Last minute funding from the South Jersey Transportation Authority kept the Atlantic City Airshow on schedule in 2024. However, due to a major act withdrawing, according to the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, it has decided to cancel the show, which was slated for August.
Greater Atlantic City Chamber declined to provide PlayNJ with additional comments. The yearly show gathered hundreds of thousands surrounding the Atlantic City casinos.
With the cancellation of the 2024 show, 2025 appears to be in doubt, too.
Atlantic City Airshow canceled despite funding efforts in March
As of March, the Atlantic City Airshow did not have funding, which put the spectacle in jeopardy this year. However, the South Jersey Transportation Authority saved the show by providing $300,000.
It appears that no amount of money was able to save the event, as the chamber released the following joint statement along with Visit Atlantic City and the South Jersey Transportation Authority:
“We regret to announce the cancellation of the 2024 Visit Atlantic City Airshow due to a major act withdrawing from the Airshow. This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the disappointment it may cause. We extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all who have supported this event over the past number of years.”
Without providing additional comment, there’s no word on the status of the show in 2025, and whether or not the $300,000 can be carried over.
Sources told PlayNJ back in March that the future of the show has been in doubt because of a lack of financial commitment from key stakeholders.
New Jersey to lose out of millions of dollars
The Atlantic City Airshow is one of the premier events in the Garden State, with a strong economic impact, especially for casinos.
The 2023 event attracted attracted 458,000 over the course of two days, according to the event’s organizers. That type of volume estimated an economic impact of between $50 million and $70 million for Atlantic City businesses.
In addition to bars and restaurants losing out, Atlantic City casinos are also going to miss the economic boom, along with the influx of people, over the two-day period.
Atlantic City Mayor, Marty Small Sr., also expressed his disappointment in a statement:
“We’re sorry to hear the news the Airshow won’t be happening this summer. The Small administration stepped up to do everything that needed to be done to save the Airshow earlier this year, but in the end this is a situation beyond the city’s control.”
The Atlantic City Airshow celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. There are no guarantees of a 21st next year.
