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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe financial cost of the coronavirus crisis in Chicago continues to climb as another major trade show has been canceled.
The International Manufacturing Technology Show that was scheduled to be held at McCormick Place in September is the latest trade show to be scrapped because of the pandemic.
More than 129,000 people had signed up to attend the show, making it the largest convention scheduled for the city this year. McCormick Place spokeswoman Cynthia McCafferty told the Chicago Tribune that the show was expected to account for more than 99,300 hotel room nights.
Conventions are crucial to the city’s financial health and the show is the latest of nearly 100 events at McCormick Place to be canceled this year. McCafferty said those cancellations add up to a loss of more than $1.4 billion that attendees would have spent on things like hotels, entertainment, restaurants and transportation.
Organizers of the convention that has been held every even-numbered year in Chicago since 1947 said the uncertainty of just when conventions might return to Illinois under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phase reopening plan prompted them to cancel.
Under the plan, gatherings of more 50 people can’t resume until the final phase. In order to get to that phase, either a vaccine must be available or there must be a highly effective treatment in place.
The Association for Manufacturing Technology, the trade group that owns and manages the show, did not see that happening by the time the show was scheduled to be held, according to Peter Eelman, vice president of exhibitions and chief experience officer for the association.
Chicago is one of Indianapolis’ main competitors for conventions.
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Who would want to be in Chicago and take your life in your own hands …Mayor Elitist and Narcissist Lightfoot needs replaced now…All her Tyrannical rules are for thee and not she or he !!
All trade shows at McCormick Place are canceled for 2020 because the Mayor decided to set up a Covid Hospital in the convention hall. The hospital was never used and now the clean up will cost multi-millions.