“Thunderbird” Hotel to be Torn Down, Displacing Multiple Minnesota Conventions
Last night, multiple conventions were contacted by management at the Ramada Bloomington Minneapolis Airport (aka “The Thunderbird”) informing them that the hotel had been sold to the City of Bloomington and is scheduled to close in the next thirty to sixty days (followed by an eventual demolition in the proceeding months).
This is devastating news to the Minnesota convention scene, as the hotel is home to quite a few local conventions — including 2D Con, MLP-MSP, Anime Fusion, and Tol Con. This is especially damaging for the first two, as both 2D Con and MLP-MSP are scheduled for just over two months from now.
While MLP-MSP hasn’t made any official statements on the matter, 2D Con made an announcement on their Facebook page stating that they are currently looking for a new venue. While October convention Anime Fusion has yet to make an official statement on the matter, Tol Con (scheduled for November) has as well.
(Update 3/24 1:00pm: Anime Fusion has now released a statement about the closure as well.)
Hopefully all of these cons (and any others if I forgot one) can find a new home quickly.
Besides the four listed here, the “Thunderbird” has been the historic home of quite a few other conventions. It’s a part of Minnesota fandom history, and many will be sad to see it go. With one less venue available in the area, the impact this will have on the local con scene in the Twin Cities cannot be underestimated.
Anime Fusion just put its announcement out on its Facebook even page this morning. I expect the website to be updated accordingly shortly as well. Anyway, the official statement is below.
-Matt Paulson. QCA Board Member, Parent organization to Anime Fusion
We are moving.
Hello everyone!
Due to unforeseen developments, we will be relocating the 2016 Anime Fusion convention.
I’m sure many of you have seen in the local news or have been told by a friend about the sale of the Ramada Bloomington to the city and its impending demolition. This leaves many of us longing and nostalgic for the last four years we’ve enjoyed the venue.
We of Anime Fusion have some exciting news.
With this said, we of the Convention are in the process of finding a new home for this years Anime Fusion, which will take place over the same dates. Same Fusion time, same Fusion days, new Fusion channel.
Stay with us and check back in for updates to come soon over the next few months, as we keep the ball rolling onward to Anime Fusion 2016: Achievement Unlocked!
Quad Cities Anime:
Anime Fusion, Convention Chairman
Linked it in the article.