5-day Boat Show opens
More than 1,400 vessels of varying sizes, prices on display How to get there: There will be options, but they will cost you
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show — billed as the world’s largest in-water boat show — opened Wednesday, as seen through an Adler Yacht Suprema Hybrid.
Plenty of boats, sun and positive vibes marked the opening of the 58th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Wednesday as visitors ogled and toured the miles of glistening yachts, boats and water toys.
There was plenty of security, too, which was more pronounced than in past years with the addition of walk-through screening detectors and ID checks at the show’s Bahia Mar Yachting Center main entrance.
The ramped up security was planned before this week’s deadly terror attack in New York that killed at least eight people, boat show officials said.
“Security is on everyone’s minds,” said Phil Purcell, president and CEO of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, the Fort Lauderdale trade group that owns the show. “You’re seeing some stepped up things [and] there are things you don’t see. The whole thing is not to change the experience when you come into the show; it’s just to make it a seamless event and keep the attendees safe.”
Security has always been a hallmark of the show given the roughly $4 billion worth of boats, yachts and marine merchandise on display and hundreds of highnet-worth individuals from around the world who visit.
The event, considered the largest boat show in the world in terms of gross exhibitor space and number of vessels, has more than 1,400 boats of varying sizes and prices on display.
“You’re going to see a great array of boats that are built in the U.S. [and] around the world and they all bring them here for their debuts and for the commerce that happens here,” Purcell told the Sun Sentinel.
The show’s massive footprint totaling 3 million square feet of exhibition space extends across seven city locations, including the Pier 66 Marina, Sails Marina, Las Olas Municipal Marina, Hilton Fort Lau-
With an estimated 150,000 people from around the world attending the 58th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, how will you get there?
Traffic will be heaviest around State Road A1A between Southeast 17th Street and Sunrise Boulevard, and along Sunrise Boulevard from Northeast 20th Avenue to Bayview Drive, Mayor Jack Seiler warned.
More than 50 parking spaces disappeared when construction closed a city lot inside Las Olas Circle and South Birch Road.
Monty Lalwani, who owns Ocean Wine & Spirits across the street, said he expects show-goers to eye his lot, but he wants to keep it open for customers.
“With the city lot closed, we know there’s a shortage and we have about 20 [parking spaces] here,” he said. “We’re definitely expecting a lot of people to come out and ask us [to park here].”