SDCC 2017 Off-Site: NERD HQ not returning to San Diego in 2017

It’s a video which is very hard to watch: The Nerd Machine‘s Zachary Levi posted a video yesterday which he clearly found difficult to share. His incredibly popular off-site event, started in 2011 and that traditionally takes place during the run of San Diego Comic-Con – NERD HQ – will not be returning this July.

Zachary (head honcho of The Nerd Machine – he’s also an actor, don’tchaknow: you may know him from CHUCK and, oh yeah, the Most Expensive Animated Movie Ever Made) is visibly emotional about having to pull the event from the SDCC off-site calendar. With a decision taken down to the wire, Zach doesn’t detail exactly what the final straw was to not bring Nerd HQ to San Diego this year but it’s safe to assume that cold, hard cash was a core factor – the cost of hiring the New Children’s Museum space won’t be cheap and the sheer scope of what Nerd HQ has evolved into clearly costs a pretty penny. Without proper sponsorship in place, the event simply can’t run to the scale that it’s become.

This comes as a massive shock to the many fans of the event, drawn to the intimate Conversations For A Cause panels with the great and good of nerd fandom, the accessible and affordable photo shoots with said celebs, and the amazing free activation space that has, in the past, held video gaming tournaments, VR demonstrations and lots and lots and lots of interactive… stuff.

While Zach does say that he and The Nerd Machine will still be coming to San Diego, and plans are still afoot for some kind of activity – many will be holding out hope for another legendary evening social of some kind (including no doubt the celebs in town, who love the idea of a safe space to throw down some awkward moves) – this means they’ll be doing more one-off bits and pieces around town, rather than a large scale activation.

The announcement also comes as a bit of a surprise, as it was looking like Nerd HQ was still very much a going concern as recently as last month, when Zach announced the Nerd HQ collaboration with Stephen Amell‘s Nocking Point Wines, producing a branded blend of roses for the organisation. However, the opportunity for a case or several of complementary plonk in Zach’s wine cellar hasn’t taken away from what is clearly a massive undertaking to put on the Nerd HQ activation, in terms of logistics, manpower and financial responsibility.

We’ll keep an eye open on what The Nerd Machine have in store for this July but, for now, let’s all just gather and raise a glass (ooh, maybe of Nerd HQ-branded Nocking Point rose, perhaps!) to the many fond memories of Nerd HQ’s gone by… Please share in the comments your favourite times at the event. I know you’ll have a few.

@SD_Comic_Con @thenerdmachine Serenity in the Park. #NerdHQ 2013 pic.twitter.com/ukSobGpTTD

— chris cruz (@nerdycruz) May 12, 2017

เนี่ย เสิร์ชที่พี่ทอมไปพาเนล Nerd HQ แล้วใจไม่ดีเลยอะ พี่จำเป็นต้องดูดีขนาดนี่ด้วยหรอ อิน้องใจบ่ดี pic.twitter.com/Ncu7Jq83FJ

— ส้มส้มส้ม (@colorange73) May 13, 2017

The beginning ❤️ #NerdHQ #WeAreNerdHQ pic.twitter.com/o4uCNRloVf

— Leah Viklen (@LViklen) May 13, 2017

My favorite #NerdHQ memory? That's an easy one. #DoctorWho #WeepingAngels https://t.co/NnpCxIy3GZ

— Joel Telling (3DPN) (@joeltelling) May 13, 2017

Our personal favourite moment? Our first time at a Nerd HQ panel last year, of course! Even got to get a question in…!