The most important boat show for the performance boat industry, the Miami Boat Show, is moving forward with its new venue at the Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin at Virginia Key. The show dates are February 11-16. An overwhelming 87 percent of registered Miami-Dade County voters expressed their support for the show to continue its 74-year legacy in the community. Additionally, a decisive majority of surveyed voters — 51 percent versus 23 percent —favored moving the boat show from Miami Beach to Virginia Key, a move that has been prompted by major renovation work at the show’s longtime home, the Miami Beach Convention Center. Furthermore, when asked if they supported the move despite the Village of Key Biscayne’s widely-documented objections, poll respondents remained firm, supporting the move by a solid 46 percent to 31 percent.
The poll was conducted by Miami pollster Dario Moreno. He surveyed 800 registered voters across Miami-Dade County between December 2 and December 4, 2015, and was commissioned by a group of local businesses, marine industry advocates and labor groups whose employees and members depend in large part on the Miami International Boat Show for their success. The group includes: Captain Harry’s; Cigarette Racing; Contender Boats; Hopkins Carter Marine Supply & Fishing Tackle; Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) nonprofit trade association; SeaVee Boats; Sign, Display & Allied Trades Local Union 1175; and Teamsters Union Local 769.
Additionally, in early December, the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Village of Key Biscayne against the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) that attempted to block the Miami International Boat Show. For more information on the event, visit MiamiBoatShow.com.
