Pokémon XP makes its debut in SF as over 50,000 fans converge at Moscone Center
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Pokémon history is happening right now in San Francisco.
More than 50,000 people from around the world gathered in San Francisco for the sold-out Pokémon World Championships, an event that brings together competitors, collectors and fans of all ages.
The championship features players competing across multiple Pokémon games, many of whom spent months or years preparing to qualify.
"For the start of the season, I thought, 'Oh it's impossible'," said Eoin Starr, a 14-year-old competitor from Liverpool, England.
Starr traveled to the United States for the first time with his father, Daneel Starr, to compete against players from around the world.
"Sometimes you have language barriers, and you have to hold the cards, pick them up and say like this is the one for attack," Eoin Starr said.
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The event is so big that it attracts thousands of fans, even though they are not competing.
"I love the feeling of 'everyone here gets it.' Everyone here is like, 'Oh my God. Yes!' We've cried twice today," said Pia Cortes of Los Angeles.
But there's also a brand-new event to kick off the globally anticipated competition: Pokémon XP.
Fans from all over the world have been pouring into the city long before Day 1 of this big weekend.
They've even had some events leading up to it -- but many said there was nothing like finally walking through the gates Friday morning.
At 7 a.m. sharp, thousands of people from all over the world rushed through the gates at 4th and Howard streets.
"I'm just so starstruck. And honestly, I'm a little emotional with being here," said one fan.
All of this for the first day of the annual Pokémon World Championships, where players face off in games like Pokémon Go and the official trading card game.
It's also the first-ever XP fan convention: a type of "Comic-Con" for Pokémon fans.
Pokémon officials say that it was 10 years ago that the championships were last held in San Francisco. Back then, there were about a few 1,000 fans in a ballroom.
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This time around, there are tens of thousands of fans who have taken over Moscone Center and an entire block of the city.
"San Francisco is, you know, continued to evolve with us. It's such a special city in our hearts. So, there was a reason we came back 10 years later. It's really just got something for everyone," said Nick Salazar, spokesperson for the Pokémon Company International.
Many visitors we spoke with made a point to spend time, not just at the convention, but also taking in what the city has to offer.
"It's nice out here, seeing all the stores, seeing everything. It's nice. The beach views are amazing," said Samuel, who was visiting from Santa Clarita.
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Bailey Fuentes was visiting all the way from Dallas, Texas.
"We've already been down to the pier and the Ghirardelli Square. Just a chance to look at San Francisco as a whole and Pokémon," she said. "I feel like it's the best of both worlds."
Now, with both the championships and fan convention underway, organizers say visitors have even more to look forward to at what's called "Championship Sunday at Chase Center."
"We're expecting over, I want to say, it's about 16,000 fans, if not more. I can't give away too much as to what it looks like, but that main stage is going to look amazing," Salazar said.
Beyond the competition, attendees lined up for exclusive merchandise, with demand so high that visitors had to reserve shopping times weeks in advance. Organizers sold out the event, and fans described a lengthy process just to enter the merchandise store.
"If you're lucky and you know how to navigate the online stuff, then you get to pick a time slot, then you got to show up, you got to go through security, and there's a whole line. And yeah, so that's where I am right now. I've been waiting for about an hour," said Kat Grandstaff of Utah.
Many attendees said they spent significant amounts on Pokémon merchandise.
"I have the number, but I don't want to talk about it. I think I deserve every penny I spent," said Aston Yu of Singapore.
For many families, however, the value of the event extends beyond the competition and collectibles.
"It's not just playing Pokémon. You get to see different places he's not been here before, different countries, meet different people. It's a really nice community," said Daneel Starr.
Many visitors said it was their first time in San Francisco and that they planned to explore some of the city's best-known attractions while attending the tournament.
The Pokémon World Championships continue through the weekend, and fans without event tickets still have a chance to participate in the festivities. Three Pokémon-themed drone shows are scheduled at the Ferry Building: Friday at 9:35 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 9:20 p.m.
Even with so much excitement planned, many say what they're looking forward to most this weekend is connection.
"It's just so cool how everyone can just come together around this one thing. I love the community that Pokémon creates," Fuentes said.
