In July, the Chicago Auto Show will be held at McCormick Place, the first show to be held there since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the news, predicting that it was the start of a “new beginning,” with many more gatherings planned this summer, with the necessary safety precautions. For the first time since 1901, the show will be held both indoors and outdoors.
“On behalf of the automotive retail industry in Chicago and Illinois, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to reopen McCormick Place with a special edition of the Chicago Auto Show,” said David Sloan, general manager of the Chicago Auto Show. “This special edition of the show, taking place July 15-19, marks the first major McCormick Place convention to take place in Illinois since the start of the pandemic, which will hopefully pave the way for the months ahead.”
Following last week’s announcement of expanded Phase 4 regulations, the city’s move to Phase 5 of reopening, and the continued downward trend in COVID-19 cases, the state and city have come together to provide guidance for events returning later this summer.
“We’ve seen steady progress in recent weeks, with our key COVID indicators trending downward and more people getting vaccinated, which is so important as we emerge from this pandemic,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. “That made this exciting day possible.”
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Working closely with health and tourism officials, McCormick Place and the Chicago Auto Show have developed mitigation strategies to protect all attendees, starting with a reduced overall capacity for attendees. Other safety measures include:
- a move to Hall F of the West Building with 470,000 square feet of interior space and 100,000 square feet of exterior space;
- timed entry windows and staggered entries to avoid congestion at the show and upon arrival;
- obligation to wear a face mask at all times;
- disinfection stations distributed throughout the place;
- contactless delivery of tickets;
- Temperatures will be checked and a medical questionnaire will need to be completed before entry to the event is allowed.
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“We are committed to providing a safe environment for everyone involved and will strictly adhere to health and safety protocols and guidelines established by city and state officials. McCormick Place is an important economic engine for our city and state, and we take very seriously the responsibility of helping to get it back up and running,” said Sloan of the Chicago Auto Show.
McCormick Place holds GBAC STAR accreditation, the industry standard for health and safety, and in January, Choose Chicago and McCormick Place launched Healthy Meetings Chicago, an interactive digital platform to illustrate the attendee experience upon arrival at a 2021 meeting, convention or event at McCormick Place and to highlight the facility’s health and safety measures.
Contact David Sloan at dsloan@drivechicago.com or (630) 424-6055