The New Car Dealers Association of B.C.’s 2013 Vancouver International Auto Show will be held March 26-31, 2013 in the new Vancouver Convention Centre overlooking the city’s scenic inner harbor.
The show moves from the B.C. Place Stadium, where the association’s lease has expired this year, said Paul McGeachie, association executive director and the show’s organizer.
Last year, the new car dealers association moved the show to the convention centre as the stadium was undergoing renovations as a new roof was installed. It gave the association and exhibitors a chance to experience the newly-constructed facility that features extensive use of B.C. wood, large walls of glass overlooking the harbor, and, multi-levels of meeting and exhibit space.
“It’s like comparing apples to oranges,” said McGeachie, speaking of the pros and cons of each facility. The move to the convention centre will put the show back into a facility that is specifically designed for convention and exhibit events. Most of the vehicle manufacturers come with staging professionals and they usually work on a rectangular format. The stadium, while it had its attributes such as more space, had an oval floor plan on one level only.
“I think it was the only show left in North America that was held in a stadium,” said McGeachie.
McGeachie said that because the convention centre is located closer to the downtown core of office buildings, he expects it will draw in more visitors during the lunch hours.
There are two show areas that McGeachie hopes to build upon next year. One is the Truck City area which “was a surprise” as it received a lot of attention from the show’s visitors and the media. “We will do some fine-tuning to Truck City next year,” said McGeachie, adding he will try to accommodate all the brands although some space constraints exist.
Also popular at the show was the Redline Stage, which provided live presentations and a place to listen to various presenters or watch demonstrations. McGeachie says he is also thinking about programming some of the auto industry’s best commercials into a segment. “People will watch those for hours,” he said.
