The promoters of AXPONA have distributed the following update:
It is with heartfelt disappointment but concern for the health and safety of all AXPONA participants that we announce today the official cancellation of AXPONA 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. We thank everyone who had committed to making the 2020 event into what would have been the largest and most attended AXPONA in history. Although there remains over three months until our August dates, we do not feel 100% confident that we can provide a safe environment for all of our customers and press to network and do business in Schaumburg by that date.
We are reaching out directly to exhibitors, sponsors and attendees this morning with further details. These are enormously challenging times for everyone’s personal and business lives but let us stay strong, caring and united. The industry will come through this together and it will be a better and safer world on the other side. We look forward to hosting a celebratory AXPONA for the ages when we all meet again in 2021.
Sincerely,
Joel A. Davis
Founder & CEO
This was the original reschedule announcement from JD Events.
AXPONA has been rescheduled from April 17-19 to August 7-9, 2020 out of concern for the health and safety of all participants due to the growing coronavirus situation. This decision was made following an outpouring of feedback from the AXPONA community over the last 72 hours.
The three most consistent themes we heard were, 1) fears of attending public events will increase in March and April, 2) AXPONA should still be held in 2020, and 3) reschedule later this year if possible.
Although the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel is booked solid all year, they offered us a week in August that will accommodate all of AXPONA's space needs. So we secured it.
We rescheduled out of an abundance of caution during this unpredictable time to provide the best opportunity for a well attended event and to ensure the best AXPONA experience for all show goers in 2020. We will contact all exhibitors and attendees directly later this week as we work through the details of the move.
Our sole priority today is to communicate this news immediately so everyone can adjust their plans accordingly. We thank you for your understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience.
We look forward to seeing you all at AXPONA in August!
Joel A.Davis
Founder & CEO, JD Events joel@jdevents.com
AXPONA takes place at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center offering attendees three jam-packed days of incredible sounds, technology, presentations, and the very latest products in the industry. AXPONA’s state-of-the-art venue will feature more than 200 Listening Rooms, an expanded Expo Hall featuring the ever popular Record Fair and Master Class Theater, the Ethan Allen Design Showcase, a NEW Ear Gear Experience, a robust Seminar schedule, and Live Music nightly.
In 2019, AXPONA welcomed 9,534 attendees (up 15% over 2018), and adding 50 new exhibitors to the more than 250 listed, from all over the world, making it the largest show to date, and the most important high-end audio show in North America. New components of the 2019 show included an Ear Gear Expo dedicated solely to Headphones, and a Mobile App to help navigate the show. AXPONA has also noted an increase in the number of exhibitors and attendees from around the world, representing 40 countries in addition to the U.S.
Another trend of note is the fact that AXPONA already caters to dealers, distributors, manufacturers and technology vendors, being currently the only event of its kind in North America to feature an important B2B component. For 2020, the promoters will be adding a new Ear Gear Theater, Industry Talks, two Networking Lounges, a Café and more live music attractions after show hours.
In all, more than 500 world class exhibitors will be at AXPONA to connect with serious music and high-end audio enthusiasts, looking to explore, shop and enjoy the music. Confirmed exhibitors already include Bowers & Wilkins, ELAC, Martin Logan, Nordost, Pass Labs, Magico, Devialet, Wilson Audio and McIntosh, all of whom will showcase the newest high-end products and services to attendees. In 2020, several companies will be making their AXPONA debut, many for the first time in North America. AXPONA will once again offer something for everyone – from the novice music lover to the seasoned audio expert looking to enhance their sound with the latest technology.
The new Ear Gear Experience will be the largest area in the country dedicated entirely to personal audio featuring an Ear Gear Theater, Industry Talks, two Networking Lounges, a Café and the latest and greatest in personal audio. Everything from open-back, closed-back, in-ear headphones and accessories, cables and players that go into a personal audio rig will be on display at the Ear Gear Experience. Leading global brands and manufacturers such as Schiit Audio, Focal Naim North America, Audeze, Jerry Harvey Audio, HIFIMAN, Astell & Kern, Lenbrook and more will debut new products and have dedicated booths on the expo floor.
There will also be a Café to purchase beverages, two lounges to take a break, and the Ear Gear & Beer Tasting on Saturday, April 17 with a local craft brewery.
Additionally, AXPONA attendees will have the opportunity to sit and relax in a beautifully designed vignette featuring high-end audio products from the show’s exhibitors and custom home furnishings from Ethan Allen.
The Exhibit Hall, which is home to the Record Fair, will showcase a vast array of turntables, cables, accessories, racks and stands, tonearms, cartridges and new and vintage Vinyl. Top manufacturers exhibiting this year will include Pro-Ject, SOTA, MAG-LEV Audio and Audio-Technica.
All general admission tickets grant access to the exhibits including Listening Rooms and Exhibit Hall, as well as educational seminars, live music, and special events.
Gold Pass tickets - $98 in advance ($125 onsite) allow admission during all three days of AXPONA along with a collector’s Badge, official AXPONA T-shirt, 2020 collector’s pin, a reusable AXPONA water bottle access to the AXPONA Gold Lounge with VIP check-in, coat check, refreshments and WiFi, and a Happy Hour with wine and beer on Friday, April 17 and Saturday April 18 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Plus access to the Gold Hospitality Suite in the Hotel Tower, with seating, water, snacks and a restroom. Limited number of passes available.
For more information on ticketing and ticketing options, please visit www.axpona.com/register
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA)
Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel &
Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL
www.axpona.com
