Otakon

For the Metal Gear Solid character, see List of recurring Metal Gear characters#Hal Emmerich.

Otakon
The Official Otakon logo.
Status	Active
Genre	Anime, East Asian popular culture
Venue	Baltimore Convention Center
Location	Baltimore, Maryland
Country	United States
First held	1994
Organizer	Otakorp, Inc.
Filing status	501(c)(3)
Attendance	31,348 paid attendees in 2011[1]
Official website	Otakon.com

Otakon (English pronunciation: /ˈoʊtəkɒn/ oh-tə-kon) is a fan convention in the United States focusing on East Asian popular culture (primarily anime, manga, music, and cinema) and its fandom. The name is a portmanteau derived from convention and the Japanese word otaku. Otakon is traditionally held on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in late summer at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland's Inner Harbor district. Otakon is one of the longest-running Anime conventions in the United States, and the second largest, averaging over 22,000 paid attendees since 2005.^[2] Even so, the convention has expanded since then, with attendance above 26,000 in both 2008 and 2009^[3] and attendance officially surpassing 29,000 in 2010.^[3]

Programming

As one of the longest running and largest conventions of its type, Otakon offers a very broad range of programming, exhibits, and other events. Typical Otakon programming includes:^[4][5]

Video programming

• Multiple video rooms in which anime and live action East Asian films are shown on big screens throughout the convention. Fan-produced content including fan-parodies and anime music videos (AMVs) are also shown. For several years, Otakon had a dedicated 35 mm film theater, but replaced it in 2008 with an HD theater^[6] to take advantage of the wider array of offerings in that format.

Panels and workshops

• Panels and workshops on subjects such as voice acting, how to draw manga,^[7] Japanese culture, and a variety of other topics. Industry professionals announce new acquisitions, and expert guests discuss or show tricks of their trade and field questions from the audience. Many panels and workshops are conducted by fans rather than pros (ex. Create a Comic Project).^[7]

Costume events

• Cosplay and a skit-based Masquerade show, which in recent years has taken place inside the 1st Mariner Arena.^[5] Many attendees spend most of the convention in costume as their favorite anime, manga, or video game character. Many enter daily contests, and some participate in skits in the Masquerade show, one of the largest convention events. There is also a cosplay contest and a photo suite where attendees can have their photos professionally taken in costume.^[4]

Art events

• "The Artist Alley" is an artists' marketplace for writers, musicians, and craftspeople to display, advertise, and sell their artwork. A separate art show allows amateur artists to display and auction their artwork.

Music

• Musical performances throughout the weekend. Since 2003, there has been at least one concert at each convention featuring a Japanese musical guest.
• Otakon also features what is known as the "Otakafé" and hosts karaoke^[4] as well.

Gaming

• A video game room for console, arcade, and computer games, with tournaments scheduled throughout the weekend.

Merchandise

• A "Dealers' Room" in which commercial vendors such as publishers and retailers set up booths and sell anime- and manga-related merchandise.

Friday and Saturday night dance

• The "Otakurave", a late-night dance party hosted by Baltimore-Washington area (and sometimes national) DJs.

Other Events

Autographs

• Opportunities to meet guests and collect autographs at no additional charge.

Live-action role-playing (LARP)

• Weekend-long anime-themed live-action role-playing with hundreds of participants.

Events for younger children

• A special children's track called Ota-chan.

History

Event history

Dates	Location	Atten.	Guests
July 29–31, 1994	Days Inn Penn State State College, Pennsylvania	350 (Unique Memberships), 875 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Robert DeJesus, Neil Nadelman, C Sue Shambaugh, Jeff Thompson, Steve Pearl, William Spangler, Dave Fleming, Lorraine Savage, and Rick Johnson.
September 1–4, 1995	Penn State Scanticon State College, Pennsylvania	450 (Unique Memberships), 1,100 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Teruo Kakuta, Toshio Okada, Toren Smith, and Adam Warren, Robert DeJesus, Steve Bennett, Lorraine Savage, Tomoko Saito, Sue Shambaugh, Neil Nadelman, Jeff Thompson, Steve Pearl, Matt Greenfield, Trish Ledoux, and Robert Woodhead.[8]
August 9–11, 1996	Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn Hunt Valley, Maryland	1,000 (Unique Memberships), 2,750 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Steve Bennett, Robert DeJesus, Masaomi Kanzaki, Matt Lunsford, Neil Nadelman, Steve Pearl, Sue Shambaugh, Jeff Thompson, and Adam Warren.[9]
August 8–10, 1997	Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn Hunt Valley, Maryland	1,750 (Unique Memberships), 4,500 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Ippongi Bang, Kuni Kimura, and Matt Lunsford.[10]
August 7–9, 1998	Hyatt Regency-Crystal City Arlington, Virginia	2,500 (Unique Memberships), 6,500 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Hiroshi Aro, Tiffany Grant, Shoji Kawamori, Kuni Kimura, Tristan MacAvery, Lisa Ortiz, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[11]
July 2–4, 1999	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore. Maryland	4,500 (Unique Memberships), 10,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Chris Beveridge, Tiffany Grant, Amy Howard-Wilson, Mari Iijima, Yoko Kanno, Kuni Kimura, Hiroyuki Kitakubo, Shin Kurokawa, Rachael Lillis, Kazuto Nakazawa, Fred Schodt, and Shinichiro Watanabe.[12]
August 4–6, 2000	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	7,500 (Unique Memberships), 18,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Yoshitoshi ABe, Mandy Bonhomme, Amy Howard-Wilson, Kunihiko Ikuhara, Ian Kim, Steve Pearl, Gilles Poitras, Yasuyuki Ueda, and Simon Yam.[13]
August 10–12, 2001	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	10,275 (Unique Memberships), 26,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Steve Bennett, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Jo Chen, Colleen Doran, Fred Gallagher, Tiffany Grant, Scott Houle, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Ian Kim, Shin Kurokawa, Masao Maruyama, Hikaru Midorikawa, Fred Perry, Gilles Poitras, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Adam Warren, and Pamela Weidner.[14]
July 26–28, 2002	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	12,880 (Unique Memberships), 30,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Steve Bennett, Chris Beveridge, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Fred Gallagher, Yoko Ishida, Wendee Lee, Masao Maruyama, Yutaka Minowa, Kiroyuki Morioka, Neil Nadelman, Yasuhiro Nightow, Fred Perry, Gilles Poitras, Tatsuo Sato, and Lianne Sentar.[15]
August 8–10, 2003	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	17,338 (Unique Memberships), 40,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Steve Bennett, Mandy Bonhomme, Johnny Yong Bosch, Justin Cook, Julie Davis, Robert DeJesus, Brian Drummond, Fred Gallagher, Scott Houle, Yoshiaki Iwasaki, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Itsuro Kawasaki, Tsukasa Kotobuki, Pontus Madsen, Masao Maruyama, Rica Matsumoto, Dr. Susan Napier, Satoshi Nishimura, Kristine Sa, Fred Schodt, Jan Scott-Frazier, T.M.Revolution, and Pamela Weidner.[16]
July 30 – August 1, 2004	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	20,899 (Unique Memberships), 55,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	angela, Matt Boyd, Siu-Tung "Tony" Ching, Luci Christian, Koge Donbo, Richard Epcar, Christian Fundin, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Chuck Huber, L'Arc-en-Ciel, Pontus Madsen, Ian McConville, Yutaka Minowa, Ichiro Okouch, Ananth Panagariya, Chris Patton, Monica Rial, Chris Sabat, Tatsuo Sato, Yuzo Sato, Lianne Sentar, and Matt Thorn.[17]
August 19–21, 2005	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	22,000 (Unique Memberships), 60,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Greg Ayres, Katie Bair, Matt Boyd, Brian Carroll, Luci Christian, Justin Cook, Richard Ian Cox, Huw "Lem" Davies, Ben Dunn, Christian Fundin, Fred Gallagher, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, the Indigo, Yoshinori Kanemori, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Dave Lister, Pontus Madsen, Masao Maruyama, Ian McConville, Mike McFarland, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Scott McNeil, Vic Mignogna, Mitsukazu Mihara, Seiji Mizushima, Ananth Panagariya, Fred Perry, Piano Squall, Puffy AmiYumi, Scott Ramsoomair, Xero Reynolds, Monica Rial, Michelle Ruff, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[18][19]
August 4–6, 2006	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	22,302 (Unique Memberships), 66,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Christine Auten, Troy Baker, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Christian Fundin, Fred Gallagher, Caitlin Glass, Kate Higgins, Kouta Hirano, Hirotsugu Kawasaki, Ayako Kawasumi, Nana Kitade, Yuri Lowenthal, Pontus Madsen, Masao Maruyama, Mike McFarland, Mucc, Kazuto Nakazawa, Monica Rial, Antimere Robinson, Patrick Seitz, Makoto Tateno, Nobuteru Yuuki, and Yoshiki Hayashi.[20]
July 20–22, 2007	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	22,852 (Unique Memberships), 67,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	AAA, Morio Asaka, Steve Blum, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Aaron Dismuke, Eminence, Christian Fundin, Fred Gallagher, Caitlin Glass, Ryuhei Kitamura, Kenji Kodama, Pontus Madsen, Vic Mignogna, Maki Murakami, Mamiko Noto, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Tomokazu Seki, Stephanie Sheh, Mike Sinterniklaas, Michihiko Suwa, and Steve Yun.[21]
August 8–10, 2008	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	26,262 (Unique Memberships), 78,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Laura Bailey, Peter S. Beagle, DaizyStripper, Richard Epcar, Peter Fernandez, Taliesin Jaffe, JAM Project, Willow Johnson, Kyoko Kano, Mika Kano, Mela Lee, Yuri Lowenthal, MarBell, Masao Maruyama, Hiromi Matsushita, Tony Oliver, Tara Platt, Derek Stephen Prince, Mike Sinterniklaas, Ellyn Stern, Kazuko Tadano, the Underneath, and Kappei Yamaguchi.[22]
July 17–19, 2009	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland[23]	26,586 (Unique Memberships), 79,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Becca, Crispin Freeman, Kikuko Inoue, Noboru Ishiguro, Yukio Kikukawa, Hidenori Matsubara, Masao Maruyama, Mike McFarland, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Misako Rocks!, Tony Oliver, Fred Schodt, Sonny Strait, Naomi Tamura, VAMPS, Kanon Wakeshima, Travis Willingham, MELL, and Yutaka Yamamoto.[24]
July 30-August 1, 2010	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	29,274 (Unique Memberships), 87,000 (Estimated Turnstile)[3]	Maile Flanagan, Vic Mignogna, h. Naoto, Yoshida Brothers, Home Made Kazoku,[25] Todd Haberkorn, Clarine Harp, Jerry Jewell, Patrick Seitz, J. Michael Tatum, Amy Howard Wilson, Christopher Bevins, Takamasa Sakurai, Yoshiki and Sugizo from X JAPAN, Antic Cafe's Kanon, Hiroshi Koujina,[26] Masao Maruyama,[26] Yūji Mitsuya, Michael Sinterniklaas, Masashi Ishihama, Koji Masunari, Tomonori Ochikoshi, Peter S. Beagle, and Felipe Smith.
July 29–31, 2011[27]	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland	31,348 paid attendees[1]	Chemistry, Tony Oliver, Lisa Ortiz, Tom Wayland, Roland Kelts, Johnny Yong Bosch, Eyeshine,[28] Sixh., Makoto Shinkai, Masumi Kano, Mitsuba, Takamasa Sakurai, Kazuya Murata, DJ Saolilith, Scott Freeman, Orine Fukushima, Noboru Ishiguro, KYLEE, Momoko Ohara, Scott Sager, Akira Sasanuma, Patrick Seitz, Chiaki Shimogama, Bob Shirohata, J. Michael Tatum, Cristina Vee, Nobuo Uematsu, Stephanie Sheh, Masayuki Ozaki, Masao Maruyama, Shelby Lindley, Cassandra Lee, Atsuhiro Iwakami, Toshihiro Fukuoka, and Peter S. Beagle.
July 27-29, 2012[29]	Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland

1995 Four-day convention

While the idea of a four-day convention has some support among the general membership (especially among younger members), the idea has been summarily dismissed as unworkable by Otakon staff. It was attempted in 1995, over a holiday weekend, back when Otakon fit comfortably in a small hotel, and even then it was an exhausting prospect that didn't pay off. In those days, the entire convention could be set up in a matter of hours, while it currently takes two full days to prepare the site. At its current size and functional requirements, Otakon would face a significant additional expense in running an extra day, and both industry and dealers have said that it would not be worth their time and money to attend a fourth day. Finally, it is clear that few staffers would be able to afford the extra day (most staffers already use as much as a week of vacation time to help run the con). With almost zero support from staff, industry, or dealers, there is virtually no chance that Otakon will ever attempt a four-day convention again.^[30]

Otakon 2010 fire alarm incident

During Otakon 2010, at approximately 2:00 PM on Saturday, the entire Baltimore Convention Center had to be evacuated due to a fire alarm,^[31] although there was no fire. Hours of certain events and rooms were adjusted accordingly to accommodate for lost time.

This was only the second safety incident of this sort to take place during Otakon. Nine years earlier, in 2001, the convention center was evacuated due to after-effects of the Howard Street Tunnel fire. Residual explosive chemicals from an earlier train accident reacted with air, and the resulting explosions launched manhole covers into the air. This incident was spoofed in Otakon's 2008 Opening Animation: in the video, one of the convention's mascots causes a barrage of manhole covers to strike a giant robot menacing the convention center.

Facilities

Otakon has been located in the Baltimore Convention Center at least in part for every year beginning in 1999, though it soon expanded to require the entire convention center and more recently, other buildings as well. Events such as the masquerade now place in the 1st Mariner Arena, located one block away, and at least some programming takes place in the Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel,^[6] connected to the Convention Center by its skybridge,^[32] as was the case in both 2009 and 2010.^[5]

1st Mariner Arena

As Otakon has outgrown the convention center alone, it has increasingly made use of the 1st Mariner Arena for large events, most notably for the Masquerade.^[5]

Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel and Otakon

The Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel opened on Friday, August 22, 2008.^[33][34][35] In 2009, Otakon had been promised a minimum of 30,000 square feet (2,800 m²) out of a total 45,000 square feet (4,200 m²) by the Hilton Baltimore.^[36][37][38] and had confirmed that they would use the Hilton for the convention itself; however only a limited number of events and panels took place at the Hilton with the major of events taking place in the more-spacious Baltimore Convention Center.^[39]

On February 7, 2009, Otakon posted information on its panels for Otakon 2009, confirming that panel space will be in the Baltimore Convention Center and will be expanded into the Hilton Baltimore.^[40] Otakon 2009 utilized in the Hilton, the Poe meeting room for its Manga Library and the Key Ballroom for two additional panel rooms and one additional autographs room.

Otakon 2010 further expanded into the Hilton, using not only the space used in 2009 but also what essentially amounted to all of the convention space on the second floor of the Hilton.^[41][42]

Otakon 2011 further expanded into the Hilton, using the entire space on the second floor, and one room on the first floor of the Hilton for the first time.

Otakorp

Otakon is run by the Pennsylvania-based non-profit organization Otakorp, Inc.^[43] whose focus is on using East Asian popular culture as a gateway to increase understanding of East Asian culture.

Otakon is the annual meeting of Otakorp, Inc. Otakon attendees do not purchase "tickets" to Otakon; they actually become a member of the non-profit organization that runs Otakon with their paid attendance to the convention. Everyone who pays the annual membership fee to attend Otakon is also a supporting member for Otakorp and is able to participate in sanctioned events, contests, or giveaways that might occur during the year.

All staff are unpaid volunteers, although registration tasks are supplemented by temporary workers provided by Visit Baltimore, and certain services such as legal and accounting work are by contract. Otakon also enlists the help of non-staff assistants, whom are referred to as gofers. Otakon 2006 listed over 500 staff on its roster, though not all work the convention directly, though in a similar count, At the time immediately following Otakon 2010, Otakorp listed 685 staff on its online roster.^[44]

Otakorp, Inc. also sponsors film screenings as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, and assists with programming at other film festivals.

Economic impact on Baltimore

As of July 30, 2010, Otakon has had a great economic impact with its host, the City of Baltimore. Otakon has had the highest economic impact in Baltimore for 2009, 2008 and 2007 and has been a top convention for Baltimore since 2003. Otakon 2009 had an economic impact of $12.5 million in direct spending and booked over 4,500 hotel rooms. Otakon 2010 had a great impact in terms of food vendors, some have been working Otakon since the 1st year Otakon has been in Baltimore (1999).^[45] According to the Baltimore Business Journal on December 10, 2010, Otakon 2010 had 4,575 booked hotel rooms and an estimated economic impact of $15.3 million up from $12.5 million the year before.^[46]

Otakon Awards and Recognition

Otakon 2011 Visit Baltimore "Customer of the Year" Award

In 2011, Visit Baltimore (Baltimore City's tourism agency) awarded Otakon with a "Customer of the Year" award for "hosting their annual tradeshow and convention in Baltimore since 1999. They have demonstrated ongoing commitment to Baltimore, bringing more than 27,000 attendees to the city every year, a much-anticipated event by the local community and media" and that Otakon "have also selected Baltimore as the host destination through 2016."[www.otakon.com/history_news.asp "History: In the News"]. Otakon/Otakorp, Inc.. www.otakon.com/history_news.asp. Retrieved October 15, 2011. 

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Information on Otakon 2011". animecons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/2297/Otakon_2011. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
2. ^ http://www.animecons.com/news/article.shtml/221
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s} "Otakon History: Stats Page". Otakon. http://www.otakon.com/history_stats.asp. Retrieved 2011-07-12. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/738 Retrieved 2010-08-09.
5. ^ ^{a b c d} http://www.otakon.com/events_schedule.asp Retrieved 2010-08-09.
6. ^ ^{a b} http://otakon.com/pdf/bcc_map.pdf Retrieved 2010-08-09.
7. ^ ^{a b} Shepherd, Jeremy. "Otakon 2009: Manga, Literacy, and Children." http://anime.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=5565
8. ^ "Otakon 1995 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/341. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
9. ^ "Otakon 1996 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/342. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
10. ^ "Otakon 1997 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/342. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
11. ^ "Otakon 1998 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/344. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
12. ^ "Otakon 1999 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/345. Retrieved 2008-11-18. 
13. ^ "Otakon 2000 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/346. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
14. ^ "Otakon 2001 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/89. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
15. ^ "Otakon 2002 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/284. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
16. ^ "Otakon 2003 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/88. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
17. ^ "Otakon 2004 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/211. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
18. ^ Shapiro, Stephanie (August 22, 2005). "Power Puffy Girls". Baltimore Sun. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/885161011.html?dids=885161011:885161011&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+22%2C+2005&author=Stephanie+Shapiro&pub=The+Sun&desc=Power+Puffy+Girls+. Retrieved 2007-07-17. 
19. ^ "Otakon 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/738. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
20. ^ "Otakon 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/917. Retrieved 2008-08-23. 
21. ^ "Otakon 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/1123. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
22. ^ "Otakon 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/1367. Retrieved 2008-08-23. 
23. ^ "Otakon 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/1681. Retrieved 2008-08-23. 
24. ^ "Otakon 2009 Guests". Otakon.com. http://www.otakon.com/default2.asp. Retrieved 2009-05-14. 
25. ^ Retrieved 2010-08-09.
26. ^ ^{a b} http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2010-06-29/otakon-2010-announces-masao-maruyama-hiroshi-koujina Retrieved 2010-08-09.
27. ^ Retrieved 2010-08-09.
28. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeshine_%28band%29#Eyeshine
29. ^ Retrieved 2011-07-31.
30. ^ "Otakon FAQ - General info: Why don't you run a four-day convention?". Otakon.com. http://www.otakon.com/faq.asp#_General. Retrieved 2007-11-02. 
31. ^ "Otakon's Convention Center Evacuated Due to Fire Alarm" Retrieved 2010-08-21.
32. ^ Retrieved 2010-08-09.
33. ^ "New downtown Hilton opens its doors to guests". Baltimore Sun. http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-hilton0822,0,1888876.story. Retrieved 2008-08-23. 
34. ^ "Hotel meets convention". Baltimore Sun. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-te.bz.hilton23aug23,0,615471.story. Retrieved 2008-08-23. ^{[dead link]}
35. ^ Dash, Julekha (2008-08-22). "Baltimore's $300 million convention hotel opens to the public". Baltimore Business Journal. http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/08/18/daily47.html?jst=b_ln_hl. Retrieved 2008-08-23. 
36. ^ "Fans Flock to Baltimore's Otakon". Publishers Weekly. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/ca6586351.html. Retrieved 2008-08-23. ^{[dead link]}
37. ^ "Lodging Reservations Otakon 2009 Baltimore, Maryland July 17–19, 2009". BACVA. https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_gi_new&groupID=140571. Retrieved 2008-08-23. 
38. ^ "reserving hotel room blocks". Otakon BBS. http://board.otakon.com/index.php?showtopic=15585&st=0. Retrieved 2008-08-23. 
39. ^ "New Convention Center space". Otakon BBS. http://board.otakon.com/index.php?showtopic=16154. Retrieved 2008-08-23. 
40. ^ "Otakon 2009 Panels Page". Otakon. http://www.otakon.com/events_panels.asp. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
41. ^ 2010 Otakon Map Retrieved 2010-08-21.
42. ^ Hilton Baltimore Floor Plans Retrieved 2010-08-21.^{[dead link]}
43. ^ Register of Corporations, Pennsylvania Dept of State. "Business Entity: OTAKORP, Inc.". https://www.corporations.state.pa.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?1642166. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 
44. ^ Otakorp Staff Retrieved 2010-08-09.
45. ^ Bernstein, Rachel (2010-07-30). "Otakon and soccer means big business for Baltimore". Baltimore Business Journal. http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2010/07/26/daily43.html?page=1. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
46. ^ Proctor, Carolyn (2010-12-10). "Room to Grow". Baltimore Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/print-edition/2010/12/10/room-to-grow.html. Retrieved 2011-01-19. 

External links

• Official website
• Otakon on Facebook
• Otakon on Twitter