|
First-Ever
Drone Racing and Technology Event to
|
Take
Place at State Fairgrounds’ Expo Center
|
|
|
Empire Drone Expo and Racing Competition
Features National-Class
|
Racing, Pilot Training, STEM Education,
Drone Films
|
|
|
Event Complements “CNY Rising”
– The Region’s Comprehensive
|
Strategy to Revitalize Communities
and Grow the Economy
|
|
Syracuse,
NY – November 2018 / Newsmaker Alert / The new Exposition Center at
the New York State Fairgrounds will host the Empire Drone Expo and Racing
Competition, the first event of its kind in Upstate New York. The event
highlights the state’s investment of more than $40 million to support the
development of unmanned aerial systems technology. It will feature New
York State’s largest micro-drone race, drone pilot training classes, STEM
education programs, exhibits showcasing Upstate drone technology companies,
award-winning international videos from the Great New York State Fair’s
Drone Film Festival, and more. The Expo and Racing Competition takes place
Saturday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, Nov. 18 and complements CNY Rising, the region’s
comprehensive strategy to revitalize communities and grow the economy.
Organized
by Finger Lakes Drone Racing in cooperation with MultiGP, the Empire
Drone Expo is a collaboration among local organizations passionate
about this new technology, including NUAIR Alliance, SkyOp, Camillus Indoor
Aviators, NYS Drone Film Festival, CNY Drone Works, Dropcopter, Thales,
Scherzi Systems LLC, Visit Syracuse, CenterState CEO and High Point Aerial.
Admission to the event is free; racing competitors can
pay entry fees here. MultiGP describes
itself as the world’s largest drone racing league and sanctions regional,
national and international championships.
Drone
racing has become a popular sport, with top professional races being broadcast
on national television. In the Fairgrounds’ Expo Center, drones will race
in groups through a series of obstacles that test a pilot’s ability to
turn the vehicle up, down, left and right at full speed while avoiding
collisions. Empire Drone Expo attendees are also invited to learn how to
fly a drone, take Part 107 commercial drone pilot certification classes
and connect with local organizations in the industry. The event will have
a special emphasis on STEM educational programs, offering hands-on workshops,
seminars and lectures for all age groups. Flight simulators will also show
attendees what it’s like to fly an unmanned vehicle. A full schedule of
events is available
here.
Drone
technology is reshaping the world -- assisting with everything from infrastructure
inspection to plant pollination -- and is creating a major new industry
in Central New York. Governor Cuomo’s investment of more than $40 million
in the federally-designated drone technology development region between
Syracuse and Rome has created jobs and attracted high-tech companies pursuing
innovative ideas for using unmanned aerial technology.
The
Drone Expo will be the third event new to Upstate New York that will be
held in the new Expo Center at the Fairgrounds since its opening during
the Great New York State Fair in August. The 110,000 square foot building,
which is the largest clear-span exhibit space north of New York City between
Boston and Cleveland, is the most recent element of Governor Cuomo’s $120
million plan to revitalize the nation’s oldest state fair and fairgrounds.
The building was constructed to attract major new events that previously
would not consider Upstate New York in the past due to a lack of suitable
space, providing a significant boost to the tourism industry and economic
benefits to the entire region.
State
Fair Director Troy Waffner said, “We’re pleased to be working with the
event organizers to bring this exciting new event to Upstate New York.
With each new event, we’re realizing the Governor’s vision of an Expo Center
that is a major driver of tourism and economic growth for the region.”
Drone
Expo Coordinator Rich Bellamy said, "Finger Lakes Drone Racing is excited
for the unique opportunity to showcase many different facets of the drone
community under one roof. There will truly be something for everyone---spectators,
hobbyists, and professionals of all ages are sure to enjoy the wide array
of interactive programming we've put together."
Accelerating
CNY Rising
Today's
announcement complements “Central
NY Rising,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust
economic growth and community development. The State has already invested
more than $5.6 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for
the plan – capitalizing on global market opportunities, strengthening entrepreneurship
and creating an inclusive economy. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest
levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income
taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Syracuse, Oswego
and Auburn as a destination to grow and invest in.
Now,
the region is accelerating Central NY Rising with a $500 million State
investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by
Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment will
incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the
region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 5,900 new jobs. More information
is available here.
|
|
The
home of the Great New York State Fair is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment
complex that operates all year. A year-round schedule of events is available
on the Fairgrounds’ website.
Find
the Great New York State Fair on Facebook,
follow @NYSFair on Twitter, on
Snapchat at nysfair and enjoy photos at the Fair’s Flickr
photo archive. Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for
the Great New York State Fair at statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.
|
Source
Document
|
Media Contacts:
Jola
Szubielski
Public Information Officer
NYS Department of Agriculture
& Markets
518-457-0752
Dave
Bullard
Public Relations
New York State Fair
315-487-7711 x 1377 |