Marvel fans eagerly await their entrance to the Marvel Experience at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Photo credit: Antonio Marquez
Marvel fans eagerly await their entrance to the Marvel Experience at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Photo credit: Antonio Marquez

‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’ sets up base at Del Mar Fairgrounds

The Marvel Experience made its way to San Diego and just like the movies it was a hit with fans of all ages.

From Feb. 7-22 fans got the opportunity to vicariously live the lives of their favorite Marvel superheroes such as Hulk, Wolverine, She-Hulk, Black Widow and Spider-Man.

Like something straight out of the television show “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, the Del Mar Fairgrounds were turned into a seven dome military operating base where event goers were turned into one of S.H.I.E.L.D’s newest recruits and teamed up with Marvel fan favorites to take on the terrorist organization Hydra.

“It reminds me a lot like Comic-Con … I expected it to be very eventful,” Allan Medina, a student from Cal State Northridge said. “… And see what it truly is to be a hero and all that.”

College students also got to take part in the fun when the event held a college night where students could participate in the festivities for only $20. The Marvel journey had a 360 degree 3D stereoscopic projection dome and a state of the art 4D motion ride that gave fans a closer look at being a superhero.

The interactive activities immersed event goers into not only the games, but also put them in the middle of the action. Black Widow’s training room and interactive screens put event goers next to their favorite super heroes and even taught fans how to fly like Iron Man.

However, the experience wasn’t a hit with everyone who attended.

“I don’t think it was worth it. It had some cool stuff but definitely felt (more) for kids though,” Yanet Salgado, a former City College student, said.

The whole experience was approximately two hours long, with up to 148 visitors entering the interactive domes at a time. Once inside the domes attendees go in as a group, but there were so many things to do that some stayed to explore and play the games.

“The enthusiasm we’ve seen from San Diego audiences has been nothing short of overwhelming. … We are so grateful for how this city, home of Comic-Con International, has embraced the Marvel Experience and we are excited to be able to stick around a little longer,” Hero ventures COO Doug Schaer and CEO Rick Licht stated via press release.

Due to the huge fan reaction, The Marvel Experience extended its original run in San Diego to March 1, so more superhero fans were able to enjoy the interactive experience at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

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‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’ sets up base at Del Mar Fairgrounds