The coronavirus crisis is causing lasting disruption to trade fairs around the world. Numerous events have been postponed and now have to be accommodated in the already packed 2021 trade fair calendar. A Herculean planning task that requires a special degree of flexibility from all players. To avoid scheduling conflicts at the Stuttgart trade fair grounds, Retro Classics Stuttgart is therefore switching to an alternative date: The 21st edition of the world's largest trade fair for driving culture will not take place from March 18 to 21, 2021, as previously planned, but will move forward to February 5 to 7.
The season will therefore start a few weeks earlier for all fans, dealers and collectors of classic cars. The trade fair will also only last three days instead of four. And it takes place at the same time as the Rétromobile Paris, which was probably unavoidable.
No alternative
Andreas Herrmann, Managing Director of RETRO Messen GmbH, sees the postponement as an "unavoidable constraint" that should be dealt with as calmly and professionally as possible: "As organizers, we are all in the same boat, so we want to make the best of the given situation and do our part to ensure that normal trade fair operations are restored soon. In order to do justice to all interests, we literally have to move a little closer together. This is the only way we can minimize the economic and organizational damage caused by the coronavirus crisis."
A good signal
Ultimately, there is even a positive side to the whole thing, says Herrmann: "As the 2020 season has largely fallen through, the scene is looking forward to next year all the more and is looking forward to bringing it forward." What's more, experience with an early date has already been good. For example, the RetroClassics anniversary edition in February this year was a success despite the onset of the pandemic, as confirmed by numerous positive responses from exhibitors and visitors.
In order to be able to react optimally to the dynamic health situation, the aim is to continue "the good, objective cooperation with the responsible authorities" in the coming year. First and foremost, however, it is important at this time to send a "clear signal" to exhibitors and visitors: "Retro Classics was the last major trade fair in Stuttgart this year before the shutdown - and it will open the driving culture season again in 2021!"
Further information can be found on the Retro Classics website.
