For the "Venice of America," its annual boat show – the largest in-water boating event in the world – is like the city’s own Super Bowl. "This boat show more than doubles the economic impact than the Super Bowl. People think the Super Bowl is this mega-economic attraction, and indeed it is, but the boat show far surpasses that sometimes twice, two-and-a-half times," Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis told FOX News Digital.
Many thousands of jobs have been created not just for the show, but year-round. So it's a very robust industry, very vital to our community. And what better place to showcase the marine industry than this paradise that we call Fort Lauderdale?" Trantalis said. "This is the mecca for boating," he continued. "The marine industry capital is right here in Fort Lauderdale.
The wonderful thing about the boat show is that so many different businesses were able to participate, not just those associated with the marine industry, but also hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues," Trantalis explained. "Yes, inflation has definitely come to Florida. But you know what? It hasn't been as impactful as many people say in the national news.