Flood Delays Atlanta Boat Show Opening

ByJason Johnson

The Atlanta Boat Show got a late start on Thursday after a 100,000-gallon water tank ruptured at the Georgia World Congress Center.

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The floor in front of the GEICO Insurance/Miss GEICO booth was quite wet after an Indoor Wake Park tank burst at the Atlanta Boat Show. Photo by Reese Lewis

Gary Goodell, the marketing manager for the Miss GEICO offshore racing team, was on hand setting up for the GEICO Insurance booth and called it a “complete mess.”

“I heard something like 100,000 gallons of water was released from a wakeboard promotion display,” Goodell said. “It’s pretty much a disaster with a few inches of water everywhere, but they’re getting everything cleaned and we’re here making sure we’re ready for when the show opens.”

According to a statement issued by show management, the opening was delayed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., after the Indoor Wake Park—billed as the largest of its kind in the country—flooded the Hall C exhibit floor.

Fortunately no one was injured, although officials aren’t sure what caused one of the attraction’s two pools to rupture. The 200,000-gallon wake park, which was scheduled to be the site of many performances by professional riders, was closed until further notice, with no indication if it will re-open before the show ends on Sunday.

“Starting at 3 p.m., the show will open as planned, celebrating 50 years of bringing the best in boating to Atlanta,” Larry Berryman, the boat show manager, said in the statement.