[Cons] Anime SouthEast Cancels 2015 Event

Earlier today Anime SouthEast announced that this year's event would not be taking place. Interestingly enough, this is a kind of cruel twist to a rumor that had started to circulate amongst dealers and attendees that the convention wouldn't be happening in 2015. While they tried to squash that rumor, it seems that it just wouldn't go away and now, not surprisingly, they actually have cancelled for this year.

Here's the full post from Anime SouthEast's Facebook Page:

A lot of you have been waiting for news on Anime Southeast 2015, and we apologize for keeping you waiting. As you may know, we ran into some difficulty when a rumor was spread to our dealers and attendees that the show would be canceled for 2015. At the time, there were no plans to cancel the event and we were moving forward on a format that would have been its first in the con scene, and would have been a lot of fun. 

Unfortunately, as time passed, the rumor never seemed to fade away. Our attendance was always modest, and we're now very sure that it is something that will be damaging enough to our attendance, that ironically, we will be canceling 2015. We started con for fun and because the Knoxville area didn't have an anime convention, but we still need attendees and dealers to show up and help us at least pay most of the bills. 

While we could possibly return for 2016, the show where the rumor was started, is now involved (or running?) an additional show close to our previous time slot (which is where we were moving back to). Additionally, an individual who tried to sabotage us in 2014, is now involved with this new show (the new show may not be aware of that fact). We're not pointing fingers at anyone beyond the individual who started the rumor, but with all these things considered, its not feeling like a very welcoming environment. We hate to back down to bullying, but at the same time, its no fun having an event where we're not sure if anyone is going to show up.

This isn't necessarily the end, but we do want to thank everyone for the memories and the support over the last few years. We apologize if this post seems dramatic, but sometimes you don't go looking for trouble, but it comes looking for you. Take care of yourselves!

I'm not sure what to make of this, that's a really screwed up thing to do and I'm kind of wondering why dealers, or attendees, wouldn't contact the convention staff directly to confirm such a thing. Seems just kind of odd to me. What is interesting that something earlier, back in December of 2014, was linked to a "con game show host", and that could only be one person that I know of, Greggo. That post read:

Despite what you may have heard from a gameshow host at a local event, ASE is currently under plans for 2015. We appreciate your patience!

Not 100% sure if it was him that did start it, as I'd find that a bit weird, but I don't know of any big time gameshow type folks who go to a lot of conventions other than him. If it is, or even if not, the same that follows applies; you ruined what was a good time for a lot of people and for what purpose? To make something you're involved in do what, be more successful or something? That's lame and if that is the case, should be ashamed of yourself. These conventions are about unity and enjoying time with like minded people, to rob anyone of that is inexcusable.

In the end, hope that the staff and attendees of Anime SouthEast can figure something out for the future and they come back bigger and better than ever!