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E3 Games Show to Stay in Southland

E3 Games Show to Stay in Southland

By DEBORAH BELGUM

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, known as E3, is staying at the Los Angeles Convention Center after threatening to take the video game industry’s premier show to Las Vegas.

The expo, which attracts 62,000 delegates every May, has signed a letter of intent to stay in Los Angeles through 2012, sources said.

Las Vegas had offered to reduce the Expo’s move-in and move-out costs by as much as $700,000 for the three-day show, but Los Angeles has matched that offer to retain the conference, which pumps $12 million a year into the local economy.

The move saves a plane trip for local game companies such as Irvine-based Interplay Entertainment Corp., Infogrames Entertainment SA’s Shiny Entertainment Inc. in Laguna Beach and Vivendi Universal Entertainment’s Blizzard Entertainment in Irvine.

E3 has been held in Los Angeles every year except one since it started eight years ago. The exception was in 1997 when it was held in Atlanta.

In the past, E3 organizers have spent about $900,000 for move-in and move-out costs at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Organizers wanted city officials to reduce or completely forgive those costs, which it did, sources said.

The event, which features the latest in video games, consoles, entertainment software and Internet products, is a popular show for those in the industry. At least 1,000 new products debut at the conference and exposition.

Belgum is a staff writer with the Los Angeles Business Journal.

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