Universal FanCon, a convention dedicated to “geek culture” that billed itself as the first to celebrate women, the LGBTQ community and people of color, announced today that it would be postponed one week before it was set to take place.
There is no clear timetable for when the inaugural Universal FanCon, which was originally scheduled to run April 27-29 at the Baltimore Convention Center, will happen.
The website Pop Culture Bento was first to report the story. As the site reported, some learned about the postponement in the round-about way of having their hotel room cancelled.
Hello. We have been advised that the group has cancelled this event with the hotel. ^Jenn M.
— Hyatt Concierge (@HyattConcierge) April 20, 2018
In a Twitter thread, convention organizers expressed dismay over the decision. As for reasons, they said those will be posted later today.
Among the 50 special guests scheduled to appear were actress Hannah Levien, writer Roxane Gay, actor Billy Dee Williams and publisher Joseph Illidge, just to name a few.
A Kickstarter campaign started in December 2016 helped raise more than $50,000 to start the festival.
Baltimore Fishbowl has reached out to the organizers for comment.
UPDATE: In a new statement released Saturday, organizers said they are postponing due to a financial deficit and are seeking to give refunds. They did not say the convention was canceled, however.
