About The Show

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ABOUT THE SHOW

Background - First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and has been held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent. This year marks the 102nd edition of the Chicago Auto Show.

Producer - The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), the nation's oldest and largest metropolitan dealer organization. The CATA has produced the show since 1935.

Dates

Day Date
Public Show Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 21
First Look for Charity Thursday, February 11, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Black tie. Tickets $225. The event benefits 18 Chicago-area charities.
Media Preview Wednesday and Thursday, February 10-11. Accredited media must register ahead of time in the online media center or on-site in the Media Center (room N426).


Location - McCormick Place, 2301 South Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60616.

The Chicago Auto Show utilizes 1.3 million square feet of the McCormick Place complex. McCormick Place offers a total of 2.7 million square feet of exhibit halls with an additional 700,000 square feet of meeting room availability.

Public Show Hours

  • February 12-20:  10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • February 21:  10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Box office closes one hour prior to the end of the show each day.

Admission

  • $11 for adults
  • $7 for seniors aged 62 and older
  • $7 for children 7-12
  • Free admission for children 6 and younger are free when they accompany a paying adult.
  • Weekday discount coupons ($4 off the regular adult admission) available at various area new-car dealers and Shell gas stations. Participating banks also mail the discount tickets to their account holders. 
  • School & group discounts available.

Advance ticket purchase will be available at www.DriveChicago.com starting in late November 2009.

Exhibits - The nation's largest auto show, held in the McCormick Place complex. Multiple world and North American introductions. Complete range of domestic and imported passenger cars and trucks; sport utility vehicles, experimental and concept cars. In total, nearly 1,000 different vehicles. Numerous accessories and auto-related exhibits, competition vehicles, project, antique and collector cars.

Special Days

Date Note
Tuesday, February 16 Women's Day. Women are admitted for $7. Manufacturers will present special women-oriented programs on the purchase and lease of cars and maintenance.
Wednesday, February 17
Thursday, February 18
Friday, February 19		 Chicago Auto Show Food Drive sponsored by Chrysler. Show patrons who bring three cans of food, donated to the Chicago Christian Industrial League; will receive a coupon for $7 admission.
Friday, February 19 Telemundo Hispanic Day. For more information, visit http://www.telemundochicago.com.


Appearances - Special appearances and Events are take place every day. Please check our Event Schedule for up-to-date listings.

Accessibility - McCormick Place is easily reached by car or public transportation. Extensive shuttle bus service from all area parking lots to and from McCormick Place.Weekend-only shuttle service from the Millennium Park and East Monroe underground garages. Shuttles stop in 10-15 minute intervals near Columbus/Upper and Lower Randolph and at Gate 3 at McCormick Place.

Scooter and Wheelchair rentals are available by contacting Scootaround's toll-free hotline at 1-888-441-7575. You can also submit a rental inquiry on the web at http://www.scootaround.com/rentals/c/chicagoautoshow, or by fax at (204) 478-1172. Scooter rentals are $50.00 a day and Wheelchair rentals are $15.00 a day. Scootaround is happy to accept VISA or MasterCard. Scootaround is located at Gate 4 of McCormick Place (west end of the Grand Concourse). While Scootaround will make every effort to accommodate all needs, you are encouraged to reserve in advance.