As bicycle trade shows go, this has to be the shortest run in history.
Messe Friedrichshafen, the Germany-based owners of the Eurobike trade show, announced at the end of October that they would launch a show in Portland in September 2007. Here it is one month later, and BikePortland announces that they've already called off those plans.
Instead, the Eurobike folks are promoting a spring show to be held in tandem with the 2007 Sea Otter Classic from April 12 to 15 in Monterey, California. They've signed on as a major sponsor to the event and plan to draw consumers, as well as the manufacturers, dealers and media.
Reaction
The organizers of the Interbike International Bike Expo are clearly breathing a sigh of relief. A September Eurobike show in Portland would definitely compete with the Las Vegas-based Interbike held the same month.
Potential exhibitors, facing two major bike shows in the same month, are relieved as well. In fact, Tim Grahl at Shut Up and Drink the Kool-Aid (a blog for bicycle marketing and PR) wonders whether the initial Eurobike announcement was merely an attempt to gauge public opinion.
Meanwhile, the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (link was down 11.28.06) may come to Portland afterall. While the show operator Don Walker cancelled plans to move the show to Portland in 2008 because of the Eurobike deal, he updated BikePortland.org (see comments) that he's checking potential venues on the East Coast and Portland remains a possibility if he can't find accommodations there.
Here's what the Sea Otter Classic website says about its event:
The Sea Otter Classic, 'Celebration of Sport Festival,' held on April 12 – 15, 2007 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, has founded its reputation as the go-to event through events like Dual Slalom and Downhill, a Pro Road Circuit Race, Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country and Short Track (The Hurricane of Pain), the Invitational Dirt Jump Contest, scenic Road and Mountain Bike Recreational Rides, the Mountain Bike Ride Zone for future pros, a Bike Rodeo, Olympian instructed Cycling Clinics, BMX Demos and now BMX, Adventure Racing and Super D. At the center of the non-stop action is the massive Sea Otter Village and Expo, home to the world's largest outdoor consumer bike tradeshow featuring nearly 300 vendors, an international food court and loads of friend and family fun activities. The Sea Otter Classic draws nearly 10,000 professional, amateur, beginner, and recreational athletes; 50,000 spectators; and, more than 250 media representatives from across the globe.
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