Death Rattle
Welcome to the new "normal":
- The 'Auto Show' shows how far we have fallen. 1/2 a hall instead of 2 floors in the olden days. Lexus, Acura, Mercedes, Rover and other high end brands not there. Factory rep I talked to who has worked the show for over 10 years says they have never seen anything like it!
The unions pretty much killed the McCormick Place convention business, helped along by the political class with hotel taxes, entertainment taxes, restaurant taxes, rental taxes and taxes on just about everything in sight.
At this point, any casino draw is pretty much a fantasy, more like a bandaid.
Labels: money questions
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
97 Comments:
Time for a bake sale. Maybe auction off some of those gifts in the fifth floor City Hall closet.
I went every year in my late teens and early twenties. Used to park on Prairie Street for free and walked over. Paying the high parking just to look at cars I won’t be buying just isn’t interesting anymore. Chicago used to be so chic but now it has lost it’s luster. Too many lunatics running the show. RIP
Why in the world is the place full of grammar school gets, shouldn't they be in school? No, they are running around the auto show jumping around the cars, getting in people's way, and just making a lot of noise. High ticket prices with the added hidden fees, the Chicago touch.
Not exactly true. The unions aren’t the sole reason at all. They did have some crazy rules back in the day, like needing an electrician to plug in a coffee pot, etc, a decorator to put on table clothes, but that ended years ago. What didn’t end is what the hall charged for floor space, and what the exhibiting company running the show charges. Couple that with the out of control food and beverage prices, as well as the tax upon tax you already mentioned and you have the perfect storm. The unions made a bunch of concessions on crew sizes and hours at the request of the exhibition companies to be more competitive with other cities vying for the same shows.
HAHAHAHAaaa
Chicago is just one big shit show that is coming to an end. Most rather ignore what’s happening.
The comment about the unions is absolutely 100 % correct, they were even worse than any other venue.
Auto show was like that last year too. It used to be huge on both sides of the hall. Last year only one half was there and many brands were missing. It was really disappointing. That’s why we didn’t bother coming this year. I also didn’t really see any advertising for it on social media or local news for that matter.
Not surprised!
I rather go to Las Vegas for any convention, casino and overall entertainment than Chicago!
Too many Taxes! That is saying something when compared to Las Vegas hotels!
I went to the auto show with my father and his friends in the 50s & 60s and then with my friends in the 70s & 80s. It was enjoyable. I went there about 20 years ago and you couldn't even get into the cars because the rug rats who were too young to even own a car just were all over the cars. Would never go back. Overpriced tickets for an experience that sucked!
Sad. That's always been a fav show. However, the cost to park is too high. Plus, too easy for feral festivals.
The boat show left mcmoney place a few years ago.
Bummer, I was looking to go to the auto show this year but i guess not
Don’t forget the crime, and roaming savages!
I thought I remembered a rumor some years ago that a case of Pepsi cost about a hundred bucks for conventions at McCormick.
Don’t forget all the aftermarket vendors
The Auto Show was an annual event with my dad. Walk around for hours and looked at the shiny new cars but could never afford to own one. Looked at the pretty models, took all the booklets and read them cover to cover. Great memories for sure!
With the prevalence of online gambling, the whole Casino ship has sailed I'm afraid !
Auto show?
Who the hell still goes to the auto show?
A friend made some $erious upgrades to his house from The Home Show leftovers, on the cheap.
NOT STOLEN, he is a union contractor. On the last day of the show, it costs big bucks to pay for the removal of displays. He sends a truck and union laborers to carry out and load the truck.
He purchased a working sauna super cheap but had to remove a wall to get it in his house.
Hand-hammered bronze sinks, heated towel bars, a wine cooler...
The stories the vendors told of theft from displays were wild. Locked displays were forced open
IIRC you had to pay for an electrician to run an extension cord $$$...
yep I went to the show about 8 or 10 years ago and asked where the other half of the cars were,,, they said, nope, that's it,
Did a trade show once. You couldn't even plug a laptop in, a licensed electrician had to do it for you...
Big white elephant
I never understood the appeal of this event anyway. Why pay to wander around a crowded room full of cars that aren’t for sale?
And these days every model from every maker… they all look alike. No one has any style. All designs derived from the same wind tunnel fuel efficiency tests.
They are about 30 years late with that casino. For years people went to Hammond or Elgin to gamble. Now the market is saturated and you can gamble anywhere.
“ Death Rattle “, couldn’t have said it better.
You forgot tax to heat the joint.
Vegas, Orlando, Nashville ...
Back in the day, didn't the auto dealerships give out free tickets to the Auto Show?
Look at Rosemont. They have a different show every weekend. Close to the airport, Rivers Casino, cannabis dispensary, Outlet mall, great restaurants, expressway access, lower crime. Have you ever been to the south loop or Bronzeville at night. Not where I want to be if I was from out of town for a convention.
"any casino draw is pretty much a fantasy" When you can play online in the safety of your own home, why go and lose in the loop? Lost Wages, er, Las Vegas is finding this out.
those grammer school kids are cps students who recieved free tickets thanks to conehead teeeee heeeee
Why put an $85,000 car on display so it can be ruined by people who can never afford it? Stolen knobs, buttons, spilled drinks inside, greasy steering wheel. The car manufacturers got smart that it was just a big waste of time and was not helping their sales.
The unions HAVE made significant concessions to remain competitive with other major convention cities like Las Vegas and Orlando. I would place more blame on the high taxes, on top of the added McPier Tax, on restaurants, hotels, etc. Oh, and the crime. Who the hell wants to risk getting carjacked while visiting the city that the politicians have run to the ground? Tax, tax, and more tax.
It was cheaper to sell the display, then to pack it back.So sell it at a bargain and report it stolen for the insurance.
The camper show was at Rosemont and you didn't have to look over your shoulder every minute of so, however went to the entertainment district and found the only people talking loudly and being what I consider rude, any guesses on who. Stay out of the candy store.
I go to the one in Rosemont.
Come on dude the unions have been fleecing trade shows for years so they can line the democrats pockets it’s all a big shell game
There isn’t as much fascination about cars nowadays, too expensive, too many look-alikes, too much gadgetry in them, too much cost to park, buy a soda, entrance fees, and purveyors spending too much just to show their wares, between exhibit space cost, and set-up costs, with minimal return.
I have a family member that works for foreign companies and organizes their trade shows around the country. They will tell you stories of how difficult and expensive Chicago is for trade shows vs. other cities. Then add into the mix the cost of hotels and transportation and the fear of crime ( real or unreal). Vegas is getting much of the business along with Orlando.
If the city just started paying reparations everything would come back to the way it used to be.
Had a few cars in the world of wheels years back. The cost for access to a single electrical outlet was absurd. This was in addition to cost to enter the show. Never again.
"Licensed" HAHAHA None of those schlubs working there could pass a licensing test.
And don’t forget all the lunatics on the street that you might get bit by don’t feel like being turned into a zombie that they’re paying all those fees
Q: What is the definition of union, specifically relevant to the employment of those by private business?
A: What is the definion of union, specifically relevant to the employment of those by public, aka, government busyness?
A:
Hint: Source of funding.
Q:
We can thank demonrats and Obozo for socializing the automotive industry and bogging it down with all sorts of mandates. The leftists then tried to kill internal combustion powered vehicles and ram electric vehicles down everyone’s throats. Shame on the automotive industry for acquiescing and accepting the government welfare.
They produce vehicles nobody wants. I hope the new cars sitting on the lots rust away, serves the auto industry right for forsaking capitalism and embracing socialism.
Auto Show. Seriously. What autos? The only CAR Ford continues to make is the Mustang (mostly because of Trunp). Chevy? Auto? The only car they make is the Corvette. Real practical car, hey. Cheap too. Chrysler quit making the Charger after, what was it, 20 years. Not counting the Tesla because it has a motor nstead of an engine. Why have an American Auto Show where the only autos you can buy in this country is Toyota, Honda, Kia, etc.......... In the U.S. the only practical cars you can buy are made by foreign companies. Sadly, this morning, I don't think I've had enough caffeine.
Went to Las Vegas a couple of years ago for an anniversary. Stayed at the Westgate (the old Elvis Hilton) which is adjacent to the Convention Center. The Convention Center was busy with a software convention and the Westgate was hosting over a thousand people for the, get this, World Series of Beer Pong. The hotel was packed. Won money, had a blast. Chicago loses all around.
I went to the show yesterday. Haven't been there since 2020. Very disappointing.
Why go see what you can't afford?
Yep. We would spend all day both days there.
Exactly. Same body shape, same colors, same nonsense.
That's the biggest reason not to go.
the short dresses and your getting fitness done by walking , and out of the house something you don’t know probably
No one goes anymore thus you don’t need such a large area. Just like the boat show is gone auto show will be next.
Levy Brothers! And they're still scamming at the UC and Soldier Field.
"The Unions!" That is a tired, old trope.
Concessions were made.
It is the hedge funds reeking havoc in the industries, along with the exhibition companies appetite. Food and drink sucks, and cost far too much.
It's not the labor. It could not be done without it.
Vegas prices are higher than Chicago. It is not the destination of 20 years ago. Plus, they have more zombies than Chicago.
Last went to the car show about 20 years ago with some friends who had tickets - driving down in traffic, parking, schlepping to the hall, running the gauntlet with the non-demonized ultra-polite yutfs, schlepp back to the car, drive back... The whole thing was a PITA - zero fun at all. NEVER went back - not even if I was invited to the Dealers Only days...
Dealt with some trade shows there - crazy expensive for everything, unions, etc. Trade show girls wanted more to cover their costs. Taxes up the wazoo on everything (hotel rooms, food, transportation, etc). Getting your booth setup was a PITA.
Compare and contrast with ANYWHERE else besides Chiraq/Hellinois: Lower costs, less friction for the whole process - everything just seemed to work so you'd come back again and again and again instead of feeling like you were there to be fleeced at every step of the way.
Chicago's killed the goose that laid that golden egg. Oh well... Democrats.
Rosemont doesn't support our pension.
if you want a better rate for your trade show, just use venecko enterprise
sincerely:
R. Daley
What’s that saying?
Those that don’t learn history are bound to repeat it… or something like that.
What was one of the downfalls of the once great city, Detroit?
Wasn’t it one of the Unions?
What does weed have to do with it?? Who you entertaining there?
You're correct- to an extent. The unions did give concessions, and the show service providers took up some of that exorbitant (or extortionate) revenue, but Chicago is still one of the most expensive cities to hold a trade show. I say this both as a member of one of those unions and a businessman having to pay outrageous fees to show my wares to potential buyers.
One example: Drayage, the cost of moving freight the loading dock of the venue to your booth space, always exceeds the cost of shipping by truck from anywhere in the US to the venue loading dock. That's partly Teamsters but mostly the service companies.
Another: I had a box of lit send to the venue instead of the hotel (a block away) because the venue had a rule that NOTHING could be brought in the front doors if it required even one wheel for transport. I didn't feel like carrying a fifty-pound carton of paper in so...the (ahem) free-people service company charged me THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS just to receive the package from UPS. It would have cost another FIVE HUNDRED
Five Hundred to have it brought to the booth! Fuck them!
Too true, my Brother! Union rules and rates used to be insane, but not so much anymore. The Exhibition Companies charge extortionate rates and many, many companies in my industry are saying "get stuffed" to trade shows...we'll spend our marketing dollars online and in direct-to-customer efforts.
And Ford just made their last Escape. #1 seller for Ford. To be replaced by 2 electric vehicles that nobody wants!!!!
https://headlight.news/2025/08/27/heres-what-will-replace-ford-escape-and-lincoln-corsair/
I've bought Ford since FOREVER.
Bought my first Hyundai!
most of the hood residents went to the southside and saw the "how to steal an auto show"
100%
Remember the Chicago Boat and Water show at McCormick Place.. always in Jan .. Now out in suburbs
Unions have murdered the convention industry in Chicago. A case of water, ice, soda and everting else are 100 a case. Need ironworkers to set up small displays made of aluminum, electricians just to run extension cords and set up light sets. Teamsters to drive the cars, carpenters to set up tables, 399 to move plants, signs and decorations around. It’s a racket and the amount of money and BS the unions come up with to make a convention move forward is garbage. Chicago union workers suck. Premadonnas who take 12hrs to do a 2 hr job and rape the taxpayers.
Years ago, back when people were normal, and it was relatively safe to go downtown, it was a chance to get out of the house in the dead of winter, a remedy for cabin fever. In the 60’s & 70’s, cars were a bigger part of the culture and people liked to see what changes were coming in the various makes. Now with electric cars, scooters, people using Lyft ride shares, the younger generations don’t seem to be into autos, and look at it as just transportation. The internet makes it easier to research cars consumers would be interested in. People don’t even have to leave the house now and risk getting robbed by the demonized segment of society just to look at the new models.
Because in years past people were more respectful of others property, now there are too many me first a-holes.
Ford also has Lincoln. Chevy, GMC has trucks…
It's the electricians union that made it so you couldn't plug in your coffee maker or change a light bulb.
I wanted to slap the shit out of them. Me and a friend was sitting at Connie's Pizza when this gang of female blacks just gangster are table, no sorry from their "adult" handlers non what so ever. I see they teach good in CPS.
Hang by those Dodge Dorengo and see how many criminal or thugs are there.
Thanks for the memories
Brought all the brochures home and read them over and over. The models were gorgeous and remember getting sport’s stars autographs
Oh well
Roseland and englewood were once nice places to live
The Gangsters used put all the suspended pending Deputies who were good supporters to work there holding up brooms. I remember a story about a deputy going to the hall asking for work @ Mc. but they weren’t sent by nobody, so they were told there was no work. Deputy goes home sees the neighbor and gives the neighbor the low down, wrongly suspended, gangster hall says no work @ Mc. Neighbor shakes their head and walks away. An hour later deputies phone is ringing off the hook unknown number caller high ranking hall member begging deputy to Help @ Mc. Turns out neighbor was head of a big union too and made a discrete call. Tell me again how the unions didn’t kill the goose?
Cutting from a 100% charge to a 75% charge over your competitor cities is not a concession.
Illinois needs to become a "Right to Work" State in order to save the conventions!
TOO LATE IN THE GAME!
Saw a segment on TV Place looked empty. Remember the old days when it was packed
They are all union, licensed electricians.
The same unions work the Rosemont convention center, with the same rules. It’s not the unions anymore. In Rosemont, parking is cheap, food is reasonable, and crime is low. There is no Chicago style taxing going on gauging on rooms, food, show tickets, etc.
Mick Belker Says:
It’s on TV, why go into Covid Town, Chiraq for any reason? Who needs the high cost, hassle and aggravation, not to mention the risk of Lead Poisoning….?
This has been a problem for decades, only getting worse
Rosemont has the Hoe- show aka, porno convention once a year, gambling and weed..why bother to go to Chicago to get carjacked, shot and murdered?
In 1995, Burkes pleaded guilty to two counts of felony-murder and was sentenced to 37 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), according to Cook County court records. He was 15 years old at the time of his arrest on April 7, 1994, in connection with the case on Chicago’s Far South Side.
Records dating back to the time of the crime were not immediately available with specifics, including information on the victim, how they died, or Burkes’ role in their death. He was listed in court records as a co-defendant in the case.
I want to know how do you get the detail to work the show? Same officers from 9am till 10pm everyday. 6th and 7th workday, seems they are like the electricians when it comes to making that union money. Don’t forget about the K9’s working doubles everyday! Speaking of K9s when is the next test, have they taken anyone off this current list.
Meh, no need to go to a show to look at mediocre transportation options. Auto industry has been a snooze since the rise of the SUV and EV.
In through the out doors right on the sidewalk for free at The Amphitheater ~ 55-60 years ago. Now Ogden Ave from 294 to 355 any Sunday, with all the brands.
Well done my friend.
With the internet wtf would anyone want to stand in lines or pay for all the bs to see the same thing you can see on the internet... its not like you can test drive them at the auto show.
Wtf would I risk my life going into the heart of chicago crime "invested" neighborhoods. It so bad this year they had to have the lowrider community help by showing their cars ..
surcharge for visitors taking uber. corrupt fkn city tax tax tax
if the auto show ever stops coming to Chicago the democRATic politicians will call them,,,,,,,,, RACIST! I know, not a surprise
Yessiree, the UAW pushed the automakers to go south - over the border into Mexico - to do the majority of their manufacturing. The "made is USA" label is tacked onto products that are assembled in some US city, but the parts are fabricated in Mexico and China.
Demoratts really know how to build and attract business.......
Hey kid, life is faster in a Lotus, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, Corvette, Jaguar, etc. Coppers always got in free and park secure beneath the overpass. Enjoy what’s left of the show. What’s not to like?
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