xcel
02-17-2009, 02:36 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Public attendance at the Chicago Autoshow appears to be doing quite well. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=188335)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Chicago_Auto_Show_1.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) – Feb. 17, 2009
The ticket booth lines were extremely long for the beginning of the 101st Chicago Autoshow.
During the Hyundai Press launch breakfast, a key Chicago Auto Show official surprised us by informing us that the press are an important part of the success of the show but, in reality, not all that important...
“We’re happy to see each of you and deeply appreciate you being here to cover the show. We are fully aware how important you are to the success of our show,” said Jerry Cizek, Chicago Auto Show General Manager. “That being said, we’re counting the hours until Friday, when we can throw open the doors of the show and welcome our most important audience—the American consumer.”
During a previous Auto Show Press private dinner, Alan Mulally, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company was asked to compare auto shows with the big trade events in commercial aviation, the industry he used to work in. Mulally smiled and said, “The biggest difference is that at air shows there are quite a few customers.”
He could not have said it any more succinctly.
Responding to media reports that the era of auto shows as marketing tools is nearing an end, Cizek countered that those reporters rarely stick around to see the most important part of the show.
“If you want to accurately measure the marketing effectiveness of an auto show, shouldn’t you attend one?” Cizek asked. “How many of you have experienced the magic of the Chicago Auto Show on the first Sunday of the show, or the second Saturday. Have any of you stood by a concept car or a new production model and watched reactions of real people, who aren’t tied to the industry?”
“If you think this part of the show—the media preview—is the most important, you are mistaken,” said Cizek. “In Chicago, we believe that the show doesn’t even begin until the minute thousands of consumers start streaming through the turnstiles on the first public day of the show.”
LA Auto Show attendance was down a good percentage last November and Detroit attendance was off almost 8% last month. Was Chicago going to experience the same? The Economic and Auto industry pundits are still pointing in that direction but the combination of the American consumer’s love of the automobile and the allure of a century-old Chicago tradition, that being a visit to the world’s largest Autoshow, has so far proven the pundits wrong.
“Our walk-up box office and online sales have been strong all weekend, and today we’re absolutely slammed—and encouraged,” said Jerry Cizek. “We expected a big crowd for Presidents Day, but even we’re surprised at the mass of people who have been streaming through our doors. We’ve added extra booths and ticket sellers to better accommodate the demand—and we couldn’t be more pleased.”
The pre-show lineup at the box office was expected, “But we’re well into lunch time and our lines are still going all the way across Lake Shore Drive,” said Cizek. “It’s a good problem to have and our team is working hard to connect consumers with the vehicles they’re excited to see.”
Chicago Auto Show Attendees -- Day 1
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Chicago_Auto_Show_2.jpg
Although some automakers have downsized their exhibits floor space and reduced expenditures for staging, the Chicago show has not seen an exhibitor exodus as experienced in Detroit last month.
“When your sales and marketing dollars are most precious, you invest them where you can generate the best return,” he asserted. “I firmly believe that’s why we have been able to hold things together in Chicago this year.
The key to success, according to Cizek? The Chicago Auto Show sells cars and trucks.
And for an industry starved for success, that’s an important strength to own.
Even if you are not considering the purchase of a new automobile anytime soon, the Chicago Auto Show is possibly the least expensive downtown Chicago entertainment available. The Show is open daily through Feb. 22 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. To purchase tickets online or for more information, the following link should provide you with everything you need to know.
Chicago Auto Show (www.ChicagoAutoShow.com)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Chicago_Auto_Show_1.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) – Feb. 17, 2009
The ticket booth lines were extremely long for the beginning of the 101st Chicago Autoshow.
During the Hyundai Press launch breakfast, a key Chicago Auto Show official surprised us by informing us that the press are an important part of the success of the show but, in reality, not all that important...
“We’re happy to see each of you and deeply appreciate you being here to cover the show. We are fully aware how important you are to the success of our show,” said Jerry Cizek, Chicago Auto Show General Manager. “That being said, we’re counting the hours until Friday, when we can throw open the doors of the show and welcome our most important audience—the American consumer.”
During a previous Auto Show Press private dinner, Alan Mulally, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company was asked to compare auto shows with the big trade events in commercial aviation, the industry he used to work in. Mulally smiled and said, “The biggest difference is that at air shows there are quite a few customers.”
He could not have said it any more succinctly.
Responding to media reports that the era of auto shows as marketing tools is nearing an end, Cizek countered that those reporters rarely stick around to see the most important part of the show.
“If you want to accurately measure the marketing effectiveness of an auto show, shouldn’t you attend one?” Cizek asked. “How many of you have experienced the magic of the Chicago Auto Show on the first Sunday of the show, or the second Saturday. Have any of you stood by a concept car or a new production model and watched reactions of real people, who aren’t tied to the industry?”
“If you think this part of the show—the media preview—is the most important, you are mistaken,” said Cizek. “In Chicago, we believe that the show doesn’t even begin until the minute thousands of consumers start streaming through the turnstiles on the first public day of the show.”
LA Auto Show attendance was down a good percentage last November and Detroit attendance was off almost 8% last month. Was Chicago going to experience the same? The Economic and Auto industry pundits are still pointing in that direction but the combination of the American consumer’s love of the automobile and the allure of a century-old Chicago tradition, that being a visit to the world’s largest Autoshow, has so far proven the pundits wrong.
“Our walk-up box office and online sales have been strong all weekend, and today we’re absolutely slammed—and encouraged,” said Jerry Cizek. “We expected a big crowd for Presidents Day, but even we’re surprised at the mass of people who have been streaming through our doors. We’ve added extra booths and ticket sellers to better accommodate the demand—and we couldn’t be more pleased.”
The pre-show lineup at the box office was expected, “But we’re well into lunch time and our lines are still going all the way across Lake Shore Drive,” said Cizek. “It’s a good problem to have and our team is working hard to connect consumers with the vehicles they’re excited to see.”
Chicago Auto Show Attendees -- Day 1
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Chicago_Auto_Show_2.jpg
Although some automakers have downsized their exhibits floor space and reduced expenditures for staging, the Chicago show has not seen an exhibitor exodus as experienced in Detroit last month.
“When your sales and marketing dollars are most precious, you invest them where you can generate the best return,” he asserted. “I firmly believe that’s why we have been able to hold things together in Chicago this year.
The key to success, according to Cizek? The Chicago Auto Show sells cars and trucks.
And for an industry starved for success, that’s an important strength to own.
Even if you are not considering the purchase of a new automobile anytime soon, the Chicago Auto Show is possibly the least expensive downtown Chicago entertainment available. The Show is open daily through Feb. 22 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. To purchase tickets online or for more information, the following link should provide you with everything you need to know.
Chicago Auto Show (www.ChicagoAutoShow.com)