NAIAS Attendance Down Again

Attendance was down for the fourth consecutive year at the North American International Auto Show, which concluded Sunday.

By Sunday, 705,226 people had attended the 2007 show during the time the show was open to the press, industry and public. Sunday's attendance of 88,647 was not enough to push the overall figure over last year's show, which drew 759,310 visitors. In 2003, the show broke records with 838,000 people.

Even though attendance was down slightly, the number of people who came to the auto show suggested that people still believe in Detroit's auto industry, said John Bonapace of Grosse Pointe Woods.

"People still have hope," said Bonapace, who works at Sun Microsystems. "People are always going to maintain hope. That's what Michigan is all about. As bleak as it is, tomorrow is another day."

The Detroit News

If they expanded Cobo or moved it somewhere else it might get more attendance. You're crammed in like sardines as it is now.

If they expanded Cobo or moved it somewhere else it might get more attendance. You're crammed in like sardines as it is now.

it would be nice if they had a larger venue out in the 'burbs close to the airport..that would be more convenient for out-of-town visitors and locals alike, I would think.

Who cares how many non-press/industry people went? Whatever the number it's a very small percentage of the buying public, and the Detroit buying public is relatively irrelevent anyway.

Is it possible that there are fewer enthusiasts in Detroit now than there were four years ago?

it would be nice if they had a larger venue out in the 'burbs close to the airport..that would be more convenient for out-of-town visitors and locals alike, I would think.

The new expo center up by Novi would be a good place.