Mecum Auctions has only been doing its Glendale Auction in the Valley for a few years, and it had the Covid-19 pandemic to contend with for a good chunk of that time, but it’s already showing potential to be one of the Chicago company’s top money events.

Mecum CEO Dave Magers said the company has always believed it could grow at least six of its auctions around the nation into ones that could hit the $100 million mark in sales. With Glendale shaping up to be in the range of $60 million or $70 million this year — its fifth year in operation — it could be one of those six.

“It’s better than we would have expected,” Magers said of coming to Arizona, noting that sales were around $40 million in Mecum’s first year in the Valley in 2019. Even then, that was a company record for the most sales for a first-year event, when it ran over three days.

Since then, it’s grown into a five-day event both inside and outside of State Farm Stadium, and last year’s sales were a record $66.3 million. This year it’s taking place from March 28 to April 1, with an estimated 2,000 vehicles and about 150 pieces of “road art” — such as signs and neon — and other automobile memorabilia going on the auction block.

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By Jeff Gifford - Digital Editor, Phoenix Business Journal