Coronavirus Pushes New York Auto Show to Late August
Rather than let coronavirus pandemic claim another event, organizers create bookend with Detroit Auto Show for 2020.
On March 11, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus (a.k.a. nCoV-19 or COVID-19) a global pandemic. Its effects reach far beyond the cold/flu-like symptoms of those infected by the virus, though. The NCAA declared the entirety of the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments closed to fans. Organizers of music festival Coachella rescheduled the two-weekend happening to October.
March would have seen both South by Southwest and the Geneva International Motor Show go on as planned. Instead, both were cancelled by the coronavirus. The pandemic won’t cancel the New York Auto Show, though. According to FOX News, your next chance to see the LC 500 Convertible, LF-1 Limitless, and LF-FC will be in late August.
“For 120 years, ‘the show must go on’ has been heavily embedded in our DNA, and while the decision to move the show dates didn’t come easy, our top priority remains with the health and well-being of all those involved in this historic event,” said Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association president Mark Schienberg. “We have already been in communication with many of our exhibitors and partners and are confident that the new dates for the 2020 Show will make for another successful event.”
Instead of the original dates of April 10 through 19, the 2020 edition of the New York Auto Show will be held at the Javits Center in Manhattan from August 28 through September 6. Press days will be August 25 and 26.
The resulting move means the North American new-car show season will see two of its biggest show bookending the summer months. Back in 2018, organizers of the Detroit Auto Show announced they would move everything from January to June in 2020, according to USA Today. This year’s happening at TCF Center (formerly Cobo Hall) is still set for June 7 through 20.
“We are taking this extraordinary step to help protect our attendees, exhibitors and all participants from the coronavirus,” said Schienberg.
The economic impact of the move is astounding: the $330 million exchanged during the New York Auto Show will be delayed until the end of summer. Better a delay than unnecessary deaths and illnesses from the 1 million who attend annually, though.
Photos: Facebook/New York International Auto Show
Join the Club Lexus forums now!
