Last month, Messe Friedrichshafen announced to the bicycle trade that they would be exporting a U.S. version of Eurobike sometime in 2007, and then quickly decided to postpone the event until 2008. This week, the organization inked a deal that will bring The Eurobike International Trade Exhibition together with the largest consumer bicycle show in the U.S., the Sea Otter Festival.
Under this new strategic partnership Eurobike will actively support the Sea Otter consumer show with sponsorship money and the Sea Otter organizers will contribute their event expertise to Eurobikes proposed trade show. The Sea Otter Classic will serve as the platform for Eurobike's entry into the U.S. market.
“Messe Friedrichhafen is committed to raising its profile in the United States,” says CEO Klaus Wellmann. The Eurobike team will first concentrate on creating a partnership framework with the Sea Otter Classic Festival. “We'd like to harmonize the trade show with the sporting event for the spring start of the cycling season, in order to reach manufacturers, retailers, the media, and consumers more consistently,” explains Wellmann.
According to Eurobike officials, various U.S. bicycle industry leaders approached Messe Friedrichshafen, requesting that it fill the need for an alternative trade show format in that market. Erich Reiss, Eurobike director of international sales & organization, and Klaus Wellmann both emphasized that Messe Friedrichshafen is “actively pursuing” the U.S. trade show project.
