Pokémon World Championships, XP Bring Thousands of Fans to San Francisco
Tens of thousands of Pokémon fans from around the world are arriving in San Francisco for the Pokémon World Championships and the debut of Pokémon XP, a fan convention centered on the franchise. The events are based at the Moscone Center, while the championships finals are scheduled for Sunday at Chase Center. A Pokémon-themed baseball game and drone show are also planned at Oracle Park on Thursday. Attendees include competitors, collectors and families traveling from countries including Australia, Canada, Peru and Japan. Some are visiting San Francisco for the first time and plan to see local attractions such as Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Long lines formed at Moscone West as visitors checked in and collected credentials. Mayor Daniel Lurie said 54,000 tickets had been sold for the Pokémon events, more than for the Dreamforce conference. Tourism officials said the visitors are expected to support small businesses, retailers and restaurants across the city, rather than remaining only around the main venues. The gathering coincides with San Francisco’s Visitor Travel Impact Summit, where officials highlighted recent tourism growth and said visitor spending this year has exceeded 2019 levels. The events are relevant for the United States because they show how major entertainment and esports gatherings can attract international travelers and generate activity for local businesses. For San Francisco, the Pokémon championships offer another opportunity to promote the city as a destination for large-scale conventions, sports-related events and global tourism.
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