CEDIA Expo 2021 in doubt after more withdrawls

Nearly all exhibitors cited COVID and its recent rise in infection rates, particularly the Delta variant, as the reason for their understandable withdrawal from CEDIA Expo 2021.

As expected, further announcements have followed, including Sonance, Lutron, Crestron, Harman, and Trinnov Audio. While most exhibitors this year had committed to supporting and attending one of the industry's most important trade shows of the year, most of them were doing so in more a conservative fashion, given the international travel restrictions. 

For those manufacturers based outside the USA, this already prevented company staff from being present. Some of the more resourceful companies had planned to implement virtual presentations and video streams from those personnel. 

According to trade publication Strata-gee, a further growing list of exhibitors have now confirmed they will not be attending, including RTI/Blustream, Fortress Seating, Wisdom Audio, AudioQuest/Goldenear, Panamorph, Ring, Brilliant, Acoustic Innovations, Somfy, LG, URC, Pro Audio Technology, Yamaha, Procella Audio, RowOne, and quite a few more.

Needless to say, this is not news that we enjoy reporting. While the industry wants and needs shows to return, according to The New York Times, the show's location in Marion County, Indiana, has seen a steady increase in new daily cases over the past 30 days. 

At this stage, planned hi-fi shows, including Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (October 8-10, 2021 - Denver, CO) and AXPONA (October 29-31, 2021 - Schaumburg, IL) are still proceeding. StereoNET's Mike Perez plans to attend both shows to provide coverage for our readers, all things going to plan.

More to come.