Fort Lauderdale's Air & Sea Show Comes To End After 13 Years

It appears a staple aviation event in South Florida has witnessed its last sunset. The Fort Lauderdale Air & Sea Show will not go on as scheduled for 2008, after event organizers were unable to attract a title sponsor.

Organizers told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel rising fuel costs and a general downturn in the nation's economy are to blame for the end of the 13-year event.

"It's just not economically viable to produced without a title sponsor," said Mickey Markoff, president of the promotional firm that has held the event since 1995, MDM Limited. "We don't have the capacity or financing to put on the show."

Most recently, McDonalds sponsored the event... but a "change in leadership" at the fast food giant led to its withdrawal after six years of endorsement, Markoff added.

During its run, the Air & Sea Show attracted such notables as the US Navy Blue Angels and USAF Thunderbirds aerial demonstration teams, and civilian acts including Sean Tucker and the Red Baron Pizza Squadron (which, sadly, also lost its sponsorship recently -- Ed.)

One event associated with the early May event, Fleet Week, will go on as scheduled -- taken over by the Navy League.

Show spokesman Michael Goodman said a "glimmer of hope" remains for the show, if a sponsor were to come forward now... but Goodman adds that appears highly unlikely.

"This economic climate is really changing things," he said.

The local climate may also be a factor in the show's demise. While the free event brought in revenue to local hotels, restaurants, and other businesses in the area, residents on the east side of Fort Lauderdale also complained of traffic snarls and other inconveniences during the two-day show, which attracted tens of thousands of spectators.

"In my neighborhood, people were locked out of their homes on many occasions," said Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Christine Teel, who lives behind the nearby Galleria shopping area. "Who in their right mind would want to go there during the show?"

Not surprisingly, Teel also voted to pare down costs the city paid for the event -- from "more than $500,000" in services, including police and fire personnel in 2005, to only providing "in-kind" services in 2007.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle took a more even-handed approach in reflecting on the show.

"It had a great run in the city," Naugle said. "I think most residents were for it, some were against it... It's a beautiful setting for an air show, with the ocean there. Who knows, maybe we'll have another one some day."

Markoff regrets the loss of a show intended to offer a "thank you" to persons serving in the armed forces. "I feel very strongly about that," he said. "I feel like we've done right thing."

FMI: www.airseashow.com/