Upcoming Events in July, August Expected to Bring Over 15,000 Visitors to Downtown
Poloncarz, Kaler Discuss Details at Convention Center
ERIE COUNTY, NY— Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz today joined President & CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara (“VBN”) Patrick Kaler and Vice President & General Manager of the Buffalo Convention Center Jeff Calkins at the Buffalo Convention Center to review conventions coming up in the summer of 2024 as well as booking for events in 2025 and 2026. Four events scheduled for July 2024 are anticipated to draw 5,600 out of towners downtown while an August expo is expecting up to 10,000 people to attend.
“Business is booming at the Buffalo Convention Center and thousands of visitors are not only enjoying top-quality conferences, they are also enjoying all that Buffalo and Erie County have to offer,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “We have invested millions of dollars in this facility to improve visitors’ experiences, revitalize the Center’s façade and gathering spaces, and make it easier to find your way around. These investments are paying off and Buffalo is doing well in the tourism/convention business when compared to similar sized cities.”
Beginning on July 10, the American Cheese Society Annual Conference will begin, with 1,300 attendees anticipated, while the 2024 North American Science Fiction Convention opens on July 18 with an expected gathering of 1,000 people. The National PREA Coordinators Working Group will bring 300 attendees to the Convention Center starting July 23, followed by 3,000 people expected for the NYSBLE-2024 Bar Exam on July 30-31. Then, on August 2, the 2024 Oddities and Curiosities Expo kicks off, with an expected attendance of up to 10,000. The expected economic impact of all 2024 conventions is over $7 million.
“Following the pandemic, we developed and implemented an integrated convention sales strategy,” said Patrick Kaler, Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO. “The strategies and tactics include hiring a DC-based national association salesperson, intentionally hosting industry thought leader meetings/events in Buffalo and working with Erie County and regional economic development agencies to target meeting and convention potential that showcase the destination’s business industries. The latter has proven successful, with potential leads generated and definite bookings through 2028 in areas such as advanced manufacturing, food and beverage processing, life sciences and education.”
Twenty-two national and regional conventions are already booked for 2025-26, with over 22,000 attendees anticipated and an expected economic impact of nearly $30 million.
Some of these events include:
- The Society of College and University Planning – Atlantic Regional Conference
- Break the Floor Productions – JUMP Dance Convention
- National College Testing Association Annual Conference
- New York School Nutrition Association Annual Conference
- World Canals Conference
- American Association for Aerosol Research
- Center for Inquiry Annual Conference
- National Indian Education Association
- New York State School Boards Association
- The American Academy of Orthopractic Manual Physical Therapists Annual Conference
For more information:
On Visit Buffalo Niagara, visit https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/
On the American Cheese Society, visit https://www.cheesesociety.org/
On the North American Science Fiction Convention, visit https://www.nasfic.org/
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