Events giants are waging a campaign to save the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, which may be demolished under a plan proposed by New York governor Andrew Cuomo.  A group of 21 events companies, including New York Comic Con and Bookexpo America organizer Reed Exhibitions, Freeman, National Retail Federation, and other companies doing business at the Javits recently sent a letter to Cuomo and 600 other state and city officials with the message that "Javits customers are adamant that the Javits Center remain open long term," according to Crain's New York Business. 

A new 3.8 million square foot convention center, the largest in the country, is being privately developed at the Aqueduct Raceway in Queens, and the Manhattan land on which the Javits sits is coveted for redevelopment.  But the Queens site is a long way from Manhattan and its hotels, restaurants, and entertainment, making it a less desirable destination for show attendees.  And despite its many faults, the Javits is in Manhattan, and with the upcoming completion of a subway line extension to the facility, it will finally be accessible by mass transit from throughout the metro area.    

The Javits supporters urge that the Javits be expanded beyond its current size when the current small expansion is completed, and also leave open the possibility that a second convention center in the city could be constructed.  The Javits is currently the 19th largest convention facility in the U.S., smaller than facilities in Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Nashville; San Diego; and 14 other cities smaller than New York.