German show organizer to launch U.S. event to compete with Interbike

Germany-based Messe Friedrichshafen, organizers of Eurobike, has announced plans to launch a bicycle trade show in the United States that will directly compete with VNU Business Media’s Interbike. The event is expected to take place in mid to late September 2007 in Portland, OR, but the exact time and place have not yet been announced. Messe Friedrichshafen aims to strengthen Eurobike’s presence in North America via the new event. The event will include a fashion show, sporting events and an industry-only celebration. The 25-year-old Interbike show is traditionally held annually at the end of September in Las Vegas. The 2006 show covered 370,000 square feet of exhibit space and attracted nearly 22,000 attendees. The next Interbike Expo is scheduled for September 26-28, 2007. “We welcome competition, as it will help us do a better job,” says Lance Camisasca, Interbike’s Group Show Director, “However, we are also greatly concerned about the dividing effect Eurobike’s announcement may have on the industry. Many will remember the time when the industry suffered through multiple shows resulting in additional expenses and heartache.” Eurobike 2006, held in Friedrichshafen, covered 440,000 square feet and attracted 31,810 attendees from 76 countries. The next Eurobike event is scheduled for Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2007, at the Messe Friedrichshafen convention center in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The facility features 10 halls with floor space of 753,475 square feet and a central 130,000 square-foot open-air site. The facility hosts between 15 and 17 international trade fairs and exhibitions a year, including the AERO, OutDoor, EUROBIKE, INTERBOOT and FAKUMA events. Contact: Wolfgang Köhle, Messe Friedrichshafen, +49 7541 708-309.