2024 Atlantic City Airshow canceled after "major act withdraws" from event
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) — The 2024 Visit Atlantic City Airshow scheduled for this summer was canceled, the Greater Atlantic City Chamber announced Wednesday afternoon. The announcement comes after the airshow was expected to take off after questions about the event's future in May.
Officials said the airshow was canceled "due to a major act withdrawing" from the event.
The airshow was slated to kick off on Aug. 13.
"We regret to announce the cancellation of the 2024 Visit Atlantic City Airshow due to a major act withdrawing from the Airshow," said the Greater Chamber with Visit Atlantic City and the South Jersey Transportation Authority in a joint statement on the website. "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."
Questions swirled around the future of the airshow in May, including concerns about whether there was enough funding for the event. When the air show's future was up in the air, Gov. Phil Murphy's office said the South Jersey Transportation Authority would give $300,000 to fund the event.
Attracting as many as 500,000 people, the Greater Atlantic City Chamber previously organized the airshow. In the meantime, restaurants and businesses in the area, like Vagabond Kitchen and Tap House, were looking forward to it.
"Every year we always get a good boom for business, all the businesses locally. The crowds coming rolling in, traffic is real heavy. It's something we look forward to," said Tom Harris, owner of Vagabond Kitchen and Tap House.
Businesses said it also helped that the show was in the middle of the week, and it was nice to get a rush outside of the usual weekend crowds.
"To have a real big event with hundreds of thousands of people coming into town, it really helps out during the week," Harris said.
The airshow returned in 2021 after being canceled the previous year due to COVID-19.
Kip Russell, general manager of the Wonder Bar, said many people would come by for a bite, even by boat, during the event.
"We are always promoting AC. Anything good for AC is good for us," Russell said. "And we like to have everyone come down and enjoy themselves, so it's a big bummer."
