by Jeanne Brei
Well, just when you think tradeshows and live events are getting back in the swing of things, Mother Nature and decision-makers seem to conspire against us. Just days after the successful return of DreamForce in San Francisco with 40,000 attendees, it was announced that the San Francisco Car Show has been postponed to 2023 and Hurricane Ian pounded much of Florida with a catastrophic storm surge, maximum sustained winds of 150 mph and flooding.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for the entire state as hundreds of events canceled including DevOps World 2022, the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX 2022), the Electro-Mechanical Authority Southeastern Chapter (EASA) fall conference and the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies’ (AABB) 2022 Annual Meeting to name a few. Fortunately, the “force majeure” clause found in most meeting contracts will protect from liability. Hurricanes are considered a typical force majeure event and most planners have disaster preparedness plans in place.
The largest global gathering of DevOps practitioners was returning to an in-person format for the first time since the pandemic and was canceled just a day before it was to open on Sept. 28 at the World Marriott Center in Orlando. Their website announced the postponement by saying it will go to a virtual format again this year.
IBEX, 2022, North America’s largest technical trade event for marine industry professionals, was set to open on Sept. 27 at the Tampa Convention Center before its cancellation. Earlier this month the Tampa Boat Show (Sept. 8-10) was rescheduled for Oct. 13-15 due to the possible threat of Hurricane Irma.
The EASA fall conference, scheduled for Daytona Beach Sept. 29-Oct. 1 will give attendees\exhibitors the option to roll over registration and exhibitor fees to the rescheduled dates or cancel and receive a refund. The hotel will also cancel all reservations within the room block with no cancellation fees.
The AABB 2022 Annual Meeting was originally scheduled for Oct. 1-4 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, and was canceled on Sept. 26 as Hurricane Ian was developing. AABB’s previously planned virtual meeting for Nov. 6-7 will be expanded and in-person attendees will be able to transfer their registration to the virtual event as well as receive a partial refund. Next year’s AABB Annual Meeting is planned for Oct. 14-17 in Nashville.
But the majority of the talk on the tradeshow floor has been about the San Francisco Car Show being postponed until 2023. Facebook posters have been discussing what some of the reasons may be for postponing the car show until next year. Marcus Kryshka wrote, “I was told that it’s a supply chain issue. They’re already selling every car they have out there, so no need to spend any more money on advertising.”
Rob Mcclammy shared that “These shows started shrinking years ago when the tax deductions changed as far as what they could totally write off. This is advertising when it comes down to it so it has to justify sales for the price paid. No longer the company party and write off.”
Ty Grobe believes, “It’s because of whoever manages the show. It seems like most cities that have auto dealer ran shows still are doing their show. They bring a few less cars. Focus more on the hybrid and electric vehicles. I know Portland had a few electric makers I had never heard of before. Wasn’t as big as normal but still a decent show and good turn out.”
Derek Delisi wrote, “It’s a shell of what it used to be. Last year in Philly, half the car companies were there.” Denise Francavilla shared that “Detroit was a bust, so more then likely they will downsize or cancel smaller venues.” Mike Flynn is also not optimistic, posting, “Auto shows are not doing well. May not be the last.” Michael Max Maxwell also believes that “Auto shows as stand alone trade shows are dead. CES, among others, will direct them. Tech has replaced the floor space.” Bobby Sands Cassidy commented, “Wow! Kinda figured the numbers are way down for attendance. No one really cares about electric cars. It’ll shrink like the boat show.”
Chris Moore summed it up by posting, “Auto shows are going away, just like the all the retailer shows did years ago. People buy cars site unseen at Carvana. 100k people put down deposits on an electric F-150 without ever seeing it or test driving it… Every new car that is available is sold right away. Ford sold 100k Electric F-150’s without anyone ever seeing or test driving one. Explain why they would spend $10 million to go to an auto show?”
Other theories included Doug Finley jokingly blaming “the flu,” Michael Troyer blaming “ too much human feces on the sidewalks and junkies along the way” and Karl Fielden writing that “They don’t want to sell cars in California any longer!”
