PAX East Signs on in Boston Through 2023
February 14, 2012
The popular video gaming convention PAX East has decided to make Boston its home for 10 more years, signing a deal with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority to keep the show at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center through 2023.
PAX East, operated in partnership with PAX East and Reed Exhibitions, has attracted more than 70,000 attendees each year to Boston since the show launched in 2010 at the Hynes Convention Center. Last year, the show moved to the BCEC, where it will run again in April.
This year was the final one on PAX East’s contract at the BCEC, but now the show will be sticking around for the next decade.
”PAX East is pleased to be in Boston for the foreseeable future,” said Greg Topalian, senior vice president, Reed Exhibitions.
He added, “As the event continues to grow by serving throngs of passionate gaming fans, Boston has more than met the challenge with impeccable service and attention to detail. The partnership between the state of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute only sweetens the pot for us.”
During the next 10 years, show organizers said they hope to grow attendance for the three-day event to 100,000, making it one of the largest video gaming events in the world.
“We’re thrilled to host PAX East for at least 10 more years,” said James E. Rooney, executive director of the MCCA.
He added, “Hosting an event for the next decade that draws gamers from around the globe to Boston is fantastic, but the international attention it brings to the incredible technological advancements coming out of the Commonwealth is a win‐win.”
As part of the agreement, PAX East will make a $25,000 annual contribution to the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDiGi), an effort announced last year by Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray to promote collaboration between academia and the gaming industry.
“Over the last year, MassDiGi has worked towards building a strong public-private partnership across industry, academia and government in support of the state’s digital games cluster,” Murray said.
He added, “Massachusetts is excited that PAX East shares that vision for the industry across the Commonwealth.”
In all, PAX East will contribute a total of $325,000 to MassDiGi during the 10 years the show is in Boston.
PAX East’s commitment to Boston is just the latest in a string of good news for the city, which recently announced it was in store for a booming conventions and meetings year, with $625 million in expected income and 601,000 hotel room nights.
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