{"id":36466,"date":"2025-11-03T21:21:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T21:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/36466\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T21:21:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T21:21:10","slug":"san-diego-collected-19k-in-comic-con-building-wrap-fines-san-diego-union-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/36466\/","title":{"rendered":"San Diego collected $19K in Comic-Con building wrap fines \u2013 San Diego Union-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

San Diego collected $19,000 in fines for illegal building wraps at this summer\u2019s Comic-Con<\/a> International.<\/p>\n

The wraps, featuring advertisements this year for \u201cThe Walking Dead\u201d, \u201cGen V\u201d and others, are a favorite of convention goers but have been the ire of neighborhood groups, which call them a blight on downtown. They are also, technically, against the law, even though fines are relatively small.<\/p>\n

There were 19 citations issued this year across hotels, residential buildings and restaurants. That was down from last year, when there were 27 citations totaling $22,500 in fines. San Diego didn\u2019t go soft on fines this year, it\u2019s just that there were fewer wraps.<\/p>\n

Hollywood largely took a break<\/a>, compared to past years, from this year\u2019s pop-culture bonanza. The main building wrapper, New York-based KAP Media, had 22 installations this summer, down slightly from 25 last year. Industry experts cited a run of box-office duds and less output, especially from Marvel Studios, as a reason for a calmer convention.<\/p>\n

San Diego\u2019s war on public advertising is long-running, having started in the 1970s<\/a> when it limited the number of billboards in the city. San Diego was sued over its restrictions, which eventually led to a 1981 U.S. Supreme Court case. The ruling allowed the city to prohibit any new billboards<\/a> based on city concerns about community aesthetics and traffic safety.<\/p>\n

A lawmaker concerned about too much advertising might seem quaint these days. Advertisements are prevalent in technology that didn\u2019t exist back when San Diego was taking on billboards: Social media, streaming channels, email, websites and more. A University of Southern California study<\/a> estimated that the average person was exposed to 500 advertisements a day in the 1970s but 5,000 a day by 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wraps are fun, innovative, temporary ways to showcase San Diego\u2019s creative relationship with the Comic-Con phenomenon,\u201d said Kelly Cunningham of the San Diego Institute for Economic Research. \u201cExceptions should be allowed for this unique stellar event that brings economic promotion and value to the region.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cunningham made his comments as part of The San Diego Union-Tribune\u2019s weekly Econometer panel<\/a>, made up of a group of economists and business leaders. The panel was asked if the city should do away with fines for Comic-Con advertising in July. Eleven panelists said the city should eliminate fines, citing the tourism revenue the city gets from the event. Two panelists said fines should stay, saying they raise much-needed funds for the city.<\/p>\n

Scenic San Diego, a neighborhood that has long opposed Comic-Con wraps, did not respond to a call for comment but called the signs \u201cegregious\u201d this summer on its website<\/a>. It argued the revenue generated in fines was not enough to ignore the city\u2019s laws, which are designed to protect the visual quality of San Diego.<\/p>\n

The city can fine businesses up to $10,000 a day, but such high sanctions are rare. It is more common for San Diego to give out warnings or a $1,000-per-day citation.<\/p>\n

Most people involved in the wraps are tight-lipped about how much they cost.\u00a0In 2011, the Hilton San Diego Bayfront said it was paid $70,000<\/a> by Universal Pictures two years in a row to promote two of its films. KAP Media, the main building wrapper, said in 2024<\/a> it can cost more than $100,000 for its wraps.<\/p>\n

Paying fines likely is a drop in the bucket for advertising budgets and, for shows and movies that are hits, probably well worth it. For instance, this year\u2019s biggest wrap was at the Omni San Diego Hotel at the Ballpark for anime film, \u201cDemon Slayer: Infinity Castle.\u201d It went on to be the fifth-highest grossing movie in the world this year, said Box Office Mojo<\/a>, earning $670 million as of early November.<\/p>\n

Not all of the building wraps are illegal. The Port of San Diego allows building wraps on land it controls west of Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway. This year, that included advertisements for \u201cAlien: Earth\u201d, \u201cStar Trek: Strange New Worlds\u201d and several video games, including \u201cDigimon Story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how the fines broke down by business:<\/p>\n

Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter: $3,000<\/p>\n

\"AnAn AMC advertisement for an Anne Rice show the side of the Hilton Gaslamp Hotel this summer. (Alejandro Tamayo \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

The Hilton Gaslamp featured advertisements for AMC\u2019s franchise of shows based on Anne Rice books, including \u201cInterview with the Vampire\u201d (the upcoming season adapts the novel, \u201cThe Vampire Lestat\u201d) and \u201cTalamasca.\u201d The opposite side of the hotel featured an advertisement for the Marvel Studios film \u201cFantastic 4: First Steps\u201d combined with a promotion for the Google Play store.<\/p>\n

Pendry Hotel San Diego: $3,000<\/p>\n

\""The\u201cThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon\u201d series advertised on the front of the Pendry hotel for Comic-Con International. (Alejandro Tamayo \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

AMC\u2019s zombie franchise \u201cThe Walking Dead\u201d covered the Pendry hotel with several of its projects: The \u201cDaryl Dixon\u201d show was the primary focus, with other shows \u201cThe Ones who Live\u201d and \u201cDead City\u201d at street level.<\/p>\n

Lou & Mickey\u2019s: $2,000<\/p>\n

\"AMC'sAMC\u2019s \u201cThe Vampire Lestat\u201d building above Lou and Mickey\u2019s restaurant in downtown San Diego. (Alejandro Tamayo \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

The Lou & Mickey\u2019s restaurant was fined as part of the AMC promotion of Anne Rice shows, which stretched over into the Hilton Gaslamp hotel. It also had a promotion on the side of the building for Prime\u2019s \u201cGen V\u201d show.<\/p>\n

Omni San Diego Hotel at the Ballpark: $3,000<\/p>\n

\"AnAn advertisement for the anime film \u201cDemon Slayer: Infinity Castle\u201d covers the Omni Hotel in downtown San Diego on the Monday before Comic-Con International. (Alejandro Tamayo \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

The \u201cDemon Slayer: Infinity Castle\u201d movie probably had the most visible advertisement at this year\u2019s convention.<\/p>\n

Park 12: $3,000<\/p>\n

\"AdvertisementAdvertisement for the new \u201cDexter\u201d show on the Park 12 apartment building in downtown San Diego ahead of Comic-Con. (Alejandro Tamayo \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

San Diego\u2019s biggest apartment complex, Park 12, had an advertisement for the latest \u201cDexter\u201d show.<\/p>\n

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego: $3,000<\/p>\n

\"AdvertisementsAdvertisements for Starz shows on the Hard Rock Hotel for this year\u2019s Comic-Con International. (Alejandro Tamayo \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

The Hard Rock Hotel featured several shows on the Starz network, including \u201cSpartacus: House of Ashur\u201d and \u201cOutlander: Blood of My Blood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huntress Steakhouse: $2,000<\/p>\n

\"TheThe entrance of Paramount+\u2019s The Lodge in downtown for San Diego Comic-Con International. (Michael Ho \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

This fine was for a Paramount+ sign outside its promotional space, featuring games and merchandise, called The Lodge. Several of its shows were featured, including \u201cLandman\u201d.<\/p>\n

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