Issue link: https://tradeshowexecutive.epubxp.com/i/65565
TSE DASHBOARD Trade Shows March Into Spring Like Lions BY DARLENE GUDEA, president; CAROL ANDREWS, editor-at-large, and HIL ANDERSON, senior editor Oceanside, CA – Exhibit space shot up 5.4% in March compared to the previous year with the number of exhibitors and total attendance rising significantly as well, according to the data in the latest Trade Show Executive (TSE) Dashboard of Monthly Trade Show Metrics. Attendance at the 22 shows surveyed was up 4.2% over March 2011 and the exhibitor count climbed 3.9%. Te adjusted totals for the month tallied 4,575,675 net square feet (nsf) of exhibit space with only one show of less than 100,000 nsf being excluded as an outlier. Te number of exhibitors totaled 15,666 and attendance reached a total of 456,345. Te numbers translated to an adjusted average of 217,889 nsf per show along with 746 exhibitors and 21,731 attendees. Half of the 22 events that made up the March Dashboard included 100,000 nsf or more of exhibit space. Tere were seven shows large enough to be included in the TSE Gold 100 rankings of largest U.S. trade shows. Another two were on the most recent TSE Fastest 50 roster. Te Dashboard shows were also largely on the upswing compared to last year. Only two events saw declines in all three metrics and 16 of the 22 events were either up or steady across the board. Big Rigs Take Up More Space Tere is nothing like a semi-truck to take up space, and the Mid-American Trucking Show (MATS) saw its show floor in Louisville gobble up more space as the number of exhibitors grew. Te 2012 edition of MATS covered 825,818 nsf, an 11.2% increase over 2011 and well above the 713,363 nsf reported in 2010, when MATS ranked No. 11 in last year's Gold 100 rankings. Te growth in the exhibit floor coincided with a 3.0% increase in the number of exhibitors at the show and a 6.2% increase in the size of the crowd, which grew to 91,981. "MATS 2012 was definitely a record breaker," said Toby Young, president of Exhibit Management Associates, Inc. "We set an all-time attendance record and had more international representa- tion than ever before. Te additional events held in conjunction with MATS also enjoyed a tremendous turnout." Other Growth Leaders } NFMT Conference & Expo. Te National Facilities Management & Technology Confer- ence & Expo (NFMT) reported a record year fueled by a 3.6% increase in atten- dance and double-digit growth in the number of exhibitors and exhibit space. Todd Kotlarek, director of events for the Continued on page 28 SPONSORED BY Engines of Growth. The newest products, ranging from high-tech video displays to powerful diesel engines, were a big draw at the Mid-American Trucking Show in Louisville. The event grew 11.2% to nearly 826,000 net square feet. 26 May 2012 | Trade Show Executive