Tampa Boat Show Attendance Dips 6%

Exhibitors at the Progressive Tampa Boat Show were pleased with the number of buyers who came out in spite of an overall 6% attendance dip from the previous year.

This year’s show, which was held at the Tampa Convention Center from October 2 to 4 inclusive, attracted a total of 17,650 visitors. Exhibitors displayed more than 120 boats both in the water and inside the Tampa Convention Center, three of which – the Pursuit C 238, the Pursuit OS 355 and the Regal 230 OX – made their global debut at the event. The Regal 230 OX in particular drew crowds, as the company’s first outboard-powered boat.

“We sold bigger boats this year and saw high-quality traffic, making 11 solid deals and meeting many quality prospects to follow up with,” said Ron Reeves, from St. Petersburg, Florida-based Sea Hunt, Starcraft, Mercury and Yamaha dealer Pro Marine.

“The future looks bright again this year with all the new boater interest we saw at the show,” said Steve Wacker, president of St. Petersburg-based Sylvan, Monterey, Nautic Star dealer Thunder Marine.

The 2016 Progressive Tampa Boat Show is scheduled to be held at the Tampa Convention Center from September 9 to 11, inclusive.