the auction, and Barrett-Jackson acknowledged that its provenance could not be definitely proven, stating "there are credible reports that indicate there were two 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulances involved" with one "actually carrying President Kennedy's casket and family members and the other acting as a diversion". Automotive memorabilia, such as gas pumps and neon signage, is auctioned in addition to vehicles, and is also offered for sale by vendors. Locations Although Barrett-Jackson auctions are held in several U.S. cities, its main event takes place each January in Scottsdale. The first auction was held in 1971, on a dirt lot at the Safari Hotel in Scottsdale. In 1977, the event moved out of town to Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Scottsdale mayor Herb Drinkwater later convinced Barrett-Jackson to return by having the city construct an events arena known as WestWorld, where the auctions have continued to run annually since 1989. By 2001, Barrett-Jackson also hosted auctions for vintage race cars every other year in Monaco, coinciding with the Historic Grand Prix. That year, a second U.S. auction site was added at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, which ran until 2004. In 2003, Barrett-Jackson opened another annual auction site in Palm Beach, Florida, where it continues as of 2022. It is held annually at the South Florida Fairgrounds, typically in late March or early April. A Las Vegas auction was added in 2008, held annually at the Mandalay Bay resort. The event was typically held in late September or early October. In 2021, the event switched to a June date and moved to the newly completed West Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. From 2010 through 2012, Barrett-Jackson hosted annual auctions at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. The event's first year was held partially in a large venue known as the Hangar, recently completed by the event center. The remainder of the 2010 auction was held in a large tent connected to the Hangar. Finding these facilities too small, Barrett-Jackson held the next two annual auctions entirely in a larger tent, transported from Scottsdale and set up on the fairgrounds' parking lot. The 2012 auction saw nearly 54,000 attendees and brought in $14 million, an improvement over previous years. Nevertheless, Barrett-Jackson announced that it would not return to Costa Mesa for a fourth auction, stating that profits were lower than expected. The business cited the high costs