San Diego Moves to Terminate Gaslamp Contract Over Avengers Wrap

The City of San Diego is threatening to terminate its contract with the Gaslamp Quarter Association, alleging that the nonprofit's executive director helped approve the Avengers: Doomsday wrap that covered the city-owned Fifth Avenue arch during San Diego Comic-Con. According to Bleeding Cool, Chief Housing and Community Development Officer Casey Smith sent a letter on September 24 to association executive director Michael Trimble listing alleged contract breaches and giving him until October 9 to formally respond.

The wrap was installed for Marvel Studios by advertising firm Elevue and sat on the arch for six days in late July 2026. The city cited the contractor and fined it $160,000 in total, with daily fines starting at $10,000 on July 21 and rising to $50,000 by July 26. The city described it as its biggest Comic-Con advertising citation of the year.

Trimble disputes the allegations, saying that Big Outdoor, the agency that brought the activation proposal, was responsible for obtaining all required city permits and approvals.

Earlier payments and warnings

On June 30, 2026, Big Outdoor paid the Gaslamp Quarter Association $10,000, according to a bank statement cited by the city. Earlier in June 2026, association board minutes directed Trimble to finalise a contract with Big Outdoor for a Comic-Con activation. Between July 7 and July 21, 2026, the city says the association, Big Outdoor and Elevue were repeatedly told the wrap would not be permitted.