The Commercial Marine Expo, a major marine trade show, will open its doors Wednesday on State Pier after selling out its indoor exhibit space, a first for the 42-year-old show.
The two-day exhibition, formerly named the Fish Expo Atlantic, is being held in New Bedford for the first time after being located in Providence for a number of years.
"Most shows are off 20 to 30 percent, just part of the economy, so the fact we're doing as well as we are is a real testament to New Bedford as a location and (to) the name change," said Ted Hugger, the show director.
After the inside exhibit space — 185 booths — sold out by mid-May, the show's organizers added an additional eight booths immediately outside the main hall under a tent; all but one of those booths had sold by Thursday, said Hugger.
Companies "really, really like the idea of having the show on the waterfront," he said. "It's where they're comfortable doing business. It's where there's a lot of business being done already."
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