On the Beat at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show

The 2018 Chicago Auto Show officially starts tomorrow (Saturday, February 10) and runs through Monday, February 19 at McCormick Place. I was able to get an early start on my Auto Show experience yesterday at the Media Preview.

The Chicago Auto Show has a long and rich history, dating back to the first show in 1901. It is the largest auto show and has been held more times than any such auto show in this country. This year will be the 110th Chicago Auto Show. More than 1,000 vehicles are on display in the over one million square feet of McCormick Place space devoted to the show.

My first day started in the Media Center. The Media Credential process was as smooth as any I have ever encountered. With this large of a media contingent from so many places, that is not as easy as it sound like it should be. Kudos to the staff on a job well done.

Because I am painfully punctual, I was on the show floor as it opened to the media. It is weird, but wonderful, walking through the show with only a smattering of people. As the morning progressed, obviously the amount of press people increased, but even by the end of the day, the crowd was still much less than it will be during the show’s public hours. I enjoyed this “quiet” time to the fullest, soaking in all of the vehicles without the usual throngs of people.

Since, I am in the early stages of car shopping, I checked out several vehicles which are possibilities for me. I think I have narrowed my choices to the Ford Escape, the Ford Edge, the Jeep Cherokee and the Jeep Wrangler. All were on display and all looked fabulous (especially with me behind the wheel). Over the course of the show, I will also take advantage of the test drives being offered.

Of course, I also inspected many other vehicles. While I won’t be purchasing a Maserati, Cadillac, Lexus, BMW, Alfa Romeo or other such luxury vehicles, it didn’t stop me from basking in their glory. I might even test drive one or two of these babies just for fun!

Aside from just the cars (and really, that would be enough), there are a lot of other activities during the course of the show. There are many special appearances, including Chicago Blackhawks Hall of Famer Tony Esposito, former Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster, former Chicago Bull Horace Grant, former Blackhawk Eddie Olczyk, former Blackhawks Brian Campbell, Jamal Mayers and Adam Burrish, Olympian Allyson Felix and more. There are also many notable members of the media hosting panels or sessions, including ABC’s Roz Varon, Jim Rose, Cheryl Scott and Ryan Chiaverini. WSCR, the Score Sports Radio, will also be broadcasting live from the show several times.

The Chicago Auto Show isn’t just about shiny new vehicles though. Through the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity, over $48 million has been raised for Chicago charities in the last 26 years.
Tomorrow, the Chicago Auto Show opens to the public. McCormick Place will be filled with car enthusiasts. You don’t have to be a “car person” to enjoy the show. Here’s a secret. I am not even remotely a car guy, yet I spent 8 hours at the Media Preview yesterday and I will be going back several times, because there is so much going on.

If you have not been to a Chicago Auto Show, you really should experience it once. If you have been to a Chicago Auto Show, I am pretty sure you will return, because you already know how much fun it is.