SEMA 2020: Registration Is Open

First annual SEMA Show in the basement of Dodger Stadium.

On August 5 SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, announced its first ever cancellation of the annual SEMA Convention. Nevertheless, like many other events this year, a modified virtual variation will take place from November 2-6. It won't be "business as usual" but there will be plenty of opportunities for business to take place. More on that after a few bits of trivia.

1. DID YOU KNOW that the original SEMA acronym stood for Speed Equipment Manufacturing AssociatIon? Due to government pressure it was recommended that the emphasis on speed be downplayed. (This was the muscle car era, after all.) From another source, the hippie counterculture drug associations also led SEMA founders replace the word "Speed" with Specialty.

2. DID YOU KNOW that the first SEMA Show was held in the basement of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles? The event was held in January 1967, with 98 booths and 3000 attendees. In 1974 the event moved to Anaheim Stadium where it made its home for three years before relocating to its Las Vegas residence.

By way of contrast, the 2019 SEMA Convention had participation from more than 160,000 industry professionals. 3300 journalists also converged on the City That Never Sleeps to cover the action there, that the world might see the vibrancy of our industry.

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This past week SEMA announced today that it is offering an online marketplace to allow manufacturers and resellers in the specialty automotive segment to connect and conduct business. Taking place Nov. 2-6, SEMA360 was created after industry members expressed a need for a viable marketplace solution in the absence of the 2020 SEMA Show.

The announcement stated that SEMA360 will be "a simplified platform where SEMA will help manufacturers create a straightforward brand presence that will reach quality domestic and international buyers." Unlike the ten miles of show floor aisles to walk, you'll be doing business from the comfort of your office. Unfortunately, to get your daily exercise you'll need to get your walking in after hours.

Here's a link to the full announcement which has a link at the end on where to participate: https://www.semashow.com/

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FOR MORE COOL PHOTOS from SEMA's early days, check out
this page at Roadkill Customs.