Marketplace Events, which puts on many consumer home and garden type expo shows, is behind the new venture and placed former Cycle World Vice President and Publisher Larry Little into the position of Vice President & General Manager, Motorcycle Group giving them a good connection with the industry.
No indication yet of what cities will be on the schedule or dates of the planned shows, though, given the fall 2013 start, there is probably enough time to nail down those details.
Link: Marketplace Events
Steve says
They never have them close enough to me to attend without it being a two day excursion… Drat!
todd says
I wonder how they’ll deal with the redundancy; I can’t imagine Suzuki bringing anything different to the respective shows.
If anything, this is just another added cost to the industry. The manufacturers will either have to increase their show budget, spread the budget between two identical, concurrent show circuits, or skip one of them altogether. Maybe I’m wrong – I hope.
-todd
Brett says
Maybe this will eliminate the ever shrinking, exceedingly lackluster IMS.
JasonB says
Agree with you 100%, Brett. The IMS show deserves real competition, and truly deserves to be forced out- deserves to die. I gave up for good on that show for all of the reasons everybody else complains about. This is welcome news, and I’ll support their efforts.
Matt says
Maybe the new series will capture the interest and attendence of manufacturers that skip the current shows?
marc pondick says
since they quit coming to atlanta i have not been to a show in a couple of years, really miss it. true enough it was getting to be the same o same o, but where ese can u see and talk about all the new models in 1 place miss it hope the new concept comes to the the south east, we have Barbers in B,ham isnt that reason enough to come to alabama
Tin Man 2 says
The show in Novi Miicigan is over priced and lacks most of the interesting manufacturers. The show is simply an ATM for the promoters. Ducati, and BMW no longer participate because the fees are just to high to justify. So this $15 per head + $5 parking show has just the Japs, HD and back this year Triumph.
JasonB says
Only $5 parking- you don’t know how good you have it! The Chicago area show actually takes place in a long time corrupt, family-run suburb named Rosemont. Parking is $18 per car! A huge rip off and a good reason not to bother going.
todd says
Motorcycle parking is free typically.
-todd
JasonB says
OK, that’s great for the three or four Harley riders and sidecarists that brave the typically 15-30 degree snowy February weather in Chicago. Also, that $18 was three years ago- I’ll bet it’s $20 now. Which means two people + parking= $60. I’m not the only one who’s turned off, remembers the costs vs value, and is tired of being ripped off. The show just isn’t worth it.
JACRider says
I wish them luck. In Canada, the mfr’s have often tried to displace the long-running “flea market with bikes” show organizers to little avail. Perhaps this is why the expiring 3-year contract with the last mfr show promotion company was not renewed. Marketplace runs home & garden shows in Canada, perhaps the new motorcycle division will do the same up here?
If nothing else, Marketplace will find out dealing with motorcyclists (or converting much of the general public into same) is not as easy as hawking hot tubs and ornamental shrubbery.
kevin says
I’ll give it a shot. I ‘ve been to many of the NYC shows (a few years back) and they we’re good. I’ve also been to the Daytona, Fl show and it was awful.
Competition is good. Hopefully this show will cause the other to step up its game. Hopefully.
RD350 says
This is welcome news!
I would love to see the IMS show replaced by a truly world class show .. like the major bike shows in Japan, Italy, Germany and the UK. Anyone of those shows puts the IMS shows to shame by comparison.
I hope that AIME will look abroad for inspiration.
I vote for a NYC show in the early spring (so people can ride to it) rather than on the most freezing cold winter day in January as it currently exists.
Bill says
This is what i’m hoping for as well. I don’t only want to see the latest models, but also the Prototypes, and Concepts. I want to see what the Manufacturers are thinking about making.
Chuck D says
Went to the Javits center on Saturday. Took the subway.
B50 Jim says
Not sure if another show will be a good thing. I work in the trade-publishing industry and can attest that every segment has its trade shows, some large and well-attended, others not worth the time. However, any industry can support only so many shows before they begin to cannibalize each other. If the motorcycle industry has reached its saturation point for shows, any new show — especially an international event — will take participation away from an established show but won’t generate enough participation to make itself a top (or even viable) show. It could be a rousing success, but more likely it would be an also-ran while diluting the entire industry.
JasonB is correct about Rosemont, but he left out “with suspected Mob connections” — which torpedoed a planned, land-based casino there. The framework was going up and the state shut it down. Still, anyone who lives locally (Chicago) can ride public transportation. The “EL” train has a stop right across the street from the Rosemont facility, so attendees can save the overpriced parking fee to spend on an overpriced lunch.
Bill says
I agree that it could dilute the industry. But with the right advertising, and some good marketing to the manufacturers, they could make their first show one that stands above the rest. And if they get a following loyal bikers will keep coming hopefully either forcing the IMS to up it’s game, or step down.