SF businesses prepare for world’s largest Pokémon competition – NBC Bay Area

The Pokémon World Championships, the marquee tournament for people playing competitive Pokémon games, is coming to San Francisco this weekend with a prize of $2 million and the chance to win the title of “World Champion.”

Roughly 2,500 people are expected to compete at the tournament involving one of the world’s largest media franchises at San Francisco’s Moscone Center and Chase Center. Events and other festivities are planned Friday through Sunday for players of the video games, trading cards, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE.

A $2 million prize pool is up for grabs, with players traveling from around the world after participating in competitions in their respective regions. People of all ages are expected to participate in the tournament, bringing together generations of fans who grew up wanting to “catch ’em all.”

PokémonXP, a fan convention hosted by The Pokémon Company International, will be making its debut this year, as previous years of the world championships primarily focused on the tournament. Workshops, interactive experiences, and panels are a part of the jampacked agenda.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said the city is expecting more than 54,000 fans over the weekend, more than the 30,000 people who attended the previous year’s competition in Anaheim. He said on social media that a drone show is planned at the Ferry Building for Friday and Saturday at 9:35 p.m. and on Sunday at 9:20 p.m., free for everyone.

“This event is bringing tens of thousands of visitors who will experience our neighborhoods, support our small businesses, and continue driving our comeback,” said Lurie on social media. “And the revenue they generate helps fund the services San Franciscans rely on every day across the city.”

According to the event’s website, all tickets have been sold out for participants and attendees. Popup events throughout the city, including at Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square, as well as a Pokémon Worlds Night drone show after the Giants game at Oracle Park Thursday night, will help bring the Pokémon spirit to people not at the tournament sites.

San Francisco has one of the two official Nintendo stores in the U.S. The other location is found in New York City, and it will be supporting the weekend events. The retailer is expecting to see elevated foot traffic at its location at Union Square in San Francisco as people flock to purchase merchandise and be a part of a franchise they care deeply about.