sony's "Goosebumps" presentation at 2014 Comic-Con on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in San Diego, CA.
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Dean Norris attends the "Under the Dome" panel on Day 1 of Comic-Con International on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in San Diego.
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From left, Actors William Shatner and Betty White speak onstage at TV Land's Legends Of TV Land Panel during the 2014 Comic Con International Convention at Hilton Bayfront on July 24, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actor Donald Faison speaks onstage at TV Land's Legends Of TV Land Panel during the 2014 Comic Con International Convention at Hilton Bayfront on July 24, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actors John Malkovich (L) and Benedict Cumberbatch attend the DreamWorks Animation presentation during Comic-Con International 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actor Jim Parsons attends the DreamWorks Animation presentation during Comic-Con International 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actor Kiefer Sutherland attends the "24: Live Another Day" panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Sutherland and producer/writer Jon Cassar attend the "24: Live Another Day" panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Comic writers Steven T. Seagle, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau, and Joe Casey pose for a portrait at Getty Images Portrait Studio powered by Samsung Galaxy at Comic-Con International 2014 at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on July 24, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actor Lucas Till attends Hitfix and Lucasfilm's Comic-Con Kick off party during Comic-Con International 2014 at Hotel Solamar on July 23, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Actors Clare Grant and Seth Green attend Hitfix and Lucasfilm's Comic-Con Kick off party during Comic-Con International 2014 at Hotel Solamar on July 23, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Director Steven Quale and actress Sarah Wayne Callies attend Hitfix and Lucasfilm's Comic-Con Kick off party during Comic-Con International 2014 at Hotel Solamar on July 23, 2014 in San Diego, California.
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Sophie Turner arrives at Comic Con on July 23, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
"We book up the entire downtown with Comic-Con and with other conventions -- not just Comic-Con,” says Convention Center board member Gil Cabrera. “So it is something we're going to be wanting to look at, and hopefully there'll be other folks building hotels and more rooms coming online in the future."
