Toy Fair Canceled In NYC For Second Straight Year Due To Covid Concerns
deadline.comFor the second straight year, Covid has caused the cancellation of Toy Fair, which has been held annually in New York for more than a century.The gathering had been scheduled for February 19 to 22 at New York’s Javits Center.
Toy Fair has become increasingly important over the years to Hollywood marketers looking to expand franchises through toy and merchandise extensions.
The Toy Association, which puts on the event and plays a central role in the $32.6 billion domestic toy business, was founded in 1916.A few major companies among the 1,000-plus exhibitors initially expected at the event had bowed out in recent weeks amid the spread of the Omicron variant, including Hasbro, MGA Entertainment, Walmart and Target.
The Toy Association estimated that 700 manufacturers and marketers had remained committed.Organizers said they sought to preserve the business interests of those 700 exhibitors.
