The National Marine Manufacturers Association yesterday announced that in 2025 it is moving the Chicago Boat Show from McCormick Place to the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center. The NMMA says the move is the result of market analysis, exhibitor demand and boater feedback. The show will run at its new location Jan. 8-12, 2025.
“After consulting with stakeholders and in-depth analysis, the best path forward is producing the Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show at the DES Convention Center,” Darren Envall, vice president of Midwest Boat & Sportshows for NMMA, said in a statement. “The more centralized Rosemont, Ill., location positions the show for growth, accommodating the expanding boating population across a broader Chicagoland region, from the city and surrounding neighborhoods to the suburbs and exurbs of Chicago, and surrounding states.”
The DES Convention Center show will display large and small boats and exhibitors from states including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The facility is located 15 miles northwest of downtown Chicago and provides 840,000 square feet of exhibition space. There are restaurants, hotels, retail shops and entertainment nearby and is easily accessed from major highways and public transportation.
The 2025 Chicago Boat Show will be the 93rd year for the event. For full details, visit chicagoboatshow.com.
