Manufacturing Show Leaves McCormick
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 3/14/2005
After 16 years at McCormick Place in Chicago, Natl. Manufacturing Week will move to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont for the March 21–23, 2006, edition of the Tradeshow Week 200 event.
Kel Marsden-Kish, industry vice president for Reed Exhibitions, said the decision was made to move the show after industry research indicated attendees preferred a location outside of central Chicago.
"It's really attendee-driven," Marsden-Kish said. "They said, 'We want to be in Chicago, but we want a lower cost. If you move to a suburban location, that will allow us to stay an extra day.'"
While three other Reed manufacturing sector-related shows (ASSEMBLY Technology Expo, Quality Expo Intl. and Powder and Bulk Solids) are already held at Rosemont, Natl. Manufacturing Week was the only one in the Chicago area at McCormick. The 2005 show was held there March 7–10.
Marsden-Kish pointed out that there are 14 hotels and a large number of restaurants within walking distance of the Stephens Convention Center, benefits attendees said they wanted.
"It's more convenient for the ones who drive in," he said.
The horizontal manufacturing show ranked No. 56 in the 2004 TSW 200 with 319,545 net square feet, 1,243 exhibitors and 17,284 attendees reported in 2003. However, according to information supplied to TSW, that was down from 2002 when 406,009 net sq. ft., 1,534 exhibitors and 27,068 attendees were reported.
