Conventions Flee Chicago
The trickle has become a torrent of convention business fleeing the city:
- A premier medical trade show is dropping Chicago for its 2012 gathering and heading to Las Vegas instead, citing the high cost of labor at McCormick Place, a source familiar with the decision told the Tribune.
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society meeting, which held its first show at McCormick Place in April, is a choice piece of business for the city. It draws 24,000 delegates and generates about $52 million in spending locally.
The annual show rotates between several cities, and 2012 had been the next time it was scheduled for Chicago.
So not only are they canceling, they're canceling three years in advance. And this is one of the good sized ones - smaller conventions have been gone for years now.
We saw a media piece just the other day - the cost for a 24-pack of Pepsi at McCormick Place? $100. That isn't a typo. They're charging conventioneers one-hundred-bucks for a case of soda you can get at Jewel for $7 on an off day. Tie that into the ridiculous work rules and sky high tax rates and it's amazing there are any shows still willing to come here. Vegas is reducing the cost of square footage at their convention centers just to get people into town and then raking in mountains of cash at the casinos and shows.
The wheels are coming off the city's economic engines, Shortshanks is fiddling and Chicago is burning.
We saw a media piece just the other day - the cost for a 24-pack of Pepsi at McCormick Place? $100. That isn't a typo. They're charging conventioneers one-hundred-bucks for a case of soda you can get at Jewel for $7 on an off day. Tie that into the ridiculous work rules and sky high tax rates and it's amazing there are any shows still willing to come here. Vegas is reducing the cost of square footage at their convention centers just to get people into town and then raking in mountains of cash at the casinos and shows.
The wheels are coming off the city's economic engines, Shortshanks is fiddling and Chicago is burning.
Labels: money questions
posted by SCC at 12:04 AM
59 Comments:
maybe they should look up the word ''capitalism''. it isnt in shanks or barry s playbook. flee or get fleeced!
Savini did a report tonight on the out of control costs at McPier. Costs 5X as much to do an electrical job here than is does to do the exact same job in Orlando at Mickey Mouse land. Amazing.
I have an idea mr mayor.... lets charge 20% sales tax to make up for the amount we are losing by charging 10.5%... you stupid fucks
Fuck Daley , Time to vote the prick out.
Da Mayo has never heard of Macro or Micro economics 101 and neither has anyone of his cronies hes hired to manage Chicagos money. There is plenty in the TIFFS. Lets use it since it was the tax payers money to begin with until Da Mayo is gone. After that hopefully the next Mayor will have taken some Econ classes. Its obvious that Da Mayo worked so hard on his law classes he had no time to take Econ 101.
The once proud Union town of his father's era is gone. Richie single-handedly decimated this city for his own personal gain.
What a pitiful legacy.
My favorite user comment from the Trib mentioned that 20 cases of product shipped via UPS from Hawaii to McCormick Place cost $830 but to move the same 20 cases from the McCormick Place dock to their booth 2000 feet away cost $1250.00. The price gouging that Chicago has inflicted on conventions has been going on forever and it's been painfully obvious to everyone but the unions and hacks that run the convention centers that reform is necessary. Just like the manpower issue with the police department the city will ignore the situation until it hits absolute rock bottom and then they'll claim ignorance on the subject and they'll probably just put Ron Huberman in charge of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
my god....
$38 for a dozen muffins?
http://www.mccormickplace.com/pdf/BanquetMenu_09.pdf
I can't believe this has come to fruitation earlier. This crap has been going on for years. The Mayor is full aware of all this shit. As long as money comes into his campaign fund and his political army(mob) continues to strong arm votes he doesn't give a shit.
We " The People" need to wake up. Term limits for every public office. NO benefits for serving your city, state or government as a politican. Give 100% benefits for family only while serving. We need to take back our system of government.
The prices they charge has nothing to do with labor, they charge astronomical rates for floor space, food, extra taxes on the downtown area etc, its not the unions fault, its plain greed. They should be cutting taxes, prices for floor space, like vegas and try to compete for a change instead of chasing them away with a sky-high tax rate and out of this world prices for floor spaces and food..
"Chicago is burning."
Yeah, just like the town was supposed to go up in flames this summer. Public servant as drama queen.
That's not the only BIG one. I spoke to relative a few weeks back that lives (oddly enough) in Vegas and he said his group that I won't mention, is also canceling a trade show in ChiTown for the same reason. Although he added, items of importance often disappear overnight, but only in Chicago.
tick tock tick tock.
"Chicago is burning."
Yeah, just like the town was supposed to go up in flames this summer. Public servant as drama queen.
-------------
Maybe you missed the aggravated battery with handgun statistics dickhead. Up double digit percentages, 11 or 12%. Or Chicago unemployment? 11% and climbing. Pension funds aboutto collapse statewide. Stop sucking off Daley and look around.
I would leave Shitcago for Las Vegas, too!
With the silly work rules they have over at McCormick place and else where in this town, then the shit weather, entertainment and corrupt politicians!
Las Vegas is just a way more better choice than even when the mob ran Las Vegas as compared to Shitcago!
Las Vegas has adult entertainment, gambling, better shows, better restaurants and just better things to do when not at the convention than Shitcago!
Las Vegas overall is just a much more fun place to be than SHitcago!
!00.00 for a case of Pepsi? Baahahaha!
Q: How many Teamsters does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Twenny-tree! You got a problem with dat?!
Build the Casino then they will come.
Obama tried to prop up the midget by telling corporations to not hold conventions in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Sags as Conventions Cancel
February 14, 2009
"President Obama told an audience in Elkhart, Ind., that companies “can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime.”
Now the Shanks's plan makes sense.
We don't need police if there are no people to protect.
Good suggestion Mike Masters , it's working
The father of a friend of mine went there for a pool convention and was approached by a teamster who said give me $200.00 to unload your truck. The father said, why should I do that, I'm already paying a huge amount of money for you to do that. The teamster said, thats true, but if you don't I will have your truck unloaded last and by that time the convention will already have started.
Chicago 'stagnant' on job growth, earns low marks in study
By Monée Fields-White
Nov. 11, 2009
(Crain's) — The Chicago metropolitan area ranks No. 148 out of 200 U.S. metro areas in an annual report on the nation’s “best performing” cities.
The Milken Institute index ranks cities on their ability to create and sustain jobs and measures employment, salary growth and technology output. Chicago’s low rating reflects a lack of growth in salary and wages, as well as a decline in employment, said Kevin Klowden, managing economist at the Santa Monica-based research firm.
“ ‘Stagnation’ is a good word” to describe the city, Mr. Klowden said. “The city has been stagnant for a few years. Chicago isn’t seeing massive, horrible layoffs as other metros, but if you combine the performance of the last five years with the job losses from this past year, the city isn’t doing very well.” Unemployment in metropolitan Chicago has hovered around a level not seen in 26 years. In September, the local jobless rate rose to 10.1%, up from 9.6% the prior month and 6.2% in September 2008, based on figures released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. This year’s peak was 11.3% in June, the highest since July 1983.
The obscene costs at the "McPier" are peanuts when compared to the
SUPER OBSCENE costs stolen from the public in city TAXES....and county , and state, and fed...
wake up!
vote out incumbents
MORE UNEMPLOYMENT FOR CHICAGOANS, THANKS OBAMA AND DALEY, YOU IDIOT TWINS.
It's Waaaay too late for Casinos, they are EVERYWHERE now. Why drive into Shitcago when there are so many NICE Casinos around to go to? A big Casino will only put Shitcago into even deeper debt. Just like the Olympic fiasco. Do you REALLY think some couple from Naperville is going to drive into the Killing Fields of Shitcago to go to a bullshit Shitcago Casino? HA-HA-HA-HA-HA
McCormick Place is and always has been the hiding place for the clout heavy and for those government offcials who attend the federal penetentiary and keep their mouth shut. They will get 100 grand jobs when they get out. Security is run by former mayor's body guards. A lot of theft at the shows, and nothing happens if a tradesman happens to get caught. Everything is way overcharged, and you are correct, city hall has been well aware of this for years.
Nice going mayor mummbles you fuckin dwarf idiot!
The prices they charge has nothing to do with labor, they charge astronomical rates for floor space, food, extra taxes on the downtown area etc, its not the unions fault, its plain greed. They should be cutting taxes, prices for floor space, like vegas and try to compete for a change instead of chasing them away with a sky-high tax rate and out of this world prices for floor spaces and food..
No Way! It has everything to do with the unions down there. They push those outrageous fees more than anyone. Those are all clout union jobs down there and the union, especially Dennis Gannon, and all the union associated with McCormick, The hotel Union, Liquor Union, Laborers, have been patronage hacks for Daley since day one. Unions in Chicago are part of the syndicate...
I am from Chicago but I am currently at a convention in Las Vegas. This is, in my opinion a much better place for shows and conventions than Chicago and they do not charge $100.00 to plug in an extension cord at your booth. Security is better with the public being allowed to conceal carry you do not see as much problems in that area. Chicago needs to change or it will be a ghost town. Not a cop
Watch an episode of the Sopranos that's the Daley/Outfit way of gouging @ McPutrid Place
Anonymous said...
The prices they charge has nothing to do with labor, they charge astronomical rates for floor space, food, extra taxes on the downtown area etc, its not the unions fault, its plain greed. They should be cutting taxes, prices for floor space, like vegas and try to compete for a change instead of chasing them away with a sky-high tax rate and out of this world prices for floor spaces and food..
11/12/2009 03:06:00 AM
Who are you bullshiting. If you have a booth at Mc. Place you can't run an extension cord with out an electrician.
A family member that lives out west put the kabash on his company's (he's a VP) yearly booth at a Chicago show. Several other companies in his field followed suit, all due to the high cost and restrictions. Not to mention the outrageious tax on everyhing in the city. And this was prior to toddlers tax increase.
DEEEE Troit here we come
Anonymous said...
My favorite user comment from the Trib mentioned that 20 cases of product shipped via UPS from Hawaii to McCormick Place cost $830 but to move the same 20 cases from the McCormick Place dock to their booth 2000 feet away cost $1250.00.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Bakery Fresh Cookies
Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin and Peanut Butter
$28.00 per dozen
Freshly Brewed Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee or Hot Tea
$47.25 per gallon
Minimum of 3 gallons per order
HOLY FVVVVVCK!
Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and Sierra Mist
Served with ice
$2.75 each
McCormick Place Banquet Menu 09
You GOT to see this!
Individual Half Pints of Milk
Whole, 2%, or Skim
$2.25 each
A **HALF PINT***?!?!?!?!
8oz for $2.25?!?!?!!!?
A **GALLON** cost $2 at the store.
lets do some math:
1 fluid gallon equals 128 fluid ounces
128 / 8 = 16 of McC servings
16 * $2.25 = $36!
A gallon of milk you can get at Walgreens cost $36 fvcking dollars at McCormick Place!!!!!
Everyone blames the mayor or the unions; both are right.
I don't need to explain the mayor's problem, we all know it too well. But he is enabled by the unions who back him and all his piece of shit progeny. The unions back every shit democRAT that shortfuck endorses. In return the unions get whatever they want. Didn't you ever wonder why teamsters make more than police or fire.
Gouging taxpayers and shoppers is the only play in the democRAT handbook, and lackey union workers run the plays like a pro.
Change comes from us. We work here, we live here, we pay taxes here, and as much as we like or dislike it, tourism fuels our city.
We need to vote these assholes out of office and support fiscally conservative candidates.
Lower taxes. Salaries commensurate with the job. Costs low enough to attract business owners, shoppers and tourists.
Of course everything is the exact opposite:
High taxes, outrageous salaries, high costs that drive out businesses, force shoppers to shop outside of the city and force tourists to go elsewhere.
Good job democRATs, we're well on our way to becoming detroit.
What do you expect in daleys shitcago,run by the most corrupt mayor in any city ever! John Gotti (RIP) looks like a piker compared to the daley criminal empire where is Patrick Fitzgerald when we need him? Did obama tell him to leave daley alone?
Anonymous said...
maybe they should look up the word ''capitalism''. it isnt in shanks or barry s playbook. flee or get fleeced!
11/12/2009 12:12:00 AM
_____________________________
Didn't you know capitalism is evil and the cause of all of our problems?
Just ask any liberal college professor or any student wearing a Che Guevara shirt. Socialism works, but only if it's done the right way. If Obamessiah just figures out how to get rid of those pesky conservatives and bypass the constitution we'll be ok.
Although he added, items of importance often disappear overnight, but only in Chicago.
11/12/2009 03:38:00 AM
You got it. The company I used to work for had to ship their giant 60" plasma TV there for a convention from our office near Hinsdale. (this is back when Plasmas were extraordinarily expensive). One year it came back with a giant crack in it, like someone had hit it with a hammer. Keep in mind it's in a huge box made out of plywood, trimmed with aluminum, double-locked, on casters with about 8" of foam surrounding it. We took it out of the box and it was smashed to hell. The following year, it disappeared. Never in Vegas, or NYC did this happen!
I'm sure the teamsters want to have a little talk with Richie.
Back in the early 90's I was involved in setup for a show there.
To place a 90 pound instrument on the counter, an instrument that I routinely loaded in and out of a vehicle by myself, required a supervisor, 2 riggers, and a two man fork lift crew. This does not include the "electrician" who had to plug it in!
I fart in their general direction..
Prices quoted do not include 21% service charge or tax....
LOL
I'm thinking the city unemployment rate should be muuuuch higher.
I live in Chicago - work at an association and set up conventions for a living. We will never meet at McCormick because of the costs. Aside from sky high rental rates and the $85k+ needed to have shuttle buses, the food & beverage is a killer. $38 for one dozen muffins doesn’t include the 21% service tax and the ever changing taxes which hover around 12% – so really its $51.50 FOR ONE DOZEN MUFFINS inclusive of the service charge and taxes.
One gallon of coffee at McCormick costs $64.03 inclusive of the service charge and taxes - BUT WAIT – there is a 3 gallon minimum! So if I only needed to serve 1 gallon of coffee to 10 Board members in a meeting room at McCormick its really going to cost me $192.10 FOR ONE GALLON OF COFFEE because of the 3 gallon minimum. And no, I can’t say ‘put one gallon in room 203 and one gallon in room 204’, etc. Here I will re-post the link to the banquet menus – the rules and regs are laughable compared to a lot of other centers. http://www.mccormickplace.com/pdf/BanquetMenu_09.pdf
Chicago is perceived as a first tier city, but it’s too expensive for associations.
Not CPD but a CPD sister, daughter, granddaughter, niece
It is called "extortion!" But mention it to a "spokesperson" for the city and they will nicely explain to all that this is the cost of doing business! $100 for a case of coke? $4+ a can? Can you imagine if we got the Olympics? Everyone's kid in the 11th ward would be going to Harvard!
"WE DONT NEED NO WATER LET THE MUTHA FUCKER BURN"!
The convention business has been in a downward spiral for decades. In large part to the trade unions that extort every dime they can.
I remember back in the days of Chicago-Fest. A vendor wanted to hang a drop-light from his stand. Took out his hammer, nailed the board up, put in a nail for the cord, plugged ind in the extension cord, hung the light and was in business.
Til the unions found out. He had to take everything down get a union carpenter to put up the board and nail. Then call in a union electrician to plug in the light. Total bill was close to $500 (1980 dollars)
In the early 1990's when the Consumer Electronics Show was at McCormack Place, Meigs Field was closed to non-transient traffic. There were so many corporate planes, from single-engine piston to top of the line exec jets parked all over that you could only land there if you left with 1 hour.
All that is now gone. Wonder why the city (and country ) are dying??
Thanks Richie.
Mayor Daley may be the DUMBEST business man in the history of Chicago! TAX TAX TAX is all he knows. His legacy will be known as the Great Taxer!!! Besides myself there are countless numbers of people that go outside chicago cook county to purchase products.
Chicago has done all it can to kill off the convention business. From the bizarre work rules, to the shutdown of Miegs, to the outrageous cost of doing or buying anything at the convention center.
What is amazing is that there is any convention business left at all.
And once those people leave, they are not coming back any time soon.
A few years ago a company I did some work with sent a team to a show in Chicago. One of the team members was all but attacked by the so called electricians there because he plugged his computer into an extension cord provided for that purpose. The rule supposedly was no one can make any kind of electrical connection except the union electricians and they claimed that even plugging in a computer was an electrical connection. The "electricians" shut off their power in retaliation when they complained to management about the treatment they received. They were completely without power for several hours during the middle of the busiest part of the show.
It's really simple. They have reached the point of diminished returns. In this "world class" city, how is it possible to drive conventions away to other cities? Answer: Get Richie D and his loyal cronies involved and they'll get it done. These are grown-ups acting like morons for heavens sake! Supposedly educated people! Dummycrats - go figure. This is a teachable moment. Over and out.
People from the conventions get robbed blind by the city, from their "service charges" and hotel and entertainment taxes to the price gouging by the food services and unions AND by thieves throughout the buildings.
Wallets, purses, laptops, supplies and cases of products disappear around the booths and loading docks all the time. Most of these cartage thefts and pickpocket incidents are never even investigated either, as "Security" takes reports, but DO NOT call in the CPD unless it is absolutely necessary. Unless the conventioneer actually calls the police themselves, no official record exists... No report, No crime problem!
>>>My favorite user comment from the Trib mentioned that 20 cases of product shipped via UPS from Hawaii to McCormick Place cost $830 but to move the same 20 cases from the McCormick Place dock to their booth 2000 feet away cost $1250.00.<<<
At McC's they are paying for a Teamster Union ROUND TRIP, so they are also paying for the stuff to be brought back to the dock in advance. That would only be $625.00 for 2000 feet one way, a real bargain. Never mind that the product will be passed out at the booth, see Jimmy Hoffa for any refunds.
I can't wait to retire!
I'm moving to Las Vegas along with the convention business!
This is just a stupidly run city! The worst is city hall and the second worst is the police dept.!
From a KMA member!
Anonymous said...
HOLY FVVVVVCK!
Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and Sierra Mist
Served with ice
$2.75 each
11/12/2009 10:21:00 AM
And the cup costs extra
Anonymous said...
McCormick Place Banquet Menu 09
You GOT to see this!
11/12/2009 10:22:00 AM
You would have to be out of your mind to hold your trade show or convention in Chicago.
I worked in the hotel business for over 10 years and saw the abuse against the trade people constantly. I'd like to point out a few other things most people don't know. Chicago's hotel tax is one of the highest in the country and so are their room rates, often higher than New York and San Francisco at peek periods. Even though the hotels were generating all this money for the city, the hotel union was paying the lowest wages in the country for its workers. Chicago's hotel union was so corrupt, the bosses, like Ed Hanley, a close friend of Daley and big time organizer, owned jets, several homes all over the country and filled the union with friends and allies. He was hired by mobsters in the 60's, who ran the union all the way into the eighties.
But here is something worth considering. These abuses have been going on for decades and every few years people claim it can't last and all the trade shows will leave. Well, it never really happened. Somehow the city has been able to replace many shows and get others to come back, despite the outrageous treatment. Maybe this time, in this economy things are different. I hope so, but this shit has been going on for years.
Keep up the good work, SCC.
Screw Chicago and almost 11 per cent when you can go to a casino in Indiana or Michigan and get gas cheaper, cigs cheaper, go to restaurants and do a little shopping also for a 6 per cent tax charge. Why would I want to give that shrimp an EXTRA 6 cents out of every single one of my hard earned dollars? SCREW DALEY! I'm heading east on I94.
Anonymous said...
I'm sure the teamsters want to have a little talk with Richie.
11/12/2009 11:55:00 AM
Take him out for a visit with James Riddle Hoffa.
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