{"id":13666,"date":"2023-09-29T14:34:14","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T18:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metroconventions.com\/?page_id=13666"},"modified":"2024-05-17T13:05:28","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T17:05:28","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/metroconventions.com\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"13666\" class=\"elementor elementor-13666\">\n\t\t\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aae3ee2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"aae3ee2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;wave-brush&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 283.5 27.8\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M283.5,9.7c0,0-7.3,4.3-14,4.6c-6.8,0.3-12.6,0-20.9-1.5c-11.3-2-33.1-10.1-44.7-5.7\ts-12.1,4.6-18,7.4c-6.6,3.2-20,9.6-36.6,9.3C131.6,23.5,99.5,7.2,86.3,8c-1.4,0.1-6.6,0.8-10.5,2c-3.8,1.2-9.4,3.8-17,4.7\tc-3.2,0.4-8.3,1.1-14.2,0.9c-1.5-0.1-6.3-0.4-12-1.6c-5.7-1.2-11-3.1-15.8-3.7C6.5,9.2,0,10.8,0,10.8V0h283.5V9.7z M260.8,11.3\tc-0.7-1-2-0.4-4.3-0.4c-2.3,0-6.1-1.2-5.8-1.1c0.3,0.1,3.1,1.5,6,1.9C259.7,12.2,261.4,12.3,260.8,11.3z M242.4,8.6\tc0,0-2.4-0.2-5.6-0.9c-3.2-0.8-10.3-2.8-15.1-3.5c-8.2-1.1-15.8,0-15.1,0.1c0.8,0.1,9.6-0.6,17.6,1.1c3.3,0.7,9.3,2.2,12.4,2.7\tC239.9,8.7,242.4,8.6,242.4,8.6z M185.2,8.5c1.7-0.7-13.3,4.7-18.5,6.1c-2.1,0.6-6.2,1.6-10,2c-3.9,0.4-8.9,0.4-8.8,0.5\tc0,0.2,5.8,0.8,11.2,0c5.4-0.8,5.2-1.1,7.6-1.6C170.5,14.7,183.5,9.2,185.2,8.5z M199.1,6.9c0.2,0-0.8-0.4-4.8,1.1\tc-4,1.5-6.7,3.5-6.9,3.7c-0.2,0.1,3.5-1.8,6.6-3C197,7.5,199,6.9,199.1,6.9z M283,6c-0.1,0.1-1.9,1.1-4.8,2.5s-6.9,2.8-6.7,2.7\tc0.2,0,3.5-0.6,7.4-2.5C282.8,6.8,283.1,5.9,283,6z M31.3,11.6c0.1-0.2-1.9-0.2-4.5-1.2s-5.4-1.6-7.8-2C15,7.6,7.3,8.5,7.7,8.6\tC8,8.7,15.9,8.3,20.2,9.3c2.2,0.5,2.4,0.5,5.7,1.6S31.2,11.9,31.3,11.6z M73,9.2c0.4-0.1,3.5-1.6,8.4-2.6c4.9-1.1,8.9-0.5,8.9-0.8\tc0-0.3-1-0.9-6.2-0.3S72.6,9.3,73,9.2z M71.6,6.7C71.8,6.8,75,5.4,77.3,5c2.3-0.3,1.9-0.5,1.9-0.6c0-0.1-1.1-0.2-2.7,0.2\tC74.8,5.1,71.4,6.6,71.6,6.7z M93.6,4.4c0.1,0.2,3.5,0.8,5.6,1.8c2.1,1,1.8,0.6,1.9,0.5c0.1-0.1-0.8-0.8-2.4-1.3\tC97.1,4.8,93.5,4.2,93.6,4.4z M65.4,11.1c-0.1,0.3,0.3,0.5,1.9-0.2s2.6-1.3,2.2-1.2s-0.9,0.4-2.5,0.8C65.3,10.9,65.5,10.8,65.4,11.1\tz M34.5,12.4c-0.2,0,2.1,0.8,3.3,0.9c1.2,0.1,2,0.1,2-0.2c0-0.3-0.1-0.5-1.6-0.4C36.6,12.8,34.7,12.4,34.5,12.4z M152.2,21.1\tc-0.1,0.1-2.4-0.3-7.5-0.3c-5,0-13.6-2.4-17.2-3.5c-3.6-1.1,10,3.9,16.5,4.1C150.5,21.6,152.3,21,152.2,21.1z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M269.6,18c-0.1-0.1-4.6,0.3-7.2,0c-7.3-0.7-17-3.2-16.6-2.9c0.4,0.3,13.7,3.1,17,3.3\tC267.7,18.8,269.7,18,269.6,18z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M227.4,9.8c-0.2-0.1-4.5-1-9.5-1.2c-5-0.2-12.7,0.6-12.3,0.5c0.3-0.1,5.9-1.8,13.3-1.2\tS227.6,9.9,227.4,9.8z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M204.5,13.4c-0.1-0.1,2-1,3.2-1.1c1.2-0.1,2,0,2,0.3c0,0.3-0.1,0.5-1.6,0.4\tC206.4,12.9,204.6,13.5,204.5,13.4z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M201,10.6c0-0.1-4.4,1.2-6.3,2.2c-1.9,0.9-6.2,3.1-6.1,3.1c0.1,0.1,4.2-1.6,6.3-2.6\tS201,10.7,201,10.6z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M154.5,26.7c-0.1-0.1-4.6,0.3-7.2,0c-7.3-0.7-17-3.2-16.6-2.9c0.4,0.3,13.7,3.1,17,3.3\tC152.6,27.5,154.6,26.8,154.5,26.7z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M41.9,19.3c0,0,1.2-0.3,2.9-0.1c1.7,0.2,5.8,0.9,8.2,0.7c4.2-0.4,7.4-2.7,7-2.6\tc-0.4,0-4.3,2.2-8.6,1.9c-1.8-0.1-5.1-0.5-6.7-0.4S41.9,19.3,41.9,19.3z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M75.5,12.6c0.2,0.1,2-0.8,4.3-1.1c2.3-0.2,2.1-0.3,2.1-0.5c0-0.1-1.8-0.4-3.4,0\tC76.9,11.5,75.3,12.5,75.5,12.6z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M15.6,13.2c0-0.1,4.3,0,6.7,0.5c2.4,0.5,5,1.9,5,2c0,0.1-2.7-0.8-5.1-1.4\tC19.9,13.7,15.7,13.3,15.6,13.2z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d26d969 elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-heading\" data-id=\"d26d969\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"raven-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-widget-wrapper\"><h2 class=\"raven-heading raven-heading-h2\"><span class=\"raven-heading-title \">ABOUT METROCON<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfe647e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bfe647e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 26-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Annual Theme, Attendance, History, and more!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e12011f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e12011f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0618293 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0618293\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><b>Upcoming METROCON Dates!<\/b><\/h3><h3><b>July 5 &#8211; 7, 2024<\/b><\/h3><h3><b>July 25 &#8211; 27, 2025<\/b><\/h3><div><h3 style=\"font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; color: #ff37b1;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">July 31 &#8211; August 2, 2026<\/span><\/h3><h3 style=\"font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; color: #ff37b1;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">July 23 &#8211; 25, 2027<\/span><\/h3><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c93de3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c93de3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>METROCON<\/strong>&nbsp;is a for fans, by fans anime convention featuring celebrity guests, exhibitors, and the most unique and exciting convention entertainment in the multiverse!<\/p>\n<p>At&nbsp;<strong>METROCON<\/strong>, we strive to bring you the best convention experience possible. We pack three days full of anime, video games, cosplay, comic books, sci-fi, fantasy, film, and more at the Tampa Convention Center every summer, with a focus on our roots \u2013 anime and video games.<\/p>\n<p>We work hard every day, all year round, to create <b>unique and exciting experiences for fans<\/b>&nbsp;in an <b>inclusive and immersive environment. <\/b>We are always aiming to take&nbsp;<span style=\"font-weight: bolder;\">METROCON<\/span>&nbsp;to new and exciting places while ensuring that the sense of family and community never diminishes.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bolder;\">METROCON exists and thrives because of the amazing anime fans from around the world that have made this convention home \u2013 we&#8217;re grateful every day for the opportunity to put this event on, and we look forward to many more years of METROCON with you!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48c2507 elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-heading\" data-id=\"48c2507\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"raven-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-widget-wrapper\"><h2 class=\"raven-heading raven-heading-h2\"><span class=\"raven-heading-title \">2023 ATTENDANCE<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea739f0 raven-flip-box--effect-flip raven-flip-box--direction-up elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-flip-box\" data-id=\"ea739f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"raven-flip-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer raven-flip-box__front\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper elementor-view-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fas fa-ticket-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t14,082 Unique Attendees\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer raven-flip-box__back\"\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUnique Attendance\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUnique Paid Attendance includes all purchased tickets from a particular year \u2013 pre-registration and at the door, and all types of tickets purchased. This has always been the go-to leading indicator for METROCON\u2019s success, and when asked about our \u201cattendance\u201d, this is the number we answer with.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce5f15a raven-flip-box--effect-flip raven-flip-box--direction-up elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-flip-box\" data-id=\"ce5f15a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"raven-flip-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer raven-flip-box__front\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper elementor-view-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"far fa-id-badge\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t15,902 Passholders\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer raven-flip-box__back\"\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPassholders\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Passholders, or \u201cWarm Bodies\u201d count, includes staff, cast, volunteers, exhibitors, and anyone with a METROCON pass of any kind, whether they paid for it or not. This number is important for overall crowd maintenance, fire codes, and a general idea of who has access to the areas of the convention center that require a pass to access (which is most of them).\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0df6df4 raven-flip-box--effect-flip raven-flip-box--direction-up elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-flip-box\" data-id=\"0df6df4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"raven-flip-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer raven-flip-box__front\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper elementor-view-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fas fa-ticket-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t31,156 Turnstile\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer raven-flip-box__back\"\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTurnstile Attendance\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-flip-box__layer__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTurnstile attendance is often used by sporting events or other large entertainment venues. Turnstile attendance is calculated by marking one \u201cattendee\u201d for each day of attendance. A single day pass counts for one, whereas a three-day pass counts for three \u2013 this is used to indicate exposure potential for sponsors and exhibitors.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28c84cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"28c84cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 26-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column 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d=\"M154.5,26.7c-0.1-0.1-4.6,0.3-7.2,0c-7.3-0.7-17-3.2-16.6-2.9c0.4,0.3,13.7,3.1,17,3.3\tC152.6,27.5,154.6,26.8,154.5,26.7z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M41.9,19.3c0,0,1.2-0.3,2.9-0.1c1.7,0.2,5.8,0.9,8.2,0.7c4.2-0.4,7.4-2.7,7-2.6\tc-0.4,0-4.3,2.2-8.6,1.9c-1.8-0.1-5.1-0.5-6.7-0.4S41.9,19.3,41.9,19.3z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M75.5,12.6c0.2,0.1,2-0.8,4.3-1.1c2.3-0.2,2.1-0.3,2.1-0.5c0-0.1-1.8-0.4-3.4,0\tC76.9,11.5,75.3,12.5,75.5,12.6z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M15.6,13.2c0-0.1,4.3,0,6.7,0.5c2.4,0.5,5,1.9,5,2c0,0.1-2.7-0.8-5.1-1.4\tC19.9,13.7,15.7,13.3,15.6,13.2z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-679608c elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"679608c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b462fc1 elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-heading\" data-id=\"b462fc1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"raven-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-widget-wrapper\"><h2 class=\"raven-heading raven-heading-h2\"><span class=\"raven-heading-title \">ANNUAL THEME<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6ae9fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e6ae9fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Every year at <b>METROCON<\/b>, we choose a &#8220;theme&#8221; that we use to inspire our events, guests, and the overall vibe of the convention.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bce7c7e elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-heading\" data-id=\"bce7c7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"raven-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-widget-wrapper\"><h3 class=\"raven-heading raven-heading-h3\"><span class=\"raven-heading-title \">Year 21: Legacy of Dreams<\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3a08a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e3a08a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-b8a006e ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); font-size: 1rem;\">YEAR 21 &#8211; LEGACY of DREAMS<\/span><\/p><p>The theme for <b>METROCON<\/b> 2024 is <b>&#8220;Legacy of Dreams&#8221;<\/b> &#8211; <b>METROCON<\/b> started off as just a dream, like so many other creative and community endeavors. After twenty years of <b>METROCON<\/b>, we want to do everything we can to leave a legacy of dreams made into reality for our whole community. Whether it&#8217;s a dream cosplay you&#8217;ve always wanted to make, a dream event you&#8217;ve wanted to attend, or a dream guest you want to meet &#8211; we hope we can be a small part of helping your dreams come true this year!<\/p><p><b>&#8220;Wait &#8211; what happened to the &#8220;Versus&#8221; theme? Why change the way the theme works? I thought it was cool!&#8221;<\/b><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/metroconventions.com\/2023\/10\/06\/changes-to-our-annual-theme\/\"><b>Read our blog post here about our new theme format, and why we changed it!<\/b><\/a><\/p><p><b style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-b8a006e ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: 1rem;\">\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1dbc6e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1dbc6e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d25276 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3d25276\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a32582b elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-raven-heading\" data-id=\"a32582b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"raven-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"raven-widget-wrapper\"><h2 class=\"raven-heading raven-heading-h2\"><span class=\"raven-heading-title \">HISTORY<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-133a583 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"133a583\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>2003 &#8211; <\/strong>The very first <strong>METROCON<\/strong> is held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel as Tampa&#8217;s first anime-focused fan convention, and a meet-up for members of the early-2000&#8217;s forum community, <strong>AnimeMetro.com<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>2004 &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong>The first\u00a0<strong>Anime Human Chess Match<\/strong> is held, signaling <strong>METROCON&#8217;s<\/strong> move towards entertainment-focused fan events!<\/p><p><strong>2005 &#8211;\u00a0METROCON<\/strong> moves to the Tampa Convention Center, and claims the title of <strong>&#8220;Florida&#8217;s Largest Anime Convention&#8221;<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>2010<\/strong> &#8211;\u00a0<strong>METROCON\u00a0<\/strong>is acquired by\u00a0<strong>Team Dynamite Productions,\u00a0<\/strong>the production company founded by long-term core staff members, and ownership changes hands.<\/p><p><strong>2014 &#8211; METROCON <\/strong>attendance\u00a0breaks 10,000 for the first time!<\/p><p><strong>2015<\/strong> &#8211; The first 4-day <strong>METROCON<\/strong> is held, as expansion continues to cover over 600,000 square feet of convention space, and 200+ hours of content<\/p><p>2018 &#8211;\u00a0<strong>Alex Craddock<\/strong>, long time Director of Operations, assumes the role of CEO and becomes the sole owner of <strong>Team Dynamite Productions<\/strong><\/p><p>2021 &#8211; Based on input from fans all over the world, <strong>METROCON<\/strong> returns to a three-day event to focus on quality over quantity<\/p><p>2023 &#8211; <strong>METROCON<\/strong> celebrates their <strong>20th Anniversary<\/strong>, including a record-breaking convention year, and a dedication from the City of Tampa\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01ca0a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"01ca0a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ABOUT METROCON Annual Theme, Attendance, History, and more! Upcoming METROCON Dates! July 5 &#8211; 7, 2024 July 25 &#8211; 27, 2025 July 31 &#8211; August 2, 2026 July 23 &#8211; 25, 2027 METROCON&nbsp;is a for fans, by fans anime convention featuring celebrity guests, exhibitors, and the most unique and exciting convention entertainment in the multiverse! 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