Nielsen Holdings N.V., which owns the Outdoor Retailer and Interbike trade shows, has acquired The Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show and the Tailgating Industry Association. The acquisition is effective immediately.
Under an agreement with Showproco, LLC, The Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show and Tailgating Industry Association will join Nielsen’s retail-related exposition properties, including Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, Interbike Expo, Health & Fitness Business Expo and the Independent Bicycle Dealer Summit. Nielsen’s Expositions business, which owns and operates successful business-to-business trade shows and other properties, also produces the ASD and Imprinted Sportswear shows.
“The Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show is a premier trade event dedicated to sports licensing and tailgating products, and we are very excited about adding it to our sports portfolio,” said Darrell Denny, senior vice president, Nielsen Expositions. “We have a significant amount of licensing activity already taking place at our shows, and we are eager to present this opportunity to our manufacturing, distribution and retail clients. We look forward to building upon the great foundation that longtime industry veterans Stan Schwartz, Hardy Katz and the Showproco team created.”
The Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show, a six-year-old annual trade show dedicated to sports licensing and tailgating product manufacturers, distributors, agents and retailers, serves as the key order-writing event in the industry for licensed sports goods, including apparel, footwear, headwear, sports equipment and memorabilia, as well as tailgating equipment, electronics, shelters, food and beverages.
“We feel confident that this trade event-which has grown so dramatically in scale and influence since its inception-is in good hands,” said Stanley Schwartz, show director. “The resources, experience and economies of scale offered by Nielsen will greatly benefit attendees and elevate the Tailgating Industry Association to a place of power and importance.”
“The synergy between sports licensing and tailgating creates all kinds of exciting opportunities for manufacturers and retailers,” said Hardy Katz, show director. “I think youll see Nielsen take that relationship to the next level.”
The next show will be produced at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 17-19, 2013. The Sports Licensing & Tailgate Show and Tailgating Industry Association will continue to operate from its offices in Miami, Fla., and will be supported from Nielsen’s offices in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., under Denny’s direction.
