No NAB Show This Year in Las Vegas, Other Conventions May Be Rescheduled

Posted on: March 22, 2020, 06:53h. 

Last updated on: March 22, 2020, 01:17h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Las Vegas will lose an estimated $153 million with the recent decision by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to cancel its trade show for 2020 because of the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier this month, there was hope the NAB Show was just postponed from its April 18 to 22 date.

Multiple conventions and shows were canceled at the Las Vegas Convention Center because of the coronavirus outbreak. It will impact the region’s economy. (Image: Vegas Means Business)

But the organization’s next show in Las Vegas will not take place until 2021. Some other canceled shows could be rescheduled for later this year.

The 2020 NAB show was expected to attract about 100,000 attendees. Last year, the show had an economic impact of about $153.3 million, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

It is held yearly in the Las Vegas Convention Center. It was expected to attract some 1,600 exhibitions.

In light of the current circumstances, it is impossible to hold a rescheduled 2020 NAB Show this year,” NAB President and CEO Gordon H. Smith said in a statement released on Friday.

“We will instead proceed with a two-pronged approach to deliver as much value as possible under these circumstances to our exhibitors, partners, and the broadcast industry as a whole,” he added.

Starting next month, the NAB is to have an online offering called “NAB Show Express.” It will hopes to present the NAB Show New York later this year.

Multiple Trade Shows, Conventions Key to Economy

Altogether, conventions brought in 6.5 million people to Las Vegas in 2018, according to the LVCVA. That directly supports some 45,000 jobs, $2 billion in wages, and provides $6.6 billion in direct economic impact, the LVCVA adds.

Among the other conventions to get canceled was one sponsored by ASD Market Week. It was to have been held this month at the convention center.

ASD’s show is held twice a year. It attracts some 46,000 attendees.

The Review-Journal reported it would have been the sixth-largest convention by number of attendees in Las Vegas this year, based on LVCVA data. As of now, ASD Market still plans to have a show between August 2 and 5 in Las Vegas.

Also, the National Hardware Show put on by Reed Exhibitions will postpone its Las Vegas event from May 5 through 7 to a yet-to-be-announced time later this year. It attracts some 37,000 attendees each year, the Review-Journal reported.

Non-Essential Nevada Businesses Remain Shuttered

Last week, Nevada Gov. Stephen F. Sisolak issued a directive which closed non-essential business in the state for 30 days. As part of the order, he closed casinos and hotels.

Although it is not clear when it will be safe for businesses to reopen in Nevada, as it now stands, the NAB will hold a show in Las Vegas next year, and other organizations which typically have an annual convention in the city are expected to do likewise.

“We’ve already begun planning for our 2021 NAB Show in Las Vegas, which will take place April 11-14th, and we hope you’ll join us then, as well as this fall [in New York],” Gordon Smith said in his statement to organization members and exhibitors.