TEMPE, Ariz. (BRAIN) — The trade show shuffle has left Interbike right where it started, for this year at least, in Las Vegas' Mandalay Convention Center in September. For 2018, the show is looking at results from a recent industry survey that found dealers favor Denver or Salt Lake City for the show.
In light of recent announcements of major show date shifts by Eurobike, the Taipei Cycle Show and the Outdoor Retailer show, Interbike surveyed the industry this fall and came close to pulling the trigger on moving this year's show to June at the Mandalay, said Pat Hus, the show's vice president. Hus spoke at the opening session of the IBD Summit here on Tuesday evening.
A June show would have positioned Interbike ahead of Eurobike, which is moving to July next year. But Hus said organizers decided against the June move for a variety of reasons, including Specialized's decision to hold its big dealer event in September this year.
"We would have had to jump through a lot of hoops to make (a June 2017 show) happen," Hus said. "Overall, dealers were not too excited about the June dates and exhibitors said they wouldn't have time to prepare. We were on the brink of deciding, but the Specialized news sort of changed the game. It could represent a shift to later dates for the whole product introduction schedule.
"And," he added, "dealers don't want to have shows in June or July. We get it."
Hus said dealers surveyed this fall said they preferred Salt Lake City or Denver to Las Vegas. He said all three venues remain in the running.
"Denver is in the lead (among retailers). There is the perception that it will be a good place for the show. There is more to the picture that we have to consider when it comes to costs and the outdoor demo and other issues. Denver and Salt Lake City want our business in a big way," he said.
Hus said Interbike will announce its 2018 location in the next 60 days.
