Cleveland National Air Show Warns It Cannot Continue if Burke Lakefront Airport Closes

CLEVELAND, Ohio — For more than six decades, the roar of jet engines over Lake Erie has signaled the end of summer for Northeast Ohio families, but a new push to transform the lakefront could permanently ground the Cleveland National Air Show. The event's board of trustees issued a stark warning this week, stating that the show simply cannot exist if the city of Cleveland moves forward with plans to close Burke Lakefront Airport. While the 2026 air show is confirmed to proceed as scheduled, the board said the event's long-term survival is at a breaking point. City officials have asked organizers to evaluate shifting to a remote or overwater format, similar to shows held in other coastal cities. After a technical review, the board concluded that Cleveland's specific geography and the nonprofit's financial structure make such a change impossible. According to the Cleveland National Air Show board, the event is a self-sustaining nonprofit that relies on ticket sales, parking and concessions held on the airport grounds to cover its production costs. The board argued that without a controlled environment for aircraft operations and spectator seating, the event is no longer logistically or financially viable. The show currently generates an estimated $17.9 million in economic impact for the region each year. The warning arrives as Mayor Justin Bibb's administration intensifies its efforts to shutter the airport, which sits on roughly 450 acres of prime lakefront real estate. This week, the mayor's office and the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation released a study detailing a $600 million vision for the land. The proposal includes two distinct concepts featuring a 180-acre youth sports complex, urban parks, restaurants and a golf course. Scott Skinner, head of the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation, said the study is a proof of concept designed to show residents and legislators what's possible. According to Skinner, the land is a former landfill, but his team believes it is cleaner and easier to build on than many skeptics suggest. He said many people have had a hard time envisioning a future for Burke beyond aviation, and these renderings provide a starting point for public debate. The mayor's plan does not have a clear funding model yet, though his advisers expect a mix of public financing and private capital would be necessary. Jessica Trivisonno, the mayor's deputy chief of staff, told reporters that the plan serves as a tool to build support in the U.S. Congress and with the Federal Aviation Administration, which must ultimately approve any airport closure. Air show organizers are not waiting for a final decision to make their case. They are urging the community to contact local leaders, including Sen. Bernie Moreno and Councilman Charles Slife, the Transportation Committee chairman. The board maintains that losing Burke means losing the show entirely, rather than just moving it to a new location. If the city successfully petitions the federal government to close the airport, construction would not begin immediately. Trivisonno said there would still be years of master planning, public engagement and efforts to help current airport tenants relocate. Skinner said an ambitious timeline would see groundbreaking two or three years after the airport officially ceases operations. The city is currently collecting resident feedback through online surveys and neighborhood meetings to determine which elements of the $600 million redevelopment plan resonate most with the public. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.