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Thousands of Pokémon fans are descending on San Francisco this weekend — and the resulting cultural exchange is getting plenty of attention.
More than 54,000 fans are expected to visit the Bay Area for the Pokémon World Championships, up from roughly 30,000 who attended last year’s competition in Anaheim.
The Aug. 28-30 tournament is taking over Moscone Center and Chase Center, with competitions for the Pokémon video games, trading cards, Pokémon GO and Pokémon UNITE.
About 2,500 competitors from around the world will compete for a piece of a $2 million prize pool and the title of “World Champion.”
And in-between rounds some out-of-state trainers are finding ways to keep their energy up.
“Hey, I went to the Chipotle in San Francisco. I really wish they had this restaurant in Japan too,” one visitor posted on X. “It’s right in front of the Pokémon Center, so if you’re here for Worlds, you should definitely check it out.”
X/@elm_motochika
The city is going full Pokémon.
There will be pop-up events at places including Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square.
A Pokémon Worlds Night drone show took place after the Giants game at Oracle Park Thursday night.
Free drone shows are also scheduled at the Ferry Building at 9:35 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9:20 p.m. Sunday.
Even BART has been recruited.
The Powell Street station, the closest BART stop to Moscone Center, has been decorated with Pokémon and Team Rocket.
BART is expecting strong ridership as the championships collide with students returning to school and a Giants home series.
BART spokesperson Chis Filippi had some advice for anyone considering driving into the Pokémon madness.
X/@WCS SF
“I really think transit is the way to navigate big events, especially when you know a lot of people will be driving,” Filippi told KRON. “No point in dealing with that.”
One visitor taking BART for the first time apparently found the experience familiar.
“First time riding the BART. It reminds me of Japan!”
Meanwhile, San Francisco’s Union Square Nintendo store is expecting plenty of Pokémon fans to come through its doors looking for merchandise.
It is one of only two official Nintendo stores in the US. The other is in New York City.
Mayor Daniel Lurie said the giant Pokémon crowd will also give local businesses a boost.
“This event is bringing tens of thousands of visitors who will experience our neighborhoods, support our small businesses, and continue driving our comeback,” Lurie said on social media. “And the revenue they generate helps fund the services San Franciscans rely on every day across the city.”
Tickets for participants and attendees are sold out.
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