Front Cover:Front Cover - Grandflame Ltd

NEWS REVIEWEVENT PRODUCTION SHOWWELCOMES FOOTBALL STADIA EVENT ORGANISERSOcean Media Ltd, owner of The Event Show, has announced significantchanges to its annual trade exhibition. Reflecting its move to broaden theShow’s appeal and re-enforce its rightful place as the Show for everyoneinvolved in producing sporting events, music concerts, exhibitions, corporateand private functions, it will now be re-titled the “Event Production Show”.Taking place at theGrand Hall at Olympia inLondon on the 2nd and 3rdFebruary 2010 there will be a new areacalled Stadia, that will be dedicated toassociated exhibitors such as ArenaGroup, specialists in temporary andpermanent event seating. They will bedisplaying their grandstand seats togetherwith a specially created VIP networkingarea. The Stadia Zone will also incorporatea football pitch featuring live sports relatedentertainment and there has been spaceallocated for up to eight football clubs, sportsvenues and racecourses to promote theirfacilities to professional event organisers.“We’re delighted to be returning to the newlook Event Production Show as it moves into abigger hall and spreads its wings,” said ArenaSeating sales director Dave Withey. “The ArenaGroup’s long standing links supplyingtemporary seating and structures to sportsvenues of all types and sizes made our supportfor the new Stadia Zone a logical tie-up. We areassociated with a wide variety of events andthis exhibition is the ideal platform where wecan engage organisers from across the board.”The ADI Group is a familiar name in theworld of football stadia, horse racing, musicfestivals and concerts. The company willlaunch The iCONIC iFLY, a revolutionary newconcept in mobile LED screens. With thecovers officially coming off on the first day ofthe Show, ADI promise that the iFLY “willrevolutionise the flown LED screen market forevent organisers.” They will also be launchingtheir new iCONIC Billboard product, whichwill be featured outside the entrance to theShow. Billboard offers a 6m x 3m billboardscreen on a mobile platform that can bedeployed in minutes. Billboard’s key feature isits high resolution “SMD” screen, givingbreathtaking quality and making the pictureviewable from a much closer distance.More football stadia and sporting venuesare looking at ways to diversify incomestreams on non-match or race days to makebetter use of the existing facilities.Michelle Tayton, event manager of theEvent Production Show said: “With theglobal credit crisis still affecting manybusinesses, those involved in themanagement and marketing of sportingvenues are aware that by utilising thevenue on non-match days for pop concerts,festivals and corporate events, not only do theyhave a huge impact on turnover, they alsobroaden the appeal of the venue by attractingnew audiences. The Event Production Show ispacked with exhibitors who can provide sportsmarketing professionals and event organiserswith inspirational ideas and products that havenever been seen before.”The Event Production Show is the first inthe year of the event led exhibitions and istherefore the Show of choice for manycompanies looking to launch new productsand services to event professionals. It is alsohighly praised by long standing exhibitors forthe quality of visitors the Show attracts.Themes Incorporated is a veteran exhibitorand last year was their thirteenth consecutiveyear and they took the bold decision to doublethe size of their stand. The gamble certainlypaid off, making the decision to furtherincrease their stand holding for 2010 straightforward. David Churches, managing directorexplains: “We have exhibited at this Showevery year since its inception and last year wehad the largest stand at the Show. It has alwaysproduced the highest quality leads insubstantial numbers.”David continues: “The rebranded EventProduction Show suits us perfectly. ThemesIncorporated is a leading supplier of themedprops and event equipment, whilst our sistercompany, Batmink Ltd, is one of the UK’slargest distributors of production sound,lighting and associated equipment, and will betaking a portion of our increased standholding. I’m certain that the renamed EventProduction Show will again deliver the qualityand quantity of leads that is essential to justifyinvestment.”The free to attend Access Sessions arealways one of the most popular attractions atthe Event Production Show. Confirmedspeakers include Terry Burwell, theTournaments and Competitions Director forthe Rugby Football Union. He is a leadmember on the Rugby Football Union steeringgroup for the Rugby World Cup 2015, coordinatingthe tournament’s requirements forvenue and operational management. He willbe on hand to answer questions from eventorganisers and sports marketing professionals.Organisers have also announced thatMichael Eavis, the founder of Glastonbury, willbe returning to the exhibition as a guest speakerin 2010. His last appearance back in 2007 filledthe room almost as quick as ticket sales for hislegendary music festival. Live Nation’s JohnProbyn, who is chief operating officer for UKMusic will be chairing a panel of industryprofessionals that includes Alex Connock, whoco-founded Ten Alps PLC with Bob Geldof, in aQuestion Time style interactive presentation.Smart AV is the official audio-visualcontractor for the Event Production Show andthey will be providing plasma screens, audioequipment and lighting for all the AccessSessions and seminars. Recently, the companyhas provided audio-visual equipment for theMichael Jackson Exhibition at the O2 Bubbleand they are also the rental partner for theMindstorm Touch Table as used by the judgeson X Factor.On the Live at the Grand Stage there will benon-stop high quality entertainment producedby Showbizworks.com all of which is suitablefor high end corporate events. World dancechampions Flawless will also be making aguest appearance and are bound to attractcapacity crowds. FSATo register log on to www.eventproductionshow.co.ukor to exhibit contact Sarah Brownlee at Ocean Mediaon 024 7657 1109.14 | FOOTBALL & SPORTS ARENA | November/December 2009