IAAPA Expo 2020 Canceled Due to COVID-19
IAAPA Expo 2020, the most prominent annual amusements industry trade show, has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“IAAPA Expo serves as the global marketplace for the attractions industry. We recognize this year there are many challenges facing our members from around the world,” IAAPA president and CEO Hal McEvoy said. “Together with input from members, exhibitors, the IAAPA Board of Directors and our team, we have decided to cancel this year’s Expo due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. The continuing barriers to international and domestic travel coupled with the evolving guidance on mass gatherings, and members’ need to focus on their businesses helped lead to this decision.”
In the show’s place is the IAAPA Expo Virtual Education Conference. Attendees will be privy to 25 sessions and two keynote presentations featuring a variety of industry professionals from November 16 to 18.
“While we are disappointed we are unable to meet in-person this year, we are already looking ahead to IAAPA Expo 2021 in Orlando, we also appreciate the patience, support and commitment from our dedicated IAAPA Expo exhibitors,” McEvoy said. “The IAAPA team has already pivoted to address finding new ways industry manufacturers and suppliers can connect with their customers to promote their products, discover new trends, and make plans for the future.”
The organization still plans to host IAAPA Expo Asia 2021in Macao, China, from June 7 to 10; IAAPA Expo Europe 2021 in Barcelona, Spain, from September 28 to 30, 2021; and IAAPA Expo 2021 in Orlando, Florida, from November 16 to 19, 2021.
IAAPA urges current contracted IAAPA Expo 2020 exhibitors to contact the IAAPA Global Sales Team at exhibitsales@iaapa.org to discuss options related to the cancellation and next steps.
While the reasoning behind the show’s cancellation are perfectly valid and admirable, it’s a real bummer that we arcade gamers don’t have an in-person IAAPA Expo to look forward to this year.
On the bright side, the folks at UNIS are holding a virtual product event around the same time the IAAPA Expo would’ve occurred. I, for one, applaud the company for adopting the Nintendo Direct-style approach that the home gaming industry has long since fully embraced.
I’m out, nerds. Don’t call this number again.