Providence Anime Conference

Last updated
Providence Anime Conference
StatusDefunct
Venue Rhode Island Convention Center
Location(s) Providence, Rhode Island
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2008
Most recent2008
Attendance375 in 2008
Organized by New England Anime Society [1]

Providence Anime Conference (PAC) was a three-day anime convention held in Providence, Rhode Island. [2] [3] It was the first 21-and-older anime convention. [4] PAC was created by the New England Anime Society, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization also responsible for creating Anime Boston. [1] [5] [6]

Contents

History

Providence Anime Conference was announced at Anime Boston 2007 with a 21-and-older age requirement and programing geared towards mature fans. [7] The convention estimated that attendance would be in the thousands for the first year, and instituted a 2000-attendee cap, but only registered 211 paid attendees. [2] [5] [7] Problems with the convention included a remote convention location, an expensive convention center with limited public transportation, the 21-and-older age requirement, and no one-day passes. [7] [8] At times, the convention's halls were empty due to heavy panel attendance and the dealers suffered due to the frugality of the attendees. [2] [7] [9] Positives included cash bars selling alcoholic beverages, the use of adult language, and full panel rooms with good Q&A's and discussions. [7] [8] [6] The low attendance caused the convention to lose money and not return for the immediate future. [3] [7] [8] Even with those problems, the convention was felt by many to be a good experience. [4] [8] [10] [9] [6]

At Anime Boston 2018, a panel titled "Providence Anime Conference: 10 Years Later" was presented. During this panel, several former members of PAC staff told the tale of how the convention came to exist, what went wrong, and the legacy it left behind. [11] [9]

Event history

DatesLocationAttend.Guests
October 3–5, 2008 Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island 		211 (paid)
375 (estimated total)		 Christopher Ayres, Kevin McKeever, Adam Sheehan, Tom Wayland, and David L. Williams. [2]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "New England Anime Society Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Providence Anime Conference 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  3. 1 2 Patrick Delahanty (2009-01-23). "Looking Back on the Anime Conventions of 2008". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  4. 1 2 "Inside the Providence Anime Conference!". Robotech.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2014. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  5. 1 2 "Providence Anime Conference 2008 announces launch date and Robotech Convention Tour" (Press release). AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  6. 1 2 3 Delahanty, Patrick (2018-05-14). "Episode 1018: The Legacy of Providence Anime Conference". AnimeCons TV. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Michael Toole (2012-03-11). "The Mike Toole Show: The Con That Failed". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "A Look at the Providence Anime Conference". Mania.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  9. 1 2 3 Samantha Ferreira (2018-04-04). "Anime Boston 2018: Providence Anime Conference: 10 Years Later". Anime Herald. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  10. ↑ "Providence Anime Conference 2008". Reverse Thieves. 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  11. ↑ PAC Staff (2018-03-30). "Providence Anime Conference: 10 Years Later". Anime Boston 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-19.

Coordinates: 41°49′28.4″N71°24′57.6″W / 41.824556°N 71.416000°W / 41.824556; -71.416000

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