The first of three large shows held each year in the Washington D.C. area has been cancelled because of the Coronavirus.
CSA Shows, which had planned to hold its spring show from April 3-5 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA, announced Monday morning that the event had been cancelled:
CSA Shows and The Dulles Expo Center have been working closely together to make the best decision for our customers and clients pertaining to the Coronavirus situation in our country. Following yesterday’s CDC recommendations concerning public gatherings, we must cancel the April 3-5, 2020 show in Chantilly VA.
On Sunday, the CDC recommended no public gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks as the virus begins to spread in the United States.
CSA’s next show is scheduled for July 17-19. Promoters say they will be trying to reschedule as many of the autograph signers from April’s show for that event. Collectors who purchased advance tickets for the April show can either accept refunds or apply the purchase price to the July show. Collectors can email [email protected] for refund requests.
Rich Altman’s Boston show, scheduled for mid-April, has a new date. It will be held June 5-7 at the Shriner’s Auditorium in Wilmington, MA. Altman is hoping to reschedule his autograph guests as well.
They are the third and fourth three-day shows to cancel since late last week, when the Chicago Sports Spectacular shut down just as it was about to get underway at the Stephens Convention Center.
GTSM’s event in Sterling, VA, which had been slated for this weekend, has also been cancelled. The company has another autograph show planned for Houston in April, but that, too, would seem to be in some jeopardy.
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Not every card show had shut down as of Sunday. In the Atlanta suburbs, the East Cobb Sports Collectible Show, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Marietta went on as scheduled with about 20 dealers on hand.
The hotel had hand sanitizers nearby and apparently a fair number of collectors turned out.
This Saturday’s J & J Allstar Sportscards Show in Indianapolis has been cancelled due to the restrictions on public gatherings in the state.