Winter Boat Show Modified Schedules And Cancellations

November 3, 2020

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By now, the manufacturers have revealed what is in store for their 2021 watercraft lineup. There is definitely a lot of excitement buzzing around and people are anxious to get out, check out the new models, and put their hands on the fresh paint.

Well unfortunately not so fast says the pandemic. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has just announced some changes and cancellations to the winter boat shows across the nation.

Check out the modified list below to see which shows are affected at this time as well as a full explanation from the NMMA.

The health and safety of everyone involved in producing, exhibiting, and attending our shows is of the utmost importance. Following a thorough market-by-market analysis regarding the feasibility of producing safe and successful NMMA winter boat and sport shows in 2021, we are making significant modifications to our show schedule in the first quarter of 2021.

The modified 2021 winter schedule is as follows:

Proceeding as scheduled:

Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show — February 24–28, 2021, with the option to delay the show to early April 2021
Progressive Insurance Northwest Sportshow — March 25–28, 2021

Postponed to a later date:

Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show — we are working with the Boston Exhibition & Convention Center to obtain dates later in the first quarter or early in the second quarter

Canceled for the winter of 2021 only:

These decisions are in the best interest of our consumers, staff, members, and industry and are the result of months-long conversations with exhibitors, health officials, venue operators, and other stakeholders on producing safe, successful, and high-quality consumer experiences. We understand the vital role boat shows play in showcasing new products and generating sales for our industry, and at this time, NMMA expects to resume its full show schedule starting in September 2021.

For the three shows currently proceeding as scheduled or postponed to the spring, plans will be guided by our ‘health and safety first’ principle and are subject to change. Our team will continue to closely monitor the situation in each market and work with federal, state, and local authorities on those events.

In a strategic change to NMMA’s boat and sport show roster that is unrelated to the modified 2021 winter show schedule, an agreement was finalized this week to transfer ownership of the Kansas City Boat & Sportshow, Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, World Fishing & Outdoor Expo, and Saltwater Fishing Expo to Sportshows LLC. An update on the acquisition is being shared with those exhibitors, and an announcement from Sportshows LLC will be made in the coming days.

Rest assured, since the outset of the COVID-19 health crisis, we have worked closely with our Board of Directors to ensure the long-term financial viability of the association. NMMA has stable and diverse revenue streams and remains in a strong financial position. We stand ready to deliver a full range of services, including producing world-class boat shows, on behalf of our members and the broader recreational boating industry well into the future. We look forward to continuing to produce robust sales and marketing events as we navigate the global pandemic together and continue welcoming boaters to the lifestyle.

To that end, recognizing the association’s important role in reaching the consumer and extending the industry’s reach and voice, NMMA is evolving its boat shows to meet the demands of today’s consumer and tomorrow’s buyer. This winter, we will launch a new program that connects the power of NMMA’s boat shows across the country and puts into motion a strategic initiative that will integrate boat shows with the industry’s national Discover Boating campaign, providing a more seamless, meaningful consumer experience. Details will be announced in the coming weeks. In the meantime, to learn more about this opportunity, contact Alisdair Martin at [email protected].

Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support during these unprecedented times. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Senior Vice President of Boat and Sport Shows, Jennifer Thompson, at [email protected].