Macworld returning to Boston
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOSTON -- Boston has beaten out New York to host the Macworld show starting 2004 in a major victory for a city that has struggled to book clients for its new convention center.
Beth Wickenhiser, a spokeswoman for IDG World Expo, which runs Macworld, confirmed yesterday that the show would be held in Boston from 2004-2006, with the option for a two-year extension.
She declined to provide further details but said they would be announced at an Oct. 17 press conference.
Macworld pulled out of Boston in 1998, but IDG World Expo head and Macworld organizer Charlie Greco later indicated he was interested in returning the convention to Boston, in part to save money.
That prompted a heavy lobbying effort by both New York and Boston, with each city offering packages of perks. Boston has reportedly offered the use of a city-owned house and the Boston Public Library's courtyard for receptions. IDG World Expo's decision to return to Boston was first reported in the Boston Herald.
The $800 million convention center under construction near downtown, set to open in 2004, has attracted only a few bookings and has been criticized as a waste of money.
But Macworld could give the city much-needed publicity and credibility in the convention business.
And the convention, which is expected to attract 64,000 people, could pump tens of millions of dollars into the local economy.
The show is one of the premier events in the computer industry, attracting experts and consumers. It usually features product announcements and high-profile speeches by Apple Computer Inc. senior executives.
This story appeared on Page A11 of The Standard-Times on October 9, 2002.
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