NMMA buys New England Boat Show

Posted on December 16, 2009
Attention: open in a new window. Print

The National Marine Manufacturers Association today announced the acquisition of the New England Boat Show from North America Expositions Company as part of a larger strategic repositioning of its boat show portfolio.

See Related Articles

Specific terms of the sale were not disclosed.

The purchase of the New England Boat Show confirms the NMMA's belief in the long-term value of boat shows and its stance that shows in large, populated boating markets are most viable and will remain a successful and important part of the boating industry, the organization said in its release.

"The New England Boat Show is the dominant boating event in the region and presents enormous opportunities to bring qualified customers and sales to participating companies through NMMA's wealth of marketing resources," said Thom Dammrich, president of NMMA, in a statement.

NMMA will continue the longstanding partnership between the show and the Massachusetts Marine Trade Association.

The New England Boat Show, now in its 54th year, will run Feb. 20-28 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, and will continue to be directed by longtime show manager Joe O'Neal. O'Neal has been with North American Expositions Company for 29 years and has managed the show for 25 years.

With its most recent purchase, NMMA now owns and produces 20 consumer boat shows annually throughout North America.

Comments
12 December, 21 2009, 07:27 PM
By Richard D. Buchanan
I was interested in Larry Russo Sr.'s comments.  He certainly counts as a local dealer, albeit a large and successful one.  I used to do many boat shows, back the old Can Am Sailcraft days (early to mid 1980s).  I am sure things have changed a great deal.   Now I drive many IT and high tech conferences and show efforts, albeit as a technology analyst and manager, not a conference professional.  I think the boat show community ( I own a yacht and attend every boat show I can) could learn a lot from the IT community about conferences and product shows.  For one thing the complexity of boating is exploding, just as in IT and there is a need for more sophisticated market research and market segmentation efforts to create boat shows that are more than just elaborate 3 D displays of boats you can see on the WEB.  Also, boat show managers need to understand that knowledge transfer to the boating public (via seminars and better education sessions) is key to developing a confident and more engaged buying public.  I don't have any idea if the management of the New England Boat show and te NMMA is open to hear ideas like this, but my instincts tell me that some fresh ideas are needed and that there have been too many boat show veterans breathing their own exhaust over the years.  Certainly their experience is necessary, but an entirely fresh look at the role of boat shows is now required. 
11 December, 17 2009, 09:26 PM
By Jim Jones

Interesting opinions. Anyone who really believes the NMMA is going to step in suddenly and rescue this show should take another sip of that Kool aid they are serving. Innovative? Change with the times?! The consumers buing habits have been changing for years with very little having been done by the shows to address it. What makes you think they will all of a sudden rise to the occasion?


Oh wait.... I was wrong. We can look forward to the Pirate Exhibits to save the day. Great forward thinking there. As another reader commented, the NMMA is in it for the NMMA. They didn't buy this to save anything. I am sure they got it for a song and will continue to run it just like it has been with higher rates coming.

10 December, 17 2009, 06:53 AM
By Nathan Gottlieb/All Seasons Marine

Good Luck


Look what has happened to the NY and Norwalk Show.  I hope they have better luck in Boston

9 December, 16 2009, 10:55 PM
By gordy mckelvey
NMMA is only concerned about NMMA. Grow Boating was nothing more than a conspricy with the boat and motor manufactueres to extort money from the dealers and the boating public. I've been boating all my life in a hotbed for boating and I can promise you other than people in the industry, nobody knows about Grow Boating. NMMA Boat Shows aren't much better. Outrageous floor costs, and no real assistance from the the traveling show managers. They show up with their walkie talkies and hire local security people that don't know squat about setting up a show. All these clowns do is get in the way and cause the dealers severe headaches trying to move in and move out. In addition to the logistical headaches a lot of floor space is sold to vendors that travel with the shows. This type of practice eliminates a lot of local dealers from showing because there is no floor space to exhibit in. Thirty something years in the marine business and I really can't think of one positive thing NMMA has ever done for the local dealers.
8 December, 16 2009, 02:42 PM
By skeptic
NMMA has not proven to be much more successful than the U.S. government...case in point Grow Boating...
7 December, 16 2009, 02:32 PM
By dissapointed

We will see how much this actually "changes" to actually benefit the Dealers going forward. I am less optimistc than some people here. How about a get together of ALL the participating dealers in that show to see what THEY really want to see going forward out of this show? Duration (9 days is ridiculous and creates no sense of urgency), calendar dates, etc.... After all, there are a lot of people within the NE dealer network that may not be letting thier ideas be heard over those larger dealers which are driving the bus in the direction they want to go, as opposed to what may actaully be best for the industry.


While shows are certainly important to showcase new model product customers haven't seen yet, and create some sales, the current same old, same old structure is NOT working anymore. We need to change how we display to be more efficient. Most dealers I know simply bring an already (or almost) closed prospect to a boat show to write a deal for the factory promo money, when, in reality that customer could have/ should have been closed at the dealership and never put into that shark tank environment where anything can happen. At the end of the day, how many NEW sales do you see these days aout of the show that you can TRULY attribute to the show itself vs. pumped up figures. I'll bet it isn't as high as you think.

6 December, 16 2009, 01:53 PM
By Larry Russo, Sr.

NMMA's purchase of the New England Boat Show now forms a strategic alliance between two industry associations; NMMA and the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association. The former show owner, a private promoter, is out of the financial picture. Now all of the dollars generated by this show remain within the marine industry for the benefit of both manufacturers and retailers. This must be viewed as a win-win. NMMA not only came to the rescue of a failing show, we can now build new and innovative platforms to address the changing trends of shows in the coming years. This will not be business as usual. Thom Dammrich's vision is to create more industry association partnerships like this one. Perhaps this will be the model.

5 December, 16 2009, 01:39 PM
By charlie
Why not just buy all the boat shows?  Why is that one any better than any other that is in trouble.  Or is it just that the dealers in that area are more special?  Where has the NMMA been on helping the boat dealers get fed money like the cars?
4 December, 16 2009, 01:25 PM
By 289 cobra1
I am dissapointed hear that NMMA has aquired another boat show. The NMMA has raised the cost of all their shows to the point the return to investment is not there. This move by NMMA puts another nail in the Boat Show coffin.
3 December, 16 2009, 11:53 AM
By dissapointed

Too bad. There go the rates. What is it about New Englanders that are unwilling to change with the times. To keep this a 9 day show is questionable at best. 4-5 days creates more demand and is all that is necessary for any show these days. Not sure what NMMA is thinking here, trend is to shorten (create urgency) and shrink the show size to mainly show new product. Maybe they have a plan. I hope so.

2 December, 16 2009, 11:28 AM
By What???

What is the NMMA thinking? Buying a boatshow in thse times. As a long time member of the NMMA I'm shocked that the NMMA would say that 50% of all shows must go and then go buy another boat show. For the passes year they have been crying poor and not putting there efforts into what is really needed, A MARINE INDUSTRY RECOVERY. Acquiring another boat show is not the step to recovery. Are the changing there name to the National Marine Industry Boat Show producer.


I'm done with the NMMA. Did the board approve this move or was it the so-called leader that move.  We will not be renewing our membership!

1 December, 16 2009, 11:16 AM
By Chelso Arrigoni / Arrigoni Design
Please consider running the New England Boat Show, your latest acquisition , on a FIVE DAY schedule as you have done with the NY Show. - Better for everyone!!

Add your comment

Your name: Required, screen names acceptable
Your email: Required, will not be published

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments Policy.:
  The word for verification. Lowercase letters only with no spaces.
Word verification:
yvComment v.1.21.1

Most Popular