Crain's Chicago Business is reporting this evening that another major trade exposition, the International Home and Housewares Show, might abandon Chicago for Las Vegas or Orlando.Last year two major shows, The Society of the Plastics Industry and Healthcare Information and Management Systems, said "buh-bye" to Chicago and its union-driven high costs.
Is this a big deal? Yup. Not only is the association that owns the show based in the Chicago area, the Housewares Show has set up shop in Chicago since 1939.
Are we looking at a future for Chicago's major exhibition halls, McCormick Place and Navy Pier, hosting far less lucrative consumer events such as comic book, classic car, and fishing shows? Possibly. There is nothing inherently wrong with these types of events, but McCormick Place was built, and Navy Pier rebuilt, to host trade fairs that fill thousands of hotel rooms with buyers and sellers armed with fat expense accounts.
Many Chicagoans--waiters, room attendants, cab drivers, and of course local businesses, depend upon Chicago hosting as many events such as the Housewares Show as possible.
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Chicago Tribune: A third major trade show may bail on Chicago
Union "tyranny of the few" drives Plastics Show from Chicago
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Agency that runs Chicago's convention centers "in deep financial hole"
Union extortionists may drive another trade show from Chicago
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