Russo and Steele moves venue back 'home'

Scottsdale featured car: 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda

Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auctions has decided to return to its traditional auction venue.

After the company announced last month that it would be moving to a new site, the City of Scottsdale found itself in a familiar, but complex situation when Barrett-Jackson submitted a competing request days later to use the same site. The competing request was filed under “additional parking needs.”

Following additional days of discussion with the city, Russo and Steele stated in a press release it had decided not to “indulge a public media showdown.” It stated the relationship between Barrett-Jackson and the City of Scottsdale is well known and a dispute now would take valuable time away from Russo and Steele’s preparations for its 11th Annual Scottsdale Auction event.

Pointing to time lines for site preparation, including asphalt improvements and the required cure times, Russo and Steele instead will focus on upgrading its long-established home in North Scottsdale.

“Our No. 1 priority is to our clients,” said Drew Alcazar, owner of Russo and Steele. “The traditional venue location is already prepared providing easy access off Scottsdale Road and outstanding visibility off the North Loop 101. Our clients can prepare for a dramatic change to the event site featuring our new Losberger main auction structure. Manufactured in Germany, this new structure will afford an ‘all encompassing environment’ in which to hold all the event elements including the main auction block, vehicle staging, vendors, sponsors and all the amenities that Russo and Steele is uniquely known for.”

When asked about the decision to not dispute Barrett-Jackson’s request, Alcazar said, “I admit, it is unfortunate that this situation had to occur at all, but I’d like to thank all those who worked so diligently to assist us in securing the agreement in the first place. Russo and Steele’s venue change was predicated on the ability to use asphalt and implement additional upgrades, not because of anything that occurred on the traditional site. This year Russo and Steele’s event represents a paradigm shift. Many significant changes have been designed to create a venue in which car collectors and hobbyists will be duly impressed.”

Alcazar concluded by saying, “Russo and Steele’s goal is to have every client, enthusiast, sponsor and attendee enjoy the 11th Annual auction event and say ‘Wow, these guys took a huge hit last year and look at how they responded!’ That’s the statement we’re looking to make. And we’ve already heard great things from our clients — the excitement they’re feeling and the changes we’re making will only continue getting better as we move forward.”

Additional information is available at www.russoandsteele.com.

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