COVID has once again put the kibosh on Toy Fair.
The Toy Association this week said in a release that the enormously popular annual event–scheduled this year for Manhattan’s Javits Center for Feb. 19-22–will not take place.
Several major companies–including Hasbro, Walmart, Target and Amazon–reportedly had pulled out of the event due to health concerns caused by the continuing pandemic, and the organizers decided to err on the side of caution. This is the second consecutive year that Toy Fair New York has been shuttered due to the COVID crisis.
Toy Association president Steve Pasierb said in a statement that a key part in this decision has been “the balance of some 700 remaining committed toy manufacturers saying they need and want Toy Fair to build their businesses–weighing that against those departing and seriously on the fence–and needing to provide sufficient quantity and quality across the retail buying community.”
There certainly are “legitimate concerns around the pandemic” that guided the association’s thinking, Pasierb continued. “Many are saying they are comfortable being at the Javits Center with the strict safety protocols in place, but travel–and staff absences due to illness–rightfully weigh on their minds.”
Looking forward, Pasierb added that delivering the next Toy Fair–hopefully in 2023–“is now our focus. We will be working with all exhibitors to build a solid base for visitors from across the world to again experience Toy Fair.”
Keep reading Horror News Network for any updates from the Toy Association regarding next year’s Toy Fair New York.
