A few months ago, I chatted about the big International Car Show (the IAA) that has been held in Frankfurt for decades at the Messe (trade-show buildings). Every two years, this was held, and it was one of the biggest car-shows).
Well, if you remember the bulk of my comments....a lot of disruptions occurred in this past show, and severe criticism mounted from various environmental groups. The IAA management folks made a blunt statement at the end of that show......that was probably going to be the last show in Frankfurt.
This week, the IAA folks are having presentations given at their offices in Frankfurt, and looking at the options for 2022.
The cities now competing? Frankfurt's crew has come in and given a big talk and hoping that the criticisms will be forgotten. But there's six additional cities now going for the show: Berlin, Koln, Hamburg, Hanover, Stuttgart and Munich.
Based on commentary around the city from five months ago, I'd say it's pretty much a 5-percent chance that the 2022 show will come back to Frankfurt, and it leaves a big gapping hole on the Messe profitability.
Hamburg? If you wanted even more anti-capitalist chatter, and environmentalists involved in criticizing the show.....that's the place to go. So you can forget about them.
I'd put both Hanover and Koln about a step behind Hamburg.
So this is mostly a run by Munich and Stuttgart? Yes. Both are in the heart of car-making regions, and you just won't find that many anti-capitalists in either city. I can vouch for the trade show building at Munich....top-notch and close to the subway system.
The Stuttgart Messe? To the south of Stuttgart (5 km from center of town). next to the airport (a plus there). You can pull right off A8 (the autobahn), and there's a premium upscale railway station there for people wanting to attend a show.
As for the downfall of Frankfurt? You can go and blame city leadership, various anti-capitalist groups, and general social media. That was 100-million Euro that flowed through the city over a month-long period of prep and 'execution'. Hotels were filled up and restaurants saw lots of traffic. Making up for the loss? People will still be chatting about this two decades into the future.....as Frankfurt lost something that it could not find anything to fill the 'gap'.
What happens next? If you follow HR....the IAA folks are supposed to whittle the choices down to three. I expect them to be Berlin, Munich, and Stuttgart.
UPDATE: (Thursday morning). Decision was made by the IAA....final three cities in the running are Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. Frankfurt is officially finished now, and will see 100-million Euro missing from city profits in 2021.
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