Title Fight: Javits vs. McCormick

We exhibit at many trade shows throughout the year. It’s always been a great way to demonstrate our Smart System to prospective customers, mingle with industry partners and get feedback from current customers on our developing technologies. This year Chicago will host not one but three big industry shows: ASCRS, AOA and AAO (Ophthalmology).

As we head to NYC this week for International Vision Expo East, I thought I’d throw these two huge convention centers in the ring together and see how they shake down.

Jacob K. Javits (right) and Robert R. McCormick (left)

In this corner, we have The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Begun in 1980 and finished in 1986, it was named for United States Senator Jacob K. Javits, who died that year. It replaced the New York Coliseum as the city’s major convention facility. Renovations to the original facility began in 2009 are still underway, with a projected completion date of 2013. An expansion was completed in 2010 with the addition of the North Hall.

• 410,000 sq. ft. Upper Exhibition Hall

• 250,000 sq. ft. Lower Exhibition Hall

• 100,000 sq. ft. Special Events Hall (seating capacity 3,800); Meeting Rooms:102

• 63,000 sq. ft. Cafeteria/Restaurant/Lounge; 75,000 sq. ft. Concourse

• 65,000 sq. ft. Crystal Palace, 15-story Ceiling

• 60,000 sq. ft. Galleria

• 24,300 sq. ft. River Pavilion

• 50 loading docks on two levels

• 1.1-acre public plaza with water walls and pedestrian link under 11th Avenue

• 60,000 s/f surface parking for 140 cars

• Attracts about 3 million visitors each year

And in this corner, we have McCormick Place in Chicago. It was named after Robert R. McCormick, the famous publisher of the Chicago Tribune and prominent member of the wealthy, philanthropic McCormick family. He championed the project for a lakeside convention center as early as 1927. In 1958, ground was broken for the $35 million facility that opened in November 1960. After a spectacular fire in 1967 (more on that at a later date) the center was rebuilt at the same location and re-opened in 1971. Three more
buildings were added to the complex in 1986, 1997 and 2007.

• 2.6 million sq. ft. of exhibit halls

• 1.3 million square feet all on one level

• 170 meeting rooms

• 600,000 square feet of meeting room space

• 6 ballrooms, 2 of which are the largest in the city

• Assembly seating for 18,000 people

• 4,249 seat theater (Arie Crown)

• 3 theaters seating 300 each

• Ceiling heights up to 50 feet

• Easy access to 5,800 parking spaces

• Attracts about 3 million visitors each year

Being born and raised in the Windy City, I will fully admit that I am not an impartial judge here. And the Javits has not reached it’s full fighting weight yet. Perhaps we’ll schedule a rematch in 2013. Stay tuned!

**** Please stop by our booth, #6716, at Vision Expo East and tell us who you’re rooting for. Instant rebate of $200 for purchases at the show, March 23-25.****

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