The largest consumer auto show in the country will reopen its doors for a short period in July. Chicago mayor Laurie Lightfoot announced this week that the annual Chicago Auto Show will run from July 15-19, with a number of pandemic-related restrictions in place.
The show is held at McCormick Place just outside the city’s Loop district, and it has long been claimed to host the largest number of visitors of any auto show in the U.S. This year’s edition will be the first show held since the last show in February 2020 prior to any Coronavirus lockdowns in the U.S.
Organizers will implement a number of restrictions including mandatory face masks, no food or drink on the show floor, and encouraged movement between automaker stands. Additionally, organizers say that no on-site tickets will be available — they’re $13 in advance — and test track drives will be moved outdoors. Approximately 10,000 visitors will be allowed into the facility at any given time.
According to Motor Authority, organizers are exploring an outdoor component that would offer food and beverage options as well.
The car show isn’t the first to be held following the virus’ grip on the U.S. A scaled-down auto show was held in April in Atlanta, and the only major international show in over a year occurred about two weeks ago in Shanghai, China.
It’s not clear if automakers will hold any in-person debuts at the Chicago show. Typically, automakers have used major car shows to unveil new models to gathered media, though the Chicago event will not have a specific press-only day as it has in years past.
Still, the show will certainly be the first venue for car shoppers in the Midwest to see a wide variety of new cars under a single roof in over a year. Find a new car for sale
