We regret to inform you that Detroit Fanfare has suspended plans for the upcoming show on February 6-8 at the Sterling Heights Inn.
The convention which was usually held near the Halloween weekend each year was forced to move to its new location because of the changes at the previous hotel, the Adoba (formerly Hyatt) and subsequent proceedings into foreclosure. The Sterling Heights Inn was a Best Western hotel when Detroit Fanfare signed its agreement but just recently, announced it was no longer associated with Best Western.
The organizers of Detroit Fanfare decided not to deal with such uncertainity but cite that was not the only reason for the cessation of the convention. Detroit Fanfare has prided itself on being a convention for artists and fans of comic books over celebrities but in evaluating support and attendance, a large convention cannot remain centered on comics as the primary focus.
Due to the enormous work and costs involved be the principles to put on the convention and the obvious fan preference for the larger, pop culture shows, it was determined that the role of a convention such as Fanfare had a diminished appeal especially in light of all the recent additions to the convention circuit.
The organizers would like to extend a great thanks to the artistic community in the Detroit area who were its greatest supporters. The comic book centric convention idea is one that they embraced with Fanfare but just in the last couple of years has seen a preference from fans for the multi-media shows.
Detroit Fanfare will announce shortly the details regarding the continuitation of the Shel Dorf Awards with the idea that the Awards will live on, hopefully at a convention in the area where comic conventions were initially launched by Shel Dorf.
