Due to demand from exhibitors for more space, this year’s Metro Boat Show, to be held Sept. 15-18 at Lake St. Clair Metropark, will nearly double in size by filling both the park’s South and North marinas.
With 26 more boat slips than in 2015, this year’s show will feature 110 slips filled with boats, as well as 48,000 square feet of land space, which is 6,000 more square feet than last year. Hundreds of boats are expected to be on display from 10 to 60 feet in length.
“Exhibitors who have downsized in the past are increasing their spaces again,” says Bethany Sly, director of exhibitor sales for the event. “The show is growing, and we’ve heard boat sales are up this year from our exhibitors. We’re expecting a great show.”
Tickets for the show, which will run from noon to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, are $10 for adults and no cost for children 12 years old and under. Parking is $10 or free to those with a Metroparks permit.
According to the Michigan Boating Industries Association, which produces the show, sales of new boat, engines, trailers, and accessory purchases in 2015 exceeded $843 million. So far in 2016, the main segments in powerboat sales are up 3.7 percent. Ski and wakeboard boat sales are up 7.6 percent.
For more information, visit Metroboatshow.net.
