October 13/10 11:16 am - Interbike Abruptly Shifts Dates & Location for 2011-12

Posted by Editor on 10/13/10
 

After creating a considerable furor by moving the dates of the largest bike industry trade show in North America from late September to mid-August, Interbike abruptly announced last night in a broadcast e-mail that it would go back to September dates, albeit earlier than usual.

Interbike had announced hat it was moving from Las Vegas to Anaheim, California, and from its traditional last week of September to the middle of August for 2011.  Clearly, this move did not sit well with exhibitors.

"The announcement that we were moving the show dates and location elicited a very real response that surveys and discussions alone couldn't accomplish," said Andy Tompkins, Interbike show director. "Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to this year's show and the countless conversations we've personally had with exhibitors and retailers regarding the future dates and location of Interbike, we are reversing our earlier decision to move the 2011 show to Anaheim in August. We are hearing loud and clear that, at this time, the industry prefers September dates and the convenience of Las Vegas."

The Outdoor Demo dates will be September 12-13, and the actual show will take place September 14-16.  For 2012, Interbike will move back even further, to September 19-21.

For 2011, the date shift causes potential problems for the Canadian trade show, ExpoCycle.  ExpoCycle has not yet announced its dates for 2011, but the Canadian show's traditional dates are mid-September, and ExpoCycle was looking at staying with September 11-13 in Montreal, to run in conjunction with the ProTour race - as it did this year.

The Bicycle Trade Association of Canada's (BTAC) Executive Director Janet O'Connell made the following statement:  "This latest flip-flop in dates and venue comes as no surprise to us, as the feedback has been so negative on the August Interbike announcement.  Having only just learned about this move to directly conflict with our planned dates in the last few hours we have yet to gauge response from our exhibitors.  I can tell you, BTAC's main objective with ExpoCycle is to serve the Canadian industry with a quality trade show, where our supplier and retail members can conduct business in the most effective manner ... that objective does not change. We have developed a winning formula with our format and combining that with the world class cycling event like the Grand Prix de Cyclists UCI ProTour ExpoCycle is very successful."

"For the last seven weeks the industry has been in an uproar over the proposed move to August by Interbike, a second and now third announcement has left everyone scrambling to evaluate alternatives and options.  Retailers and suppliers deserve to be consulted as part of the decision making process for the industry's major trade events.  Again, BTAC will not react to another change by Interbike, we will consultant our membership and act accordingly on that input.  Unfortunately, this announcement once again changes the landscape for anyone in the bike business in North America.  BTAC will be speaking directly to our industry in the next 48 hours and taking the pulse on how this will effect everyone."