Two big annual trade shows canceled —
again — at McCormick Place
Chicago Tribune,
by
Staff
Original Article
Posted By: AltaD,
3/2/2021 9:34:58 AM
Two large industry events that typically bring a combined 126,000 people to Chicago’s McCormick Place have been canceled for the second straight year because of COVID-19.
On Friday, the National Restaurant Association said its show, which was to take place May 22-25, has been called off and rescheduled to May 21-24, 2022.
On Monday, the International Housewares Association announced that The Inspired Home Show, which was to take place Aug. 7-10, has been canceled. (Snip) Since the pandemic began a year ago, 214 events — that accounted for an estimated $2.9 billion in economic impact — have been canceled at McCormick Place, McCafferty said.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
Skinnydip 3/2/2021 9:57:36 AM (No. 712345)
Way to go, Illinois! As if you don't already have fiscal problems.
16 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
Rather Read 3/2/2021 10:29:11 AM (No. 712387)
I just checked the Nashville Music City Center website and starting in May, they've got some good trade shows scheduled. Also, The Grand Ole Opry is having live shows - limited seating but live shows. I live in Kentucky, and we are mostly open as well, even though we have to wear masks. And that's what I like about the south.
12 people like this.
I was at a corporate show there once and plugged in a computer and monitor to the power outlet my group had paid (a lot) to have run to the booth. Some guy comes over and tells me I can't do that. I tell him, no, you are wrong, I just did it. He says well you aren't supposed to. So I ask what am I supposed to do? (I really had no idea what he was talking about) So he tells me I need to put in a requisition then someone would come and plug it in. I told him that was the stupidest thing I had ever heard, go away. A little while later some suit comes over, he is from the company, the events coordinator or something, and he starts giving me this ration of sh.. about how I had caused this big problem. I was totally mystified why plugging in a computer was this huge issue. Turns out it was a union guy who had seem me plug in the devices and they wanted their $35 or whatever. This was the biggest ripoff I had ever heard of. Unions, killing Chicago one electrical outlet at a time.
28 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
chicubby 3/2/2021 10:59:17 AM (No. 712413)
#3 My husband had the same thing happen to him, years ago, at McCormack Place. He couldn't believer it.
10 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
john56 3/2/2021 11:11:25 AM (No. 712430)
The electrician rip off goes back years -- I remember it happening in the 70s, it was $20 something back then. Union labor had to unload and deliver your trade show items from the loading dock to your booth. And if you had anything of value, you hoped it got to your booth and was thankful it didn't get stolen until AFTER the show.
I can't for the life of me figure why any trade show wants to go to Chicago.
In a previous life, I worked in the radiology business. One of the biggest trade shows in Chicago is the RSNA (Radiology Society of North America). Weird convention -- it was the week after Thanksgiving every year, which is a dead season for trade shows. I found out why it was that week. A lot of heavy equipment (CT scanners, MRI units, etc.; even though not operating) was brought in and it took nearly a week to set it up. To pay for an extra week of hall space was pretty expensive, but Chicago and the RSNA made a deal they could get the Thanksgiving week (a dead week anyway) for next to nothing for set up.
They thought about moving the show to Orlando, but Chicago ponied up to keep it.
5 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
0658 3/2/2021 11:13:51 AM (No. 712432)
It seems as if the Orlando Convention Center is open; easy solution.
5 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
Lawsy0 3/2/2021 11:33:21 AM (No. 712462)
So tear down McCormick Place and imagine all the tenements you can build there instead. Put a SNAP, D-SNAP, or WIC, dispensary on each corner. Free rail service around the place while you're at it.
2 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
bad-hair 3/2/2021 11:55:12 AM (No. 712506)
Hey Chicago ... NO TRADE NO SHOW !!!
Tell Mayor Lori (with an i ) to keep your restaurants shut down and the 126,000 people can come to her place for dinner. Advise them to hire private security lest they get shot.
Enjoy the rst of the winter.
1 person likes this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
FunOne 3/2/2021 11:57:56 AM (No. 712509)
Al Capone ran Chicago more efficiently than any democrat mayor.
4 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
bamboozle 3/2/2021 12:00:55 PM (No. 712514)
Been there done that #5. I've heard the same stories. Where else could you go that's protected by Armageddon Security? Always wondered how many years before RSNA would pull out.
2 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Luandir 3/2/2021 12:09:24 PM (No. 712529)
...or because it's Chicago.
1 person likes this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Hugh Akston 3/2/2021 12:18:16 PM (No. 712548)
Same story as #3. Housewares Show...1986. McCormick Place. Plugging in my booth lighting. Like I needed a union electrician to plug in clip-on spotlights. I never did requisition labor to do something that I needed done then, not some point in the future.
3 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
Penney 3/2/2021 12:20:31 PM (No. 712554)
Branson is open.
2 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
XCenturion 3/2/2021 12:45:17 PM (No. 712589)
I would think the National Restaurant Association would have an extremely small audience in that most restaurants have gone out of business thanks to the draconian policies of Democrat politicians during the pandemic.
3 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
rytwng 3/2/2021 12:57:52 PM (No. 712619)
Also , the people that attend are in danger of being shot in Chicago.
5 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
mseegal 3/2/2021 1:49:49 PM (No. 712669)
Meanwhile, the livestock shows go on in Texas and our schools and restaurants are open. Hmmm...Chicago? Texas? Not a tough decision to answer.
3 people like this.
Did trade shows there. Stood around with a pocket full of 100 dollar bills to bribe union labor to take down, pack and ship our booth!
2 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
Videodrone 3/2/2021 3:37:21 PM (No. 712756)
The first NAB I worked was the last (and only) at McCormick - while we were not involved in anything directly the electricians were having some sort of dispute and several of our power lines were "spiked" creating some interesting early morning fireworks!
And it's not just any venue I have experienced having to visit (I kid you not!) Guido down in the shipping dock with an envelope to get my gear out of the Marriott Marque - or in San Francisco where our "Producer" worked a deal where we could drive our truck into the venue to unload only we needed a union crew to unload - truck had a lift gate and all the equipment was in flight packs on wheels - up comes the two man crew - one driving the fork lift and his helper, when I pointed out that there was a lift gate and things were packed on wheels - the driver (insert typical goldbricker) backed up his forklift and pronounced (body language and all) "I don't do lift gates" so I said OK just get it unloaded - first thing the driver did was fork the first stack and "yank" it out causing the top case to snag the door pull and drop an large amp case about 14' to the floor "Oh, Steward..."
Don't even get me started about the Sands vs the LVCC...
1 person likes this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
Omen55 3/2/2021 5:17:42 PM (No. 712848)
Just send all the convention business to Red States as it will serve dem right!
0 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
PeteRieck 3/2/2021 10:20:18 PM (No. 713074)
Good old McCormick Place. Donald Stephenson Center by Ohare not much better-------we set up our booth display and had to have a union "designer" place the velcro-backed photos on to the predetermined section of the display. Dare not do it ourselves. Wisely, the trade association moved its shows to Florida. Good luck Illinois!
1 person likes this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
mifla 3/3/2021 5:06:46 AM (No. 713229)
Given the city's murder rate, lives were probably saved.
1 person likes this.
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