A revolt by many IBDs and some exhibitors forced Nielsen Expositions to reverse Tuesday its decision to move the Interbike trade show up seven weeks and relocate it from Las Vegas to Anaheim, CA.
On Tuesday, Nielsen announced it would keep the show and its contemporaneous Health+Fitness Business Expo at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas in 2011 and 2012.
The 2011 show will take place from Sept. 14-16, while the affiliated Outdoor Demo will continue to be held at Bootleg Canyon on the two preceding days.
“We are reversing our earlier decision to move the 2011 show to Anaheim in August,” said Andy Tomkins, Interbike show director. “We are hearing loud and clear that, at this time, the industry prefers September dates and the convenience of Las Vegas.”
Nielsen announced Sept. 19 that it would move Interbike to Anaheim in 2011 and move the show up seven weeks to Aug. 8-9. More than 60% of Interbike exhibitors reportedly signed off on the new date as well as Bikes Belong, the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association and the National Bicycle Dealers Association, which endorses the show on behalf of its members.
The NBDA agreed in part because some smaller cycling brands had been asking to move the date up to better compete with the industry’s top brands, said Fred Clements, executive director for NBDA. But fervent opposition from dealers in the days after the announcement caused Nielsen to backpedal. Some brands also complained there was no way they could have product ready to show that early.
