Earlier this week, the organizers of SEMA put out a short statement regarding their 2020 show. It can been below in its entirety.
Statement from SEMA about the 2020 SEMA Show
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (August 5, 2020) — SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, announced today that due to Covid-19 and concerns that event facilities and services will be unavailable, the SEMA Show will not be taking place in 2020.
While both event organizers and industry members have been working tirelessly to deliver an outstanding SEMA Show in November, mounting uncertainty has rendered continuing with the event inadvisable. SEMA expects the decision will bring much needed clarity to an uncertain picture and will help exhibitors, attendees and partners plan accordingly.
Recent SEMA Show survey results indicated interest in a possible virtual tradecshow with related live elements. SEMA will be working with industry members to determine interest levels on specific alternatives.
“The SEMA Show is committed to furthering businesses in the automotive specialty equipment market, and to providing manufacturers and buyers with the best opportunity to connect, promote new products and discover new trends,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “We appreciate the spirit, hard work and innovation our industry puts into the SEMA Show each year. While we are disappointed circumstances prevent us from hosting the Show in November, we look forward to getting everyone together in 2021 for another outstanding event.”
Full refunds for SEMA Show exhibitor booth deposits and attendee registration fees will be issued.
Updates will be posted to SEMAShow.com.
This certainly didn’t come as a surprise and frankly, I’m surprised it didn’t come sooner. If it had gone on as planned I’m not sure how the spectacle that is SEMA would have taken place. There are just too many people from all around the world and although it is indoors and the convention space is huge, in this environment I couldn’t see it happening. I have some experience organizing a show booth for SEMA and by this late in the year, we would have been wrapping up some final details and dotting our I’s and crossing our t’s. Now those show organizers can rest up a bit and save some budget for 2021.
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