Promoter pleased with turnout for unprecedented eclectic lineup
The 35th annual Jacksonville International Auto Show is in the books and Lowell Briggs is already looking ahead to 2022.
“Overall, the event was a giant success,’’ said Briggs, director of marketing and public relations for Paragon Group, the Needham, Massachusetts-based full-service event producer that has put on the annual event for the Jacksonville Automobile Dealers Association since 1999.
“The First Coast has always embraced the show, and this year, in light of the pandemic, a later date, and some perfect beach days, the Jacksonville Auto Show still thrived,’’ he said of the three-day event that ended Sunday. “We can’t wait to be back next February!’’
The show was pushed back from its traditional mid-February date because of the ongoing pandemic. But the delay didn’t affect the Jacksonville-area’s interest in shopping for news cars — representing more than 20 lines — in one location at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
Paragon doesn’t announce attendance figures, but Briggs was hoping this year’s turnout would be about 80 percent of last year’s pre-pandemic event.
“The amount of support we’ve received from the Jacksonville Automobile Dealers Association is incredible,’’ Briggs said on Saturday. “They really helped populate this show with some of the most exciting new vehicles on the market today and people are responding to that.’’
Briggs…
