After a five-year run, the Arizona Concours d’Elegance comes to an end

The 2017 Arizona Concours d’Elegance. Photo by Ken Bryant, courtesy Arizona Concours d’Elegance.

Since 2013, the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix has played host to the Arizona Concours d’Elegance, traditionally held on the weekend before the classic car auction season kicks off in earnest. From modest beginnings, the Arizona Concours has grown notably in attendance and significance, drawing an impressive assortment of cars and guests, along with visitors and media coverage from around the world. Ultimately, any such event depends upon sound financial backing, and a lack of corporate sponsorship has closed the curtain on the annual January event.

A press release announcing the cancellation of the 2018 show stated, “…the long-term success of such events as the Arizona Concours is built on sustained corporate support. Although the Concours has been a critical success, it unfortunately has not established the financial foundation necessary to support it sustainably into the future. Not wishing to compromise the quality or the integrity of the event, the directors have decided to retire the Arizona Concours d’Elegance. The Concours scheduled for January 2018 will not take place.”

Over the course of its five-year run, the Arizona Concours raised a reported $300,000 for its named charity, Make-A-Wish Arizona, an amount sufficient to grant more than 30 wishes for children fighting life-threatening illnesses withing the Grand Canyon State.

Of the show’s demise, executive director Kevin Cornish said,

In the beginning, we set out to achieve a word-class Concours and an event that would positively impact the lives of children in need. The group of people responsible for the Arizona Concours take great pride in what has been achieved and we thank all of those who worked so hard to make this, our dream, a reality. As Dr. Seuss said, ‘Don’t cry because it is ending…be happy because it happened!’

The cancellation of the Arizona Concours isn’t expected to impact the annual RM Sotheby’s auction, which also takes place at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in January.