Blizzard Impacts Some Shows: New York Toy Fair Opens on Time
February 7, 2013
Even though there is two feet of snow forecasted to hit the Northeast beginning Feb. 8 and thousands of flights already have been canceled, the Toy Industry Association is going full steam ahead, planning to not only hold pre-show events for the American International Toy Fair, but also open the show’s doors as scheduled Feb. 10-13 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
Show organizers assured all attendees that “the show will go on,” despite unfavorable weather predictions for the New York City area, with a message on their Web site saying, “There’s No Business Like Snow Business.”
The show is expected to attract more than 30,000 attendees and 1,000-plus exhibitors and is expected to generate 17,000 hotel room nights and $29.2 million in economic impact for the city, according to NYC & Company officials.
The 13th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards will kick off Toy Fair week Feb. 9, and the show will open as scheduled Feb. 10 at the Javits.
“Toy Fair has opened its doors on time every year for 110 years … a little snow won’t stop us now,” said show organizers.
The Boston area also is predicted to take the brunt of the snowstorm.
New England Grows, which was scheduled to run Feb. 6-8 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, was impacted by the incoming storm before the first flakes even fell.
A message on the show’s Web site stated: “Due to the blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service, and a directive from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authorities' Pubic Safety Department, all New England Grows activities have been cancelled for Friday, February 8, 2013.”
The next event scheduled at the BCEC is the Progressive New England Boat Show, Feb. 16-24, and at Boston’s John B. Hynes Convention Center, the American Association for the Advancement of Science 2013 Annual Meeting is on tap Feb. 14-18.
The Spirit Fest Cheer & Dance National Championships, which were scheduled Feb. 9-10 at the Connecticut Convention Center, were cancelled altogether.
Event organizers said, “After much consideration and for the safety of you, your athletes and their families we have decided to reschedule Spirit Festival Nationals for Mid-March.”
In Philadelphia, the Tattoo Arts Convention, which opens Feb. 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, had a message emblazoned on the show’s Web site page in bright red letters that says – “The Show Will Not Be Cancelled Due To Snow”.
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