Conventions, Auto Show Returning to McCormick Place as Reopening Hopes Grow
The Chicago Auto Show returns to McCormick Place in July as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she hoped to have the city “fully open by July 4.”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says she’s hopeful the city can be “fully re-opened” by the July 4 holiday, but Governor JB Pritzker wasn’t quite willing to share Lightfoot’s optimism.
Announcing the return of the Chicago Auto Show in July and the restarting of conventions at the sprawling McCormick Place in Chicago, officials announced optimism that vaccines are helping get life back to normal.
Given the continuous downward trend of the COVID-19 numbers, the state of Illinois and City of Chicago have aligned on guidance for conventions returning later this summer. This news follows last week’s announcement of Expanded Phase 4 regulations and the City’s Bridge to Phase 5 of reopening. Chicago has made significant progress in reversing the rise in COVID-19 metrics that started in March and caused the City to pause the reopening plan. Since last week’s announcement, COVID-19 test positivity rate has continued to drop and is now under 5%.
“The trends are encouraging, but we must be cautious as we move forward,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “As more venues reopen, it is critical that we increase the number of people who are vaccinated. Immunity is how we stop transmission of this virus, but we need greater community immunity and that requires as many of us as possible getting vaccinated as soon as possible.”
“The summer of 2021 will look more like the summer of 2019 than the summer of 2020,” said Lightfoot, referring to an ongoing loosening of restrictions.
When asked, Governor JB Pritzker wouldn’t go as far as Lightfoot’s predictions for a summer free of restrictions.
“Well, I’m optimistic,” Pritzker said. “We’ve set metrics for moving forward into the Bridge Phase, and then to Phase 5. At least on the trajectory that we’re on now, it looks like we will be on a very similar timeline [as the city.] I want to make sure I emphasize that we can’t predict the future. This virus has proven to be very challenging. We always are on guard. We’re watching the numbers like a hawk, but I’m optimistic. I think things are going in the right direction.”
Quite possibly the state’s second largest convention site, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in suburban Rosemont, is likely to restart conventions this summer, too.
“The health and safety of our attendees is our highest priority,” said Convention Center Executive Director Chris Stephens. “We closely track and follow all best practices and guidance from the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health.”
Approximately 30 trade shows and public events are tentatively scheduled between July and the end of the year in Rosemont.