EXPCon Continues its 2-Year Streak in St. Augustine
On Friday, November 9th EXPCon returned to St. Augustine for its 6th year at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort. This was the convention’s second-year back after an extended hiatus.
The St. Johns County Convention Center sign outside of the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort. Nov 9, 2018 (Photo: Mal Carney)
The EXPCon guest list included voice actors Charles Martinet, Ali Hillis, Doug Cockle, Cherami Leigh, and Bryce Papenbrook.
Ryan Sweat, Charles Martinet, Ali Hillis, Doug Cockle, Cherami Leigh, and Bryce Papenbrook at the opening ceremony of EXPCon 2018. Nov 9, 2018 (Photo: Mal Carney)
This convention featured panels, autograph sessions, a costume contest, a Saturday night dance party, an artist's alley, and a vendor's room. While the turnout was smaller than last year, EXPCon's 3-year contract with the World Golf Village Renaissance ensures that the convention will return for another try next year. Ryan Sweat, the founder and convention chairman of EXPCon, had a lot to say about the return of his convention. "It's a rebuilding process. I signed my first contract with the Renaissance when I was 18. I ran my first event when I was 19. I had a plan I had this really big plan. I had to bring business tourism into the city so I sold that to the general manager and when I did that they just believed in me because I could back everything up pretty much with how it was going to work out and when I did that we got up to 5,000 people by year four but you know that was when I was like 23 so I was able to have my midlife crisis. I had a pretty serious health hiatus. When it’s run by a family, 29 people, we had to take a little bit of a break but we're back we're rebuilding it and I don't care how long it takes we're going to put everything we got, all of our hearts, into it and continue to bring really amazing people to the show and I think that's going to do something really awesome it's going to pay off and we're going to be able to do something that we love for people that we love" Sweat said during the opening ceremony. Charles Martinet, the voice of video game icon Mario, had nothing but praise for Ryan Sweat. “You [Sweat] are a marvelous host,” Martinet began. “He had the courage the absolute courage, commitment, and love to just do it. It’s really incredible.”
Ryan Sweat and Charles Martinet embrace during the opening ceremony of EXPCon 2018. Nov 9, 2018 (Photo: Mal Carney)
Though St. Augustine does not have many pop culture conventions, EXPCon is helping fill a void in the local gaming, anime, and manga fan community. Ryan Sweat and his team are determined to make EXPCon a lasting success, so St. Augustine can "experience more through games."
The World Golf Village Hall of Fame. Nov 9, 2018 (Photo: Mal Carney)
For more information on EXP Con visit their Twitter.
Have you attended EXPCon or other St. Augustine-based pop culture conventions? Share your experience in the comment section.