
The National Marine Manufacturers Association announced substantial cancellations and postponements to its boat, RV and sport show lineup for the first quarter of next year.
A total of nine shows — including the Miami International Boat Show — will be outright canceled, with others moving forward or postponed to a later date.
The NMMA made the decision after “following a thorough market-by-market analysis regarding the feasibility of producing safe and successful winter events,” they said in a statement.
Canceled shows include:
The following will proceed as scheduled:
- Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show – Feb. 24-28. This show may be delayed to early April.
- Progressive Insurance Northwest Sportshow – March 25-28.
The Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show will be pushed back; date is TBD.
The NMMA also announced that they had transferred ownership of several events to Sportshows LLC — including Kansas City Boat & Sportshow, Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, World Fishing & Outdoor Expo, and Saltwater Fishing Expo.
With a significant roster of its shows canceled and others in jeopardy of being held, NMMA says that its financial position remains strong and they intend to continue to hold large-scale boat show into the future.
And they were prepared for this, said Steve Hesse, chairman of NMMA’s board of directors and president and CEO of Chris-Craft.
“From the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis, NMMA’s Board of Directors worked closely with the NMMA staff to ensure the association’s short- and long-term financial stability in any scenario, including the cancellation of some or all our 2021 winter shows. The NMMA Board of Directors stands firmly behind the association’s decisions announced today, and we are 100 percent committed to continuing the organization’s reach and impact throughout the global pandemic and far beyond.”