Celebrations and Networking Events

Networking Event: A Night at the Field Museum

Sunday, February 7, 6:30-10:00 p.m.

Off-Site: Field Museum

Presented in Partnership with E-Z-GO, A CMAA Strategic Partner

Kick off the 2027 World Conference & Club Business Expo with an unforgettable evening at Chicago’s famed Field Museum! Join us for a Centennial affair designed to welcome you, connect you, and set the stage for an extraordinary week together.

Situated along Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline, the Field Museum opened its current home in 1921, but its story began decades earlier at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Known as the “White City,” the exposition captivated visitors with more than 65,000 exhibits showcasing natural wonders, scientific discoveries, and cultural artifacts. Many of those treasures became the foundation of the Field Museum’s world-renowned collection. Today, the Museum houses nearly 40 million specimens and artifacts, preserving stories that connect the natural world, human history, and cultures across the globe.

The evening will unfold in the breathtaking Stanley Field Hall, where gleaming white marble, soaring ceilings, and grand columns create an extraordinary backdrop. Guests will be surrounded by some of the Museum’s most celebrated residents, including the majestic African elephants prepared by renowned taxidermist Carl Akeley, suspended flying pterosaurs, and the evening's largest host of all, Máximo the Titanosaur.

This signature Centennial event promises a memorable blend of history, discovery, conversation, and celebration—and a few Chicagoland surprises!

Be sure to purchase your ticket during the conference registration process and join us as we launch CMAA’s 100th anniversary year in one of Chicago’s most iconic settings.

Registration: Included in the 1927 Package, and the Full and Significant Other – Full Registration categories, otherwise $285

Club Business Expo Birthday Bash

Tuesday, February 9, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

On-Site: McCormick Place

CMAA’s Centennial is not our only major milestone this year! Join us on Tuesday evening as we raise a glass to the 50th Anniversary of the Club Business Expo. We are marking five decades of bringing club professionals and industry partners together with a celebration worthy of the occasion: open bars, premium snacks, a custom celebratory cake, and plenty of surprises along the way.

And because every good party needs a few gifts, our dedicated exhibitors are getting in on the fun too. Stop by the Expo floor for your chance to win high-end brand swag, special prizes, and even a luxury getaway.

There’s just one catch: you must be there to win.

So, round up your colleagues, grab a drink, and come celebrate 50 years of the Club Business Expo with the people who make it happen. Two major milestones, one very happy hour!

Registration: This is a complimentary event for all registered Conference attendees, but please select the event on your schedule if you plan to attend. Your Conference name badge is your admission ticket.

The Club Foundation ClubLove 5K

Wednesday, February 10, 6:30 a.m.

Have a blast, but not a blast of cold at this year’s Club Foundation ClubLove 5K! Join the fun, energy, and great feelings of warmth in this long-standing ClubLove tradition. Heat up your day ahead, heat up your heart, and heat up Chicago with the joy of CMAA and the Club Foundation!

We are taking the run-walk indoors, into the hallways of Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center. The starting pistol sounds at 6:30 a.m., kicking off your day with energy and fun, without icy sidewalks and frigid temperatures. T-shirt and Bib pick-up will be available on February 9 and the morning of the event.

Registration: $75 ($35 for Student Registrants)

Centennial Celebration Gala

Wednesday, February 10, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

On-Site: Marriott Marquis Chicago

Raise a glass to 100 years of club leadership, hospitality, and community at CMAA’s Centennial Celebration Gala. This once-in-a-century celebration will bring members, friends, and guests together for an unforgettable evening of connection, entertainment, and exceptional dining, and a few well-deserved toasts to the people who have shaped our profession.

The evening’s commemorative menu will showcase custom recipes contributed by Chicago-area clubs, creating a one-of-a-kind culinary journey inspired by the traditions and creativity of the club industry. Come dressed for the occasion and raise a glass with friends and colleagues as we celebrate where CMAA has been, where our profession is headed, and the people who will carry it forward.

Space is limited to the first 500 guests. Black-tie optional attire is requested. Be sure to purchase your Gala tickets during the conference registration process.

Registration: Included in the 1927 Package or individually for $295.

Afterglow

Wednesday, February 10, 9:30 p.m.

On-Site: Marriott Marquis Chicago

Presented in Partnership with ClubProcure, a CMAA Business Partner

When the evening winds down, the celebration keeps going. Afterglow brings together CMAA attendees, Gala guests, and anyone looking to squeeze a little more fun out of Conference before calling it a night.

No ceremony. No speeches. No agenda. Just good music, drinks, dancing, and one more chance to mix and mingle with CMAA friends and colleagues.

Whether you’re coming straight from the Gala, heading back to the hotel after a night out in Chicago, or simply not ready for Conference to end, Afterglow is where the night comes together.

Cash bar. Live music. Good people. One last hurrah.

Afterglow is made possible in part by the generous support of ClubProcure, whose partnership helps bring memorable experiences like this to the CMAA community.

Registration: This is a complimentary event for all registered Conference attendees, but please select the event on your schedule if you plan to attend. Your Conference name badge is your admission ticket..