Anaheim officials announced Thursday that all gatherings at the Anaheim Convention Center have been postponed through the end of the month to comply with a state directive to cancel events with 250 or more people during the coronavirus outbreak.
Officials will also put off any city-related events involving more than 250 people and will be “coordinating with recreational soccer, softball and other sports leagues on best practices with the potential of postponement,” according to a city statement.
City Hall, community centers and libraries will stay open, but library programs and “larger events” will be postponed.
The city will also postpone events and gatherings for senior citizens since they are a particularly vulnerable population.
Mayor Harry Sidhu’s “state of the city” address at the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, which was set for March 23, will now be rescheduled.
Meanwhile, organizers of WonderCon, a convention for comic book-related entertainment enthusiasts, has been postponed. The convention was scheduled for April 10-12 at the Anaheim Convention Center. No decision has been made yet on the larger Comic-Con convention in San Diego, scheduled for July.
“We stood ready to host WonderCon, but we are all touch and go,” said Anaheim spokesman Mike Lyster.
Gov. Gavin Newsom “has said the period lasts through March 31, but there is a possibility it will be extended,” Lyster added.
“We are confident we can take safeguards and be able to host a show with a high degree of respect and concern for public health,” Lyster said. “We look forward to getting back to that as soon as we can. We hope to have more clarity in the next few weeks.”
The postponement and cancellation of shows and events will “certainly have an impact” on the city’s economy, Lyster said.
“No doubt, our conventions, theme parks and sporting venues are drivers of our economy so certainly there will be an impact,” Lyster said. “But as a city we prepare for the unexpected. We have financial reserves and the wherewithal other cities may not have. But the reality is we won’t know the true impact until a few week’s time.”