SFX (Science Fiction Expo)

SFX
Status Active
Genre Science Fiction Media
Venue Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Location(s) Toronto, Ontario
Country Canada
Inaugurated 1999
Attendance 91,000+ in 2012
Organized by Hobby Star Marketing Inc.
Filing status Corporate
Website
http://www.fanexpocanada.com

SFX (Science Fiction Expo) is a convention in Toronto, Canada. The convention began as a featured event of the Canadian National Expo, now known as Fan Expo Canada. SFX was first added in 1999 and the name is a slang acronym, standing loosely for Science Fiction Exposition. It was the second featured event ever added to Fan Expo Canada created by Hobby Star Marketing Incorporated. SFX traditionally runs within the Fan Expo Canada event for all four days (Thursday through Sunday) typically held the weekend before Labour Day during the summer in Toronto, Canada, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

SFX was originally launched as one time event for Fan Expo Canada, but the popularity of the feature has made it a mainstay of the convention. Fan Expo Canada is now one of the largest events of its kind in world, filling the entire South building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre with over 91,000 attendees in 2012. SFX as a brand is now retired, and has been completely folded into Fan Expo Canada as of 2012.

Along with panels, seminars, and workshops with industry professionals, SFX often previews science fiction related films and television series. SFX also continues programming into the evening with events like ‘The Masquerade’; a costume contest for the attendees, and various on and off site parties and receptions.

Like most major consumer conventions, SFX features a large floorspace for exhibitors. These include media companies such as movie studios and TV networks, as well as retailers and highly specialized collectibles merchants. SFX also includes a large autograph area, and a professional photographic portrait studio for attendees to get autographs and pictures with their favourite Sci Fi celebrities.

Exclusive Collectibles

In recent years SFX has become one of the few events that provides the selling of "Exclusive" products to attendees, including exclusive photography shots of the celebrities on hand, that are only available for one time at this event.

History of SFX - Locations and dates

Dates Location Attendees Notable guests Notes
August 27–29, 1999 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 9620 Jeri Ryan, Kevin Smith, Kenny Baker, Warwick Davis, Lou Ferrigno First appearance of SFX brand, representing the Canadian National Science Fiction Expo. Ray Park is under contract, but does not attend resulting in a lawsuit.
August 25–27, 2000 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 12,763 Jonathan Frakes, Anthony Head, Roxann Dawson, Hudson Leick, Jeremy Bulloch, Richard Biggs, Peter David, the entire cast of Earth: Final Conflict Headliner James Marsters cancels due to professional work and is replaced by co-star Anthony Head.
August 24–26, 2001 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 15,359 William Shatner, James Doohan, Peter Mayhew, Traci Lords, Ethan Phillips, Ted Raimi Canadian National Expo master brand first appears.
August 23–25, 2002 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 16,600 Brent Spiner, Nicholas Brendon, Nichelle Nichols, John Billingsley, Billy Dee Williams, Andy Hallett. Titled: Canadian National Expo featuring SFX and CNAanime.
August 22–24, 2003 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 20,655 Leonard Nimoy, Ray Park (see notes), Adrian Rayment & Neil Rayment, J. August Richards, Connor Trinneer, Denise Crosby. Ray Park appears at SFX at his own expense as part of an out of court settlement brought by Hobby Star Marketing Inc. for his non-appearance at SFX 1999.
August 27–29, 2004 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 27,684 Patrick Stewart (see notes), George Takei, Julie Benz, Peter Mayhew, Mercedes McNab, Anthony Montgomery, Aron Eisenberg, Cirroc Lofton. Patrick Stewart postpones due to life threatening heart condition. He returns to Toronto, September 25, 2004 to make it up to fans. Masquerade event moves to the John Bassett Theatre and becomes the largest in Canada.
August 26–28, 2005 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 39,753 Elijah Wood, Clive Barker, Gary Gygax, James Marsters, Kevin Sorbo, Crispin Glover, Marina Sirtis, Adam Baldwin, Erica Durance, Margot Kidder, Kenny Baker, Elvira, J. Michael Straczynski. GX Gaming Expo brand first appears as a feature event. Attendance reaches facility limit and Toronto Fire Marshalls office halts ticket sales on Saturday afternoon.
September 1–3, 2006 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 42,947 William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Carrie Fisher, Alice Cooper, Linda Blair, James Callis, Gates McFadden, Robert Picardo, Jeffrey Combs, Verne Troyer, Karen Black, Rowdy Roddy Piper. SFX celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Star Trek. Canadian National Expo re-branded as Fan Expo Canada. The show outgrows the North Building of the MTCC and moves to the much larger South Building.
August 24–26, 2007 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 43,738 Adam West, Jonathan Frakes, Tricia Helfer, David Prowse, Malcolm McDowell, Robert Beltran, Dario Argento, Adrienne Barbeau. SFX celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars. World Series of Video Games partners with Fan Expo Canada to hold the largest live video game tournament ever held in Canada.
August 22–24, 2008 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 47,000+ Buzz Aldrin, Kate Mulgrew, Edward James Olmos, Wes Craven, Tobe Hooper, Sid Haig, Brent Spiner, Michael Rosenbaum, Sean Astin, Laura Vandervoort, Jamie Bamber, Renée O'Connor, Kristy Swanson, Jeremy Bulloch, Henry Winkler, Brad Dourif. Major League Gaming (MLG) replaces World Series of Video Games as partner for GX feature of Fan Expo Canada. Introduction of the "Hollywood Icon" guest label (for Henry Winkler).
August 28–30, 2009 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 59,000 Leonard Nimoy, Bruce Campbell, Linda Hamilton, Thomas Dekker, Avery Brooks, Beau Bridges, Mary McDonnell, Billy Dee Williams, Walter Koenig, James Kyson Lee, Robert Duncan McNeill, Emma Caulfield, Lou Ferrigno, Dave Thomas, Leslie Nielsen, J. Michael Straczynski, Roger Corman, Udo Kier, Max Brooks, and Rick Green. Attendance reaches facility limit and Toronto Fire Marshal's office halts ticket sales for two hours on Saturday afternoon.
August 27–29, 2010 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 60,000 William Shatner, Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, James Marsters, Stan Lee, Felicia Day, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Michael Dorn, Peter Mayhew, Bruce Boxleitner, David Blue, Summer Glau, Michelle Forbes, Tahmoh Penikett, Dean Stockwell, Daniel Cudmore, Ernest Borgnine, Ryan Robbins, David Cronenberg, Lance Henriksen, and Ken Russell. Casts of Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, Riese, Lost Girl, Dark Rising, Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf, I Spit On Your Grave, Durham County, Pure Pwnage, Electric Playground, and Reviews on the Run. Attendance reaches facility limit and Toronto Fire Marshal's office halts ticket sales for two hours on Saturday afternoon.
August 25–28, 2011 Metro Toronto Convention Centre Over 79,000 William Shatner, Hayden Panettiere, Tom Felton, Eliza Dushku, Katee Sackhoff, Anthony Daniels, Robert Englund, Lexa Doig, Lee Majors, Gary Kurtz, Kevin Sorbo, Michael Shanks, Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, Michael Biehn, Nichelle Nichols, Marina Sirtis, Ethan Phillips, Malcolm McDowell, Robert J. Sawyer, Lance Henriksen, Anna Silk

Casts of Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, Lost Girl, Dark Rising, and surprise guest Guillermo del Toro (unannounced).

 First year running for 4 days, with Thursday added as the new extra day. Operating hours also expanded for each day.
August 23–26, 2012 Metro Toronto Convention Centre Over 91,000 First year running completely within the Fan Expo Canada brand, with no visible SFX logos or signage.

Issues

Capacity attendance at SFX/Fan Expo Canada in 2005 has raised crowding issues. Concerns have been that the event is possibly too big for the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, even though they have moved to the largest halls in the facility. The worry of some fans is that the event will sell out and potential attendees will be denied entry as has happened at similar events such as the New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con International.

Community

To strengthen its standing in the community, Hobby Star Marketing, the company that organizes SFX and Fan Expo Canada, also has worked closely with other local science fiction convention, including Toronto Trek (now Polaris); Torcon III (the 61st World Science Fiction Convention); and the Gathering of the Fellowship. In 2005, the organizers also instituted a policy of free admission to those twelve years old and younger to encourage young people to be exposed to the content, and hopefully become the next generation of fans. Most of this was in response to feedback that SFX, Fan Expo Canada, and its organizers were bad corporate citizens, losing touch with the grass roots of fandom.

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