Next year's move to the Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Center follows the impending closure of the Miami Beach Convention Center for a $600m renovation. The show's dates will be February 10-13, 2017.
The Miami Beach Convention Center has been home to the OMBAS - now the world's largest indoor antiques show and a mecca for the international jewellery trade - for 55 years, but the venue has long been earmarked for renovation.
The building is 58 years old and, built in an era when Miami Beach was a much sleepier resort town, lacks the space and modern features that the meeting industry now demands.
Government and tourism wants to attract the major conventions that would bring deep-pocketed corporates to Miami Beach. A separate project will build a hotel next door.
"Truck Parking"
Dan Darby, US Antique Shows' general manager, told ATG the planned renovations were not scheduled for completion until mid-2018. He is currently in discussion with the City of Miami Beach about possible dates for 2019 and beyond but believes the fair will prosper in the Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Centre - a convenient location less than 10 miles from Coral Gables.
"Compared to other facilities that we considered, the Fair Expo Center had many more benefits for our show, including four exhibition halls with multiple entry sites and 4500 parking spaces including truck parking."
Holding the fair a fortnight after its late January slot may necessitate some subtle changes to the industry calendar to avoid clashing with other Florida winter events and international jewellery auctions.
Darby says the mid-February weekend was "the available date at the Expo Center that best fitted the industry calendar." He adds: "It is my expectation that the show will be held in mid-February while it is at the Miami-Dade Fair-Expo Center."
This year's OMBAS will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center from January 28-February 1.
