2024 SEMA Show: How Many People Attend SEMA?
The 2024 SEMA Show is scheduled for Nov. 5-8, 2024. Here we tell you how big is SEMA, plus we’ll attempt to show you the scale and square footage. The SEMA Show is one of the largest trade shows in the world, with more than 132,000 attendees plus automotive enthusiasts expected to descend on Las Vegas during what is now called “SEMA Week.”
2023 was the first year of the new public-facing SEMA Fest, located at the corner of Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Blvd. (the “Strip”). SEMA Fest was held Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4 and was open to the general public. SEMA Fest replaced SEMA Ignited. Plans for SEMA Fest 2024 have not yet been announced.
How many people attend SEMA?
The number of SEMA Show attendees for 2024 was projected at about 150,000 with about eight out of 10 attendees coming from outside the US. Out of that about 70,000 attendees were buyers. About 3,000 attendees will be from the media or content creators for social media or websites. There were over 2,200 exhibitors displaying at the show.
The SEMA Show is very large with over 2 million square feet of available exhibit space.
And, for fun, let’s compare it to the Empire State Building! Scroll down for our illustration.
What is SEMA?
The SEMA Show is the aftermarket industry’s annual trade show in Las Vegas at the massive Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). It’s hard to describe if you haven’t attended. The show is produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association.
When people ask, “what is SEMA?” they may be referring to the show (the show is commonly just called “SEMA” by attendees) or they may be referring to the trade association itself. SEMA stands for the Specialty Equipment Market Association.
It’s a four-day aftermarket industry trade show and event that at its high point, before COVID, brought in over 160,000 attendees, including more than 70,000 buyers from the industry. Attendees come from all over the U.S. and 140 countries. Pre-COVID there were more than 2,400 exhibiting companies.
One of the interesting statistics is the length of one of the exhibit halls, the Upper South Hall where you find tools & equipment and collision, repair and refinishing products. We show it here with the Empire State Building and it’s longer than the building is tall. That’s only one of several halls that contain the massive SEMA Show.
The new West Hall
The West Hall, across Paradise Avenue from the original main calls (shown above in blue), brought on over 1 million square feet of new available exhibit space to the SEMA Show. The 2024 show will be the fourth year that uses the West Hall.
How big is SEMA in Vegas?
The Upper South Hall is 464,658 square feet and is approximately 1,690 feet end-to-end. The Empire State Building is a “mere” 1,454 feet tall including the spire. If you could somehow lay the Empire State Building on its side with its base at the entrance to the Upper South Hall, the tip of the antenna would end near the back wall.
The 2024 show once again included the fairly new West Hall expansion. It brought another 1.4 million square feet of available exhibit space. The other halls combine for over 2 million net square feet of available exhibit space.
There were 1,500 feature vehicles scheduled and over 3,000 products featured in the SEMA Show New Products Showcase, located in the North Hall.
The historical pre-COVID size of the SEMA Show, by the numbers:
- 71,000 companies with buyers at the show.
- 3,300 media representatives representing online digital and print publications.
- 2,400 exhibits.
- Over 3,000 new products in the New Products Showcase.
- Attendees from 140 countries.
- 4.6 million square feet of interior exhibit space, 2.2 million square feet of outside space.
As the pandemic recedes into history and travel returns to normal, we’re hoping future SEMA Shows will be just a big as it has been historically.
What does SEMA stand for?
SEMA stands for the Specialty Equipment Market Association. When first founded in 1963 it stood for Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association but it was changed in 1970 to have a better image and to include all companies in the specialty equipment industry.
How long is the SEMA Show?
The SEMA Show is a 4-day show, Tuesday through Friday. There is an education day with various seminars and meetings on Monday.
Is SEMA always in Las Vegas?
Yes, the SEMA Show will be in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future. It has been held in Las Vegas since 1977 and every future show that is scheduled is planned for Las Vegas. There are only two possible convention centers larger than the Las Vegas Convention Center that could hold the SEMA Show: McCormick Place in Chicago, and Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. There is no groundswell of support to move the SEMA Show to either of those locations.
Get more SEMA Show information
For up-to-date information on the 2024 SEMA Show, held Tuesday, November 5 through Friday, November 8, 2024, visit SEMAShow.com.
We hope to see you in Las Vegas in 2024. If you’re discussing the show on social media, use the hashtag #SEMA2024.
Confused about how to get into SEMA? Just follow that link.
SEMA Show coincides with AAPEX
And of course if you’re attending the 2024 AAPEX Show at the Sands Convention Center use the hashtag #AAPEX24 on social media. The AAPEX Show is Tuesday, November 5 through Thursday, November 4, 2024 and is co-owned by The AutoCare Association and AASA.
Source for Las Vegas Convention Center dimensions: Google Maps and Vegas Means Business.