Nearly 250 exhibitors have already committed to the SGMA Spring Market including Easton Sports, Mizuno and Wilson Sporting Goods. More than 70 companies have signed up to exhibit in the past two months, including Crocs, LifeGear, Diamond Sports, Hind Team Sports, ProFeet, Spenco, McDavid USA, and many others. These companies join an already impressive list of exhibitors that includes New Balance Athletic Shoe, ASICS, Russell Athletic, Spalding, Under Armour, Franklin Sports, Vital Apparel, Rawlings Sporting Goods, Regent Sports, Horizon Fitness, Lamar Health Fitness & Sports, Everlast, Cramer Products, and Century Sporting Goods, among others.

The dramatic growth of the SGMA Spring Market within the last several months has positioned the SGMA Spring Market as one of the top three largest trade show launches this decade across all industries – according to Tradeshow Week.

“The SGMA Spring Market should become the ‘go-to’ event in the sporting goods industry for manufacturers, retailers, team dealers, sales agents, journalists, among others. Our company is sending buyers from a number of categories,” said Mitchell Modell, president/CEO of Modell’s Sporting Goods. “This trade show should become the focal point of the year for our business. All retailers in the sporting goods industry should be in Las Vegas this June.”

“We are delighted to see Easton Sports, Mizuno, and Wilson make the decision to exhibit at the Spring Market,” said SGMA President Tom Cove. “When international companies of this magnitude support a new venture such as Spring Market, it reinforces our core message that this event will be productive and valuable to retailers and manufacturers throughout our industry.”

To further emphasize the importance of this trade show, SGMA Chairman Tom Rogge (President; Cramer Products; Gardner, Kansas) addressed those in attendance at the SGMA Industry Leaders Summit (March 5-6) in Washington, D.C. where he expressed the industry-wide importance of the SGMA Spring Market.

“What’s lacking is a sense of community within our industry and the SGMA Spring Market is a venue that can fill that void,” emphasized Rogge. “I encourage all companies in the industry, large and small, to exhibit in Las Vegas in June.”

Along with many of the industry’s most influential brands, a number of sporting goods industry groups, associations, and media organizations are conducting their meetings and events either prior to or during the SGMA Spring Market:

The Athlete’s Foot Global Franchise Convention. Hundreds of The Athlete’s Foot franchise owners from around the world will attend the company’s event at the Venetian Hotel. The conference schedule will include presentations on innovative new marketing efforts for The Athlete’s Foot brand.

The ELITE Running Specialty Store Conference: The ELITE Running Specialty Store Conference will be held June 10-13 at the Venetian Ballrooms and Treasure Island. This event is open to running specialty retailers, vendors, and sales reps servicing the running specialty market. This conference is being conducted by SportsOneSource.

Team Athletic Goods, Inc. (TAG): TAG will incorporate its annual summer buying event into SGMA Spring Market, as well as its National Sales Training Seminar, attracting more than 400 team dealer owners, buyers, and sales representatives.
National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE): NOCSAE will meet at SGMA Spring Market in Las Vegas to discuss changes to safety standards in athletic equipment.

Play Ball USA: This non-profit organization, developed to increase participation in community baseball and softball programs, will meet in Las Vegas at SGMA Spring Market.
Sporting Goods Agents Association (SGAA): SGAA will host its annual meeting at SGMA Spring Market.
World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI): WFSGI will convene its annual membership, board of directors and committee meetings in Las Vegas during Spring Market, marking the only time WFSGI will meet in the United States in 2007.

SGMA Spring Market is a focused sporting goods industry event showcasing full lines of footwear, performance apparel, equipment and accessories for fitness, running, spring team sports and licensed products. SGMA Spring Market brings together the industry's leading brands, specialty, independent and trendsetting retailers, and team dealers-all under one roof. The event also provides sporting goods industry professionals with in-depth educational training. SGMA Spring Market is presented by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) and is managed and produced by Universal Event Management. For more information on the event, please visit www.sgmamarkets.com or call 888-535-5199.