*Note: The New Mexico Comic & Film Expo has been canceled. The Duke City Comic Con will still be going on from June 16 to 18, 2023.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Organizers of a large event are calling on the city of Albuquerque to help bring their festivities back to the area. On May 13, the New Mexico Comic and Film Expo shared a post saying that 2023’s event has been canceled.
The New Mexico Comic and Film Expo founder Matthew Trujillo said the event, which was supposed to be in August at the Albuquerque Convention Center, had to be canceled for the second year in a row. Now, he’s asking the city for some help to bring it back, while reminding the city of a promise he claims was made.
“In 2019, I went to them and told them, ‘Hey I want to do this big show. I don’t expect anything from you guys. If I prove my worth with the show, I would like the city to kind of be involved.’ They said, ‘Okay that’s fine.’ After the show happened in 2019, I went back to them they said, ‘Yes you proved your worth. We will definitely be willing to help out,’” said Trujillo.
After Covid hit, Trujillo feels the city has forgotten about the event altogether.
Trujillo mentioned, “In 2019, the city said that we were the second largest event after the Balloon Fiesta. They’re saying that based on the number of hotel rooms we had booked. Something like that tells me that the numbers are there for them to be able to help.”
The expo brought in around 15,000 people in 2019. Trujillo said in 2021, the event was smaller due to Covid restrictions but still did well. With the size of the show, he said he couldn’t do it without the city’s help.
Trujillo wants sponsorship from the city. Recently, he had meetings with the Economic Development Department and the Albuquerque Film Office.
In a statement from the Albuquerque Film Office, they said the city has met with the group in the past, but over the years contacts moved on. Now, the city said they’re basically starting over and meeting with the right people to review their new business plan.
“It’s just a matter of getting in a little bit more with the right departments to really see where we can make this partnership worthwhile – for myself and for the city – and really make something for the community,” said Trujillo.
Trujillo hopes the next event can be held in August of 2024. According to the expo organizers, the departments with the city are being helpful and more meetings are expected to be set up.
