Macworld Expo moving back to Boston; Apple won't go

October 17, 2002 (Macworld)

IDG World Expo today officially moved Macworld Conference & Expo back to Boston from New York, where the show spent the past several years. While business leaders in Boston are happy with the change, a statement today from Apple Computer Inc. said the company wouldn't participate in the show.
Apple also said it would re-evaluate plans for the New York Expo next summer, the last to be held in New York. But it reaffirmed the company's commitment to the San Francisco Expo early next year.
"Today IDG announced plans to move Macworld New York to Boston in July of 2004," Apple said in a statement. "Apple disagrees with this decision and will not be participating in Macworld Boston. Since IDG is no longer investing in New York, we now need to re-evaluate our participation in Macworld New York 2003. Apple will continue to participate in Macworld San Francisco in January."
The East Coast Expo will remain in New York for the 2003 summer show and then move to Boston for a show scheduled for July 12-15, 2004.
Charlie Greco, IDG World Expo president and CEO, said the move to New York was done years ago because Boston didn't have the space to hold such a big show. With increasing costs in New York and at the Javits Convention Center for exhibitors, Greco decided to explore other venues for the show. A natural choice, with its new convention center large enough to house the expo, was Boston.
"The local business community has gone wild. They remember what Macworld Expo did for Boston years ago," Charlie Greco, IDG World Expo's president and CEO, told MacCentral in an interview late yesterday. "Macworld Expo brought $42 million to the local economy when it was here."
After negotiating deals with local business leaders, Greco said costs for exhibitors will be reduced by as much as 35% when they move to Boston. This could allow more exhibitors to participate in the East Coast show since some found costs prohibitive in New York.
"I am proud to announce that Macworld is coming back to Boston, where it was born, and where it belongs," said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. "I look forward with great anticipation to July 12, 2004, when Macworld will christen the new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. I cannot think of a more appropriate catalyst to propel our convention and hospitality industry into the new millennium."
IDG World Expo, MacCentral and Computerworld are all owned by IDG.