[UPDATE] E3 may be leaving the LA area next year

UPDATE:  If the convention takes its show on the road, Los Angeles could potentially miss out on another $40-million dollar revenue gain, as seen from this year's E3. That figure is due to the reported 47-thousand industry attendees, and nearly 30-thousand hotel bookings.

ORIGINAL POST: E3 has been considered a staple event for the Los Angeles Convention Center since the annual tradeshow’s creation back in 1995. Now it seems that this longstanding relationship may be coming to an end.

Entertainment Software Association president Michael Gallagher told The LA Times that the ESA is currently considering moving the show to a new venue in 2013. 

When asked about the reason for this possible decision, Gallagher said (much like last year’s football stadium debacle) this situation is due to an issue the association has with the proposed construction at the LACC. If the issue isn’t resolved, The ESA will have to take the event elsewhere.

Which city could become the new home for E3? Executives close to the ESA told The Times that San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, and New York are currently the top choices.

I know the show has been held outside of LA before (97/98 in Atlanta and 2007 in Santa Monica) but after hosting 15 E3s, the LACC has become a bit of an iconic structure among the gaming community and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of gamers who’ll be saddened by this decision.

What do you think g1s? Do think holding E3 at the LACC is a sacred tradition to be upheld? Or do you think the show is in need of a new setting? If so, where should E3's new home be? 

Be sure to give us your take in the comments below.