BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Due to COVID-19, 134 events were canceled all over Western New York.
That includes sporting events and groups tours.
Of those, 81 were to be held at the now vacant Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.
17 events were postponed.
That is $44 million lost in possible revenue according to Patrick Kaler, President and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara.
"We're in a situation where we've had to cancel more than postpone or re-schedule," Kaler said.
There's still hope that events will be able to take place again soon, as the convention center already has a very loaded schedule for 2021.
"We have 52 meetings and events for 2021 that will have an economic impact of $15 million," Kaler said.
That is if everything goes well, which often is not known until weeks before due to ever changing guidelines and procedures.
As for the rest of 2020, organizers of some events are still holding out hope.
The creative team behind The World's Largest Disco say they will be making an announcement by October 5th.
While unlikely, the convention center is not ruling out anything.
"Getting the building back up and running could be done," Kaler said. "It's a huge undertaking if we are able to hold something like that again."
