OSHKOSH, Wis (NBC 26) -- Do in part to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, EAA AirVenture organizers announced they were canceling this summer's gathering for aviation enthusiasts in Oshkosh.
In 2019 over half of a million people made the trip to Oshkosh in late July, to take in one of the world's largest air shows.
"In our tourism hearts, we were hoping that somehow, someway, it would happen," says Amy Albright the Executive Director of the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Albright is well aware of how big of a deal the weeklong EAA AirVenture event is to her community.
"The economic impact of AirVenture is 170 million dollars, (spread across) over five counties."
But this year due to COVID-19's continued spread, organizers of the air show say they can't bring their volunteers in to get the grounds ready.
"Being that we had to start preparations right now to welcome more than 600 thousand people to EAA in July, we just didn't have that certainty that we needed," says Dick Knapinski the Director of Communications for EAA.
Knapinski says not only can he not bring volunteers and staff needed to get the preparation to the grounds yet, but he's not even sure if mass gatherings will be allowed in late July when they were scheduled to host.
"You don't know when things will open back up. You don't know when some of these safer at home orders will be taken down and we can say we can gather once again."
So in 2020, for the first time in nearly 70 years, EAA AirVenture has been canceled.
"The health and safety of our visitors and people throughout the area really was the primary concern that went into this decision," says Knapinski.
And while it's somber news for a community that relies on the tourism the event brings, Knapinski says hopefully, we can collectively look forward to next year's event.
"A lot of people said I am really gonna miss AirVenture 2020, but you can be sure I will be there in 2021."
EAA AirVenture organizers say they will be reaching out to people who have already purchased a ticket for this summers event, within a couple of weeks. They will be offering those folks refunds or vouchers to be used at the 2021 event.
For those who already booked a campsite or bought a ticket, EAA AirVenture is offering refunds. Organizers say that a 2020 ticket to the event could also be used for the anticipated 2021 show as well.
For more details about the cancelation check out EAA AirVentures website here.
