E3 Convention, Gamer Geeks' Heaven, Stays in L.A. Through 2015

Alexis Tsotsis

E3 '09 'booth girls.'

It might not be Comic-Con, but it's the "largest annual conference that the city hosts," according to L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

And the E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo is staying in town for another three years (through summer 2015), despite some chatter that conventions would not be happy coexisting with NFL stadium construction if Farmer's Field at the Convention Center West Hall is approved.

Announcements about the deal were made today by the mayor's office and by the Entertainment Software Association, which runs E3. Anschutz Entertainment Group chief Tim Leiweke, who is planning the stadium and adjacent Convention Center improvements, stated:

Working with ESA to provide the confidence in scheduling they have requested has truly been a collaborative effort. We are also grateful to ESA for their thoughtful input into the design plans which will result in the most efficient and modern facilities that will not only benefit E3 but all of the new conventions that will come to Los Angeles. On behalf of our City and AEG, thank you ESA, we won't let you down.

E3 has been in L.A. since in started, in 1995, and most of its big game-making participants, from Sony to Electronic Arts, are based in the area.

Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of ESA:

Alexis Tsotsis

E3 school girls in '09.

The city serves as a strong backdrop for the video game industry's biggest announcements and we look forward to remaining in LA. Video games are a dominant force in the global entertainment marketplace and there is no better place to display that than Los Angeles.

The city cites statistics showing a $40 million impact from the 2012 E3 conference, which drew "45,700 video game industry professionals," according to an E3 statement.

Still, there was that possible stadium construction. And the possibility that San Diego is the hot new babe on the geek-convention map.

Mayor Villaraigosa said he was having none of that:

My office was committed to doing whatever it took to keep the largest annual conference that the City hosts here for another three years. I personally joined in the negotiations ...

Right on mayor. Now if you could just fix a few potholes.

[Mayor's press release].
[E3 press release].

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]