METROCON **Official**

What METROCON **Official** does

METROCON is the operating brand of Team Dynamite Productions LLC, a privately held Florida LLC that produces an annual three-day anime convention at the Tampa Convention Center. Founded in 2003 as a hotel-based meetup for the AnimeMetro.com forum community, the event was acquired by Team Dynamite Productions in 2010 and is now solely owned and led by CEO Alex Craddock. The convention occupies over 600,000 square feet of venue space, including a 100,000+ square foot Exhibit Hall, and recorded 15,142 unique attendees and 33,449 turnstile visits in 2025. METROCON self-positions as "Florida's Largest Anime Convention" and is in its 23rd year as of 2026.

The core product is the convention itself, layered with ticketed add-on modules including VIP passes, the METROCON Massive all-ages rave, proprietary live theatrical productions (DREAM/fight LIVE!, The Masquerade, METRO Fire Show), cosplay contests, and partner-operated experiences such as the Maid Cafe presented by Mirai Maid Cafe and the Carolina Manga Library. Supporting amenities include an Exhibit Hall with 300+ merchants, an Artist Alley with 1,100+ applicants in 2025, gaming areas, panels and workshops, and dedicated accessibility services. Technology infrastructure is minimal and third-party dependent: the website runs on WordPress and exhibitor, volunteer, press, and schedule workflows are handled through the LeAP Conventions platform; no proprietary technology platform or AI system is disclosed, and the event enforces an explicit no-AI policy for convention materials.

Revenue is generated across multiple streams: attendee ticket sales (pre-registration and at-the-door, with VIP tier), exhibitor booth rentals ($700 inline / $800 corner), Artist Alley table rentals ($350), locker rentals ($5/day), autograph and photo facilitation for special guests ($20-$80 per item), and brand sponsorships/advertising across the convention app, email, badges, lanyards, and social media. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-led, with acquisition concentrated in Discord, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook, amplified through special guest announcements and content creator partnerships. Target customer segments include anime and pop culture enthusiasts, the cosplay community, vendors and artists, and brand sponsors. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

METROCON **Official**

Legal name

Team Dynamite Productions LLC

Website

https://metroconventions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

METROCON is a privately held Florida anime convention produced by Team Dynamite Productions LLC, hosting an annual three-day event at the Tampa Convention Center for fans of anime, cosplay, and gaming. It generates revenue from attendee tickets, exhibitor booth rentals, sponsorships, and partner-operated add-on experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anime Convention / Live Fan Events

NAICS

Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Beauty, Fashion & Pop-Culture Conventions (MPAGAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Anime convention
• Fan convention events
• Cosplay competitions
• Exhibitor booth rentals
• Convention ticketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Attendee Tickets: Primary revenue stream from selling admission tickets to convention attendees. Tickets available for pre-registration online and at-the-door. VIP passes offer premium access with additional perks.
2. Exhibitor/Vendor Booth Rentals: Revenue from vendors renting inline booths ($700) or corner booths ($800), and artists renting Artist Alley tables ($350). Sold through juried application process.
3. Maid Cafe Tickets: Separately ticketed event for the maid cafe experience, sold through Mirai Maid Cafe's booking system.
4. Locker Rentals: Daily locker rentals at $5/day for attendees to store belongings securely during the convention.
5. Autograph and Photo Sales: Special guests charge for autographs and photos; pricing varies by guest ($20-$80 per item). Convention facilitates but does not set these prices.
6. Sponsorships and Advertising: Revenue from brand sponsorships, merchandise partnerships, prize donations, lanyard sponsorships, and advertising across convention app, social media, email campaigns, and badges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

METROCON operates a three-day annual anime convention at the Tampa Convention Center spanning over 600,000 sq ft, featuring celebrity guests, an Exhibit Hall with 300+ vendors and 1,100+ artists, cosplay contests, panels, gaming areas, and proprietary live entertainment productions. Revenue is generated through attendee ticket sales (general admission and VIP passes), vendor/artist booth rentals, sponsorships and advertising, and separately-ticketed add-on experiences such as the METROCON Massive rave and Maid Cafe.

Product overview

METROCON Official operates Florida's largest anime convention, a single unified event product held at the Tampa Convention Center. The core offering centers on the three-day convention itself, augmented by ticketed add-on modules including VIP Passes (premium access tier), METROCON Massive (large-scale rave), Internal Shows (proprietary theatrical productions DREAM/fight LIVE!, Masquerade, and Fire Show), Cosplay Contests, and separately-ticketed experiences like the Maid Cafe presented by Mirai Maid Cafe. Supporting amenities include the Carolina Manga Library, an Exhibit Hall with over 300 merchants, and panel/workshop programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• METROCON Massive: America's Largest All-ages Convention Rave featuring over 100,000 sq ft of stadium lighting and sound with DJs from around the world.
• METRO Fire Show
• The Masquerade
• DREAM/fight LIVE!

Products and services

• METROCON Anime Convention (General Admission) Three-day annual anime convention held at the Tampa Convention Center featuring celebrity guests, exhibitors, panels, gaming, cosplay contests, and live entertainment. The flagship event spans over 600,000 sq ft and serves anime, video game, comic, and cosplay fans. Open to individual attendees purchasing admission tickets.
• VIP Pass Premium attendee tier for METROCON offering expedited registration, VIP bag with exclusive merchandise, early Exhibit Hall access, priority seating in Main Events, dedicated VIP lines for autographs and the rave, and a special Masquerade wristband. Sold to individual attendees as an upgrade to general admission.
• METROCON Massive (All-Ages Rave) America's largest all-ages convention rave featuring over 100,000 sq ft of stadium lighting and sound, with nightly themed events and DJs from around the world. Operates as a separate third-floor venue at the Tampa Convention Center with dedicated bag check and re-entry procedures. Sold to individual attendees as an add-on experience.
• Maid Cafe (Mirai Maid Cafe) Authentic Akihabara-style maid cafe experience presented by partner Mirai Maid Cafe, featuring performances, food and drink, interactive maid experiences, and photo opportunities. Operates as a separately ticketed event with time-slot reservations booked through Mirai Maid Cafe's booking system. Sold to individual attendees.
• Vendor Booth Rental (Inline) 10' x 10' draped booth rental with 6' table, two chairs, trash can, and two Exhibitor Passes, priced at $700. One exposed side (inline placement). Volume discounts available for purchases of four or more booths. Sold to vendors and merchants through the LeAP Conventions application platform.
• Vendor Booth Rental (Corner) Corner booth rental with two exposed sides, priced at $800, including a 6' table, two chairs, trash can, and two Exhibitor Passes. Sold to vendors and merchants seeking higher-traffic placement through the LeAP Conventions application platform.
• Artist Alley Table Rental 8' skirted table rental priced at $350, including two chairs, trash can, and two Exhibitor Passes. Limited to one table per purchase with no sharing or substitutes. Sold to independent artists through the LeAP Conventions juried application process.
• Locker Rental Daily locker rentals at $5/day for convention attendees to securely store belongings during the convention. Each locker is approximately 14x14x14 inches. Contents must be claimed before closing each night to avoid additional day charges.
• Cosplay Contest Registration Registration-based entry into METROCON's cosplay competitions, including the METRO Cosplay Championship (hybrid performance/craftsmanship), Cosplay Craftsmanship Competition (pre-judged costume construction), and Cosplay Performance Showcase (skit-only competition). Open to cosplay hobbyists attending the convention.
• Sponsorship and Advertising Packages Sponsorship and advertising packages sold to brands and companies, including brand sponsorships, merchandise partnerships, prize donations, lanyard sponsorships, and advertising placements across the convention app, social media, email campaigns, and badges. Provides brand activation opportunities to reach the 15,000+ anime fan attendee audience.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,142 unique attendees and 33,449 turnstile attendance in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carolina Manga LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization that sets up free manga and graphic novel libraries at conventions. Brings over 5,000 manga, American graphic novels, and webcomics for attendees to enjoy. Also serves as an entertainment guest at the convention, hosting panels and promoting literacy.
• Mirai Maid CafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresents the maid cafe experience at METROCON. Provides authentic Akihabara-style maid cafe with performances, food & drink, interactive experiences. Separately ticketed event managed through their booking system.
• Neko Alley AnimecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for VTuber meet and greet experiences. Brings multiple VTubers from around the world through exclusive 'portals' live at the convention booth in the Exhibit Hall.
• Black Flag Arts Coalition (BFAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTampa-based organization where many METROCON performers train year-round in stage combat, sword work, fire spinning, and more. Referenced for performers seeking additional training.
• LeAP ConventionscoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party ticketing and event management platform used for exhibitor applications, volunteer sign-ups, press applications, schedule management, and ticket transfers.
• MoCoQueenminorOthersSponsorship partner listed on website footer. Nature of partnership not detailed.
• GS-JJminorOthersSponsorship partner listed on website footer. Nature of partnership not detailed.
• Black Flag TampaminorOthersSponsorship partner listed on website footer. Nature of partnership not detailed.
• Team Dynamite ProductionscoreOthersProduction company founded by long-term core staff members that acquired METROCON in 2010. Founded by Alex Craddock (current CEO/Owner). Handles all event production, logistics, and creative direction.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@metrocon_official
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@metroconops
• Facebookfacebook.com/METROCONFL
• Instagraminstagram.com/metrocon_fl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metrocon-official-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about METROCON **Official**