E3 computer and gaming convention stays in L.A. through 2015 - LA ...

The popular and profitable E3 electronic show will continue to use the Los Angeles Convention Center as its home through 2015, it was announced Monday.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said the Electronic Entertainment Expo agreed to make Los Angeles the host city for its annual event, which has become one of the most anticipated trade shows for computers and video games.

E3 began in Los Angeles in 1995 and has remained in the Convention Center since then.

City officials wanted to lock the event in for future years and head off advances from other cities seeking to woo event organizers.

E3 officials had wanted assurances that construction plans for the Convention Center as part of the Farmers Field football stadium project would not interfere with their convention.

For 2012, the three-day conference resulted in the booking of 30,000 hotel room nights and was believed to have had a $40 million economic impact, the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board said. Next year's convention will be held June 11-13, is expected to have a similar impact.

Villaraigosa and other city officials made an all out effort this past year to convince officials with E3 - owned by the Entertainment Software Association - to remain in Los Angeles.

"It is a privilege that Los Angeles will continue to host E3," Villaraigosa said. "Los Angeles is the birthplace of E3 and returning year after year, it continues to keep the city at the

forefront of technology."

At this year's convention, the mayor, city leaders and officials of AEG, the owners of LA Live, met with ESA leaders to urge them to remain in the city.

"Not only is E3 important for the technology and video game industry, it is also important to tourism," said Mark Lieberman, president of the Tourism and Convention Board.

"With approximately 200 exhibitors and 45,000 attendees, we recognize that all eyes are on Los Angeles during the event."

E3 brings together industry professionals with buyers, retailers, programmers, distributors and other in the industry with venture capitalists, importers and manufacturers.

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/business/ci_21191752/e3-computer-and-gaming-convention-stays-l-through?source=rss

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