Out-of-Time Productions

With the increasing attendance & the demand for a more Verizon cell-phone friendly environment, the mid-Atlantic convention Anime USA will be moving from Arlington, Virginia to Washington D.C. in 2012. Anime USA 2012 will be in the Washington Marriott Wardman located in Downtown Washington DC near the National Zoo. The event location change is the fifth one in its history and the first one since 2007. According to their Tumblr post, the event needed a new, larger location for the growing needs and demands of the convention.

In comparison to the site for Anime USA 2007-2011, the Marriott is suitable location to help the convention grow steadily for a number of years (That’s as long as their is no spike increase in attendance). According to the hotel’s fact sheets, The Marriott has over 195,000 square feet of meeting space, which is almost four times the amount that the Hyatt Regency had in their hotel. The largest space available for each location is different with the Marriott having over 30,000 square feet in relation to the 23,000 sq-feet that is within the Hyatt Regency. This could mean that the artist alley will have its own area instead of having it occupy what is known as the pre-function space, we don’t know that for sure, but its never too early to have speculation and what the convention would do with the space. There are at least 4 elevators in the hotel, which is about the same for the Hyatt Regency. With almost 1200 hotel rooms, it easily trumps over the 685 that the Hyatt Regency.

As of November 29, 2011, prices for one room with two double beds is $189 for two nights. Wireless internet is $13/day and on-site parking is $32 per day with one parking garage costing at $34/day near the location, according to bestparking.com. For those trying to find another hotel to the convention, the closest hotel to the convention hotel is over a half mile away and cost from a range of $15-$50 more than the Marriott. There are over 5 restaurants on-site with local fast food places just a short walk away. Transportation to the venue is easy with the red line connecting Union Station to the Woodley Park-Zoo Metro Station costing at most $2.30.

Overall, the Marriott is a bigger location with easier public transportation access than the Hyatt Regency. With the nearest hotel over a half-mile away, this hotel will be selling rooms like its hotcakes. The location is beautiful with a hotel lobby that can outrank other convention hotels and a garden area where photo shoots galore will happening. So if you want that “acksonl”-type video to be in a surreal area, this is the location to go to. Anime USA has not the announce the dates nor any other details for the 2012 convention, those announcements will happen in the near future.

For more information on the convention, head on over to Anime USA’s Official Website