Chicago Auto Show Tops Million Mark Again

21 February 2000
Chicago Auto Show Tops Million Mark Again
    CHICAGO, Feb. 21  -- Despite a snow storm that struck the
Midwest on Friday, Feb. 18, the Chicago Auto Show closed Sunday night with
more than 1 million Midwesterners streaming through its turnstiles.
Attendance for the ten-day run of the nation's largest auto show totaled
1,148,869.
    "We couldn't be more pleased with the way this show continues to capture
the interest and imagination of Chicagoans," said Bill Stasek, chairman of the
92nd Chicago Auto Show.  "For nearly a century, this has been the city where
the industry shows its best to a product-hungry consumer base that's
unequalled anywhere.  The Chicago show sparks the spring selling season.  In
1999, more than 17 million units were sold.  We have to believe that the
interest will hold and result in yet another great year."
    "We also owe a big thank you to the City of Chicago and the McCormick
Place snow removal crews that cleared roads and parking lots with incredible
efficiency," continued Stasek.  "When they call Chicago 'The City That Works'
they mean it."
    "The automotive industry provided our showgoers with 16 world
introductions and a collection of almost fifty exciting new concept vehicles,"
commented show general manager Jerry Cizek.  "Almost 1,000 concept, passenger
car, truck and sport-ute vehicles were displayed in the continent's best
venue.  While McCormick Place is heavily booked with trade shows throughout
the year, our show is one of the very few that invites the public, and they
love it."
    The show's First Look for Charity preview garnered nearly $1.3 million for
12 local charities.  While helping to take care of those in need, Sherry
Misgen of Chicago enjoyed the black-tie event even more as her ticket was
chosen as the winner of a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban offered as a door prize by
Chevrolet and the Chicagoland Chevrolet dealers.
    The Chicago Christian Industrial League was the beneficiary of a three-day
food drive during the show.  Those bringing two cans of food for the hungry
were given a three dollar discount off full admission to the show.
    "An all-time record six tons of food were collected," said Cizek.  "To
kick start the program, Red Gold Tomatoes donated a ton of its products and
promotional support at area supermarkets.  It's heartening to see how much
people care about others.  We're proud to have programs like the food drive,
blood drive and 'First Look' to extend the incredible generosity that already
exists in our dealer-based Chicago Automobile Trade Association."
    Since 1935, the Chicago Auto Show has been produced by the Chicago
Automobile Trade Association (CATA).  The show is the largest and
longest-running automotive exposition in North America.  Annual new car sales
generated by CATA dealers exceed $16.5 billion.