Miami International Boat Show Going Home

As part of the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s new partnership with Informa Markets, land-based exhibits for the Miami International Boat Show are returning to the completely redesigned and renovated Miami Beach Convention Center in South Beach starting in 2022. The move is a part of a three-event consolidation that will combine the Miami International Boat Show with the Miami Yacht Show and Superyacht Miami.

The news was announced this morning in a press release from the NMMA, which is based in Chicago.

The Miami International Boat Show returns to its former home in 2022. Photo courtesy/copyright Cigarette Racing Team.

The 2022 Miami International Boat Show is scheduled for February 16-20. In-water displays are returning to Sea Isle Marina across Biscayne Bay, as well as One Herald Plaza and Island Gardens Deep Harbour on Watson Island.

The show is departing its five-year home at Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key, which it turned to in 2016 when the convention center renovation project began. With just one causeway in and out of the historic venue, organizers faced attendee and exhibitor transportation issues every year.

“Our industry and organization are incredibly grateful to the City of Miami for providing a home for our show these last five years at the Miami Marine Stadium and Park,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, the president of NMMA, in the release. “We look forward to bringing this exciting new event to both Downtown Miami and Miami Beach.”

Early reaction to the announcement in the high-performance powerboat world was mixed.

“I think I like it,” said John Cosker, the founder and owner of Mystic Powerboats in DeLand, Fla. “Though move-out and move-in was easier, I was never a big fan of the in-water exhibit at Miami Marine Stadium. “The convention center is harder for move-in and move-out, but you can find everyone easily. As I said, I think I like it but the jury is still out for me, as it is with boat shows in general.”

Dan Kleitz, the national sales manager of Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats in Bristol, R.I., said that though he appreciated the Miami Marine Stadium for its easy demo access, the site logistics made it problematic.

“It’s a win for the boat show,” he said. “I think we lost a lot of potential buyers because getting to and from Miami Marine Stadium was such a cluster. I will miss the location for demo rides and I have to admit I’m not thrilled with Sea Isle Marina as an in-water location. With all the tide and current and no-wake zones and traffic, it can be a headache.”

Added Stu Jones, the president of the Florida Powerboat Club, “I am happy to see that NMMA and Informa are teaming up for a spectacular 2022 Miami Show. As always, the Florida Powerboat Club will follow up this event with our annual Miami Boat Show Poker Run. And I’m absolutely certain we will continue conducting our Key Largo Poker Run Village at the landmark Gilbert’s Resort.”

Miami International Boat Show Going Home

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