Summer of Sonic 2010 Announced, But Perhaps at a Price

By
Tristan Oliver
– February 9, 2010

Could There Be an Admission Fee?  Maybe

On Monday, Summer of Sonic organizer and Sonic Stadium webmaster Svend Joscelyne announced the 2010 Summer of Sonic convention would be held at a venue to be determined on August 7th, 2010.

No further details were given on who’s to be expected at the convention, or where it will be.  But what was discussed was a possible plan to charge those in attendance a fee to be determined to cover convention costs.  That hasn’t been done before.

As Joscelyne explains, there could be much to gain on the whole from a price of admission:

With the costs of Summer of Sonic 2009 exceeding expectations, it is being decided whether to charge a small fee for entry to this year’s event. We hope you’ll be supportive of this move, should we go ahead with it, as it will allow us to bring you even more unexpected surprises. There are many things in the pipeline for 2010 – you won’t be disappointed.

But where would that money go?  Last year, attendees got a free preview of both Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games.  This year, the first episode of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is expected to see release only a few weeks after the convention’s expected date, with nothing further in sight so far.  That money could go to appearance fees that special guests sometimes request, but in the past big names such as Bentley Jones, Richard Jacques, Steve Lycett, and contributors to the Fleetway Archie Comic have appeared without those costs being passed on to attendees.  Tons of free swag has also been given away.

In the end, if the admission fee goes through, it may be reflective of organizers–including Sega–feeling the pinch of putting the show on proper for the third straight year.  That’s been the case with many events, big and small, as the world tries to dig itself out of financial recession.  In short, if admission fees aren’t imposed, there may not be much of a convention–and that’s why so far, there is overwhelming support for any possible fee.

Still, the prospect of paid admission and a firm date were the only notable details to come out of the announcement, and nothing huge yet to justify any price.  Indeed, any price could also shut out a younger crowd wanting to go.  With that in mind, do you think attendees should chip in to this year’s Summer of Sonic convention with so little known about it?  Tell us in our comments area.

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