Downtown San Diego Gets Wrapped Up for San Diego Comic-Con 2024 [Update July 20]

One of the clearest (and one of our favorite) indications that San Diego Comic-Con is just around the corner is when downtown San Diego started to have giant wraps for the various studios and properties heading to the convention. It’s a sign of things to come — and it means you can start getting excited now.

To learn more about the process that goes into turning buildings in the Gaslamp into works of art, you can check out our SDConCast episode with KAP Media Group from last year.

[UPDATE July 20 #2]

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power wrap is almost complete.

[UPDATE July 20]

For the Bayfront, the What We Do in the Shadows wrap is basically moving at warp speed, as we now have Guida and Colin Robinson all filled in.

And let’s end tonight with two very pretty shots of our Comic-Con view. We’re in love.

[UPDATE July 19 #3]

Okay, we lied. But not on purpose. We just couldn’t wait to share with you that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is taking Prime Video’s big annual wrap.

Meanwhile at the Bayfront, there is no doubt that this is What We Do in the Shadows:

[UPDATE July 19 #2]

On our way out tonight, we caught a fun update — the Crunchyroll video truck! It will presumably be roaming the Gaslamp, showing animations from their most popular series.

[UPDATE July 19]

Hey ya’ll, it’s Erin here, filling in for Kerry Dixon for this instalment of what I’m calling “Wrip Wrap Wrippity-Do” our (almost) daily report of what’s happing in and around the Gaslamp. Kim from Outside Comic-Con is roaming the area and has several wrap updates for us.

We haven’t seen the side of the Hilton Bayfront get wrapped up for a while but it looks like that real estate is all booked up for 2024. Any guesses at what (probably FX) property we will see unfurled? Over on the main side facing the convention center we can see someone’s hair starting to blow in the San Diego Bay breezes.

Over at the Omni, more Animation Domination characters are up. Maggie Simpson looks adorable and how absolutely clever of them to use the ventilation as sides of the blocks. Well done, folks. On the second photo I spy Marge Simpson’s iconic beehive.

Down the block on the convention center side of the Marriott Marquis, work is just getting started on the giant wraps. Please excuse the yellow portion in the middle, that’s leftover from the previous ESRI convention and will be down soon to make way for…… STAR TREK! Is that a Romulan or Vulcan Shoulder? 🤔

Just a few moments later we receive confirmation with a little peek at Pike. So, this is Pike’s PEEK. Get it? Pike’s Peek, like Pike’s Peak….oh nevermind!

Can you get any closer to that for us Kim…for RESEARCH…yes, for research.

Ahhh…that’s the good stuff. Sidenote to Anson Mount: Call me.

The Hard Rock Hotel is one section closer to completion for it’s Spongebob Squarepants wrap and we can see the designers planed their tongues firmly in their cheeks with these SDCC themed memes. Is it ironic at all that the sea creatures are on the building that houses Nobu which, you know…SERVES sea creatures?

It appears that the Hilton Gaslamp might be nearing it’s wrap completion. The bayside facing walls and the courtyard are all Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe and we are HERE FOR IT.

Let’s see them side by side:

Excuse me while I just die a little inside. * sigh *

On the North(ish) side of the Hilton Gaslamp, wrapping continues for the Google Marvel Contest of Champions wrap. This one will be overlooking the location of the Google Play Wheel of Champions.

Over at the Pendry, the center rounded portion of the Walking Dead Daryl Dixon: Book of Carol wrap was completed since yesterday. The scorching subtext in having Daryl on the left and Carol on the right and the giant gulf between them…that is *something.*

Lastly, here’s the first of the San Diego Comic-Con banners to hit the Convention Center. It ain’t much but it’s a sure sign that SDCC will be here SOON!

[UPDATE July 18 #2]

Outside Comic-Con also grabbed a shot of the other side of Petco Park and the rest of the Abbott Elementary wrap, which also looks near to completion.

And there’s more work done on the FOX Animation Domination wrap at the Omni.

[UPDATE July 18]

Outside Comic-Con stopped to take a look at the progress on the wraps. Over at the Hilton Gaslamp, Interview with the Vampire is just about complete, with Louie and Claudia also now front and center.

Nearby, the Mayfair Witches wrap also looks complete.

To wrap up at the Hilton Gaslamp, the Google Play wrap has also seen significant progress, including the addition of a Wolverine.

At the Hard Rock, SpongeBob is looking much more filled in. We love how colorful and fun this whole side is.

And speaking of colorful and fun, over at the Omni the wraps have also started going up. It’s an updated take on last year’s wrap, with a similar (but different!) design for FOX’s Animation Domination.

And at Petco, the first side of Abbott Elementary looks essentially filled in. We love how bright and colorful everything is this year.

[UPDATE July 17 #8]

In our final update for wrap progress of the night, let’s take one last look at Daryl Dixon and Carol.

[UPDATE July 17 #7]

Work continues at Petco Park for Abbott Elementary and A.V.A. Fest.

We are pleased to announce that we finally know what’s funnier. And the joke is clearly, “What’s funnier than 24?” Well, 25, of course, as it’s SpongeBob‘s big anniversary.

At the Hilton Gaslamp, it’s the update you Interview with the Vampire fans have all been waiting for — Louis.

The Hilton Gaslamp’s other front wrap for Mayfair Witches looks to be about halfway done.

On the other side of the Hilton Gaslamp, the Google Play wrap has gotten a Deadpool.

[UPDATE July 17 #6]

There are very few things that we at the UBlog love more than “new” stuff, and this section of Petco Park being used for Abbott Elementary is definitely new.

Meanwhile, at fan favorite frozen yogurt shop Sweet Things (at the base of the Hilton Bayfront), they’re also joining in on the action, decorating their windows with Universal Monsters.

[UPDATE July 17 #5]

We still don’t know what’s funnier on the SpongeBob wrap, but they’ve added several iconic scenes from the series over at the Hard Rock.

And who’s shoulder is that in Interview with the Vampire? It is surely Louis, but we’ll have to wait to see the rest.

[UPDATE July 17 #4]

Back at The Pendry, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon looks to be almost complete.

[UPDATE July 17 #3]

Okay, we take back some of our disappointment at a Google wrap — because it at least appears to be for Marvel Contest of Champions, which makes sense, as that will also be the ferris wheel Google is partnering with Marvel on. We spy Falcon.

[UPDATE July 17 #2]

And the other side of Petco is… also Abbott! Get ready to get schooled on Abbott Elementary with their AVA Fest.

While we wait to see what’s funnier, SpongeBob is a bit more filled in.

And over at Park 12, we have a Shredder.

And finally for now, the sad Google wrap:

[UPDATE July 17 #2]

Parks & Cons is on the ground now, so you know it’s going to be good. Up first at The Pendry, Daryl Dixon and others from the series are standing watch.

The full building wrap is also looking great:

Meanwhile at Hilton Gaslamp, there are indeed dual wraps for Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches.

At the Hard Rock, Patrick the Starfish is coming into shape.

[UPDATE July 17]

We are back on the ground, and there’s been a lot of progress made on this year’s wraps. Over at the Hilton Gaslamp, Lestat is more filled in on the Interview with the Vampire wrap.

On the other side, The Talamasca wrap is also more filled in. It features a shady figure in a hat, impossible to make out, which makes sense as they haven’t announced cast yet.

Nearby at the Pendry, Darryl and Carol are both also looking much more complete for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol.

We are sad to announce that we think this wrap going up on the side of the Hard Rock is for Google or Google Play. Maybe it will be cooler than we think. Maybe.

On the front of the Hard Rock, SpongeBob is looking more SpongeBob-like. What’s funier? We don’t know, but we’re excited to find out.

And meanwhile, what’s happening at Petco Park? Wel, we don’t know what this side is yet…

…but this side is definitely Abbott Elementary and AVA Fest!

[UPDATE July 16 #2]

Sink your fangs into the front of the Hilton Gaslamp, which appears to be Interview with the Vampire.

And then the Hard Rock Hotel will be all about SpongeBob SquarePants.

[UPDATE July 16]

The Pendry is more filled in, and it is indeed The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol. Both Darryl and Carol are slowly being filled in.

Over at the Hilton Gaslamp, it looks like AMC may have the building wraps again, as this sure looks like it could be a poster for their new upcoming series in their Anne Rice Immortal Universe, The Talamasca. This is just the side on the interior, which means we still don’t know what the front of the buildings will be (but our guess is possibly both Mayfair Witches and Interview with the Vampire).

Interestingly, it does appear that you can see someone’s ear on the wrap, but there’s no announced cast yet for the series…

[UPDATE July 16]

Work has started over at the Pendry, and there’s not much to see yet. Traditionally, AMC has held this spot — but the only question is really will it be for something in The Walking Dead universe, or something in the Anne Rice Immortal Universe?

[UPDATE July 15]

SpongeBob is movin’ on up from a pineapple under the sea — to the Hard Rock Hotel. In honor of his big 25th anniversary, SpongeBob is getting prime position on the hotel.

Over at The Lodge, Paramount+’s wrap looks at least halfway done.

And finally (?) for tonight, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has a bit more turtle power over at Park 12.

[UPDATE July 15 #2]

San Diego Comic-Con is a positive turtnado, as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles celebrate their 40th anniversary, as well as a new streaming series later this year. Park 12 this year is getting two separate wraps for Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as seen by Parks & Cons.