Article code: 82-046
http://www.panstadia.com (also www.piqr.com and www.panstadia.co.uk)
PanStadia International Quarterly Report: Volume 8 No. 2, November 2001.

 

[CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOWS]

FOOTBALL EXPO 2002

Football Expo 2002 -
the worldwide football
trade show and symposium
takes place in Cannes,
France from 9 - 11
January 2002.

 

In a PanStadia exclusive, the Football Expo organisers provide an insight on what happens at the event, who will be attending, and what are going to be the hot talking points in Cannes and in football this New Year.

Buzzing Exhibition

This year's Football Expo 2001 welcomed 100 exhibiting companies with various goals. New companies exhibited, gaining credibility among industry heavyweights. Companies successful in their domestic markets came seeking new international markets and marketing/operations alliances. Others with new products and innovations came simply to take advantage of the high concentration of their target market at the event, in effect packing months of work into three highly productive days.

The accompanying Symposium at Football Expo provides a steady flow of visitors who come to the exhibition on the back of informative seminars, practical workshops and conferences. This provides, in effect, a fully informed and finely targeted market in an active buying environment.
Companies that have already signed up to be a part of Football Expo 2002 cover many areas integral in stadia construction and design, stadia management, and new stadia revenues. Surface technology is represented in force including Richter Rasen, a natural turf specialist from Austria, defending their product against the international artificial turf manufacturers such as Fieldturf and Tarkett Sommer. Artificial surface yarn manufacturers such as Ten Cate Nicolon from the Netherlands and Tessiture Pietro Radici from Italy complement this industry sector. Indeed this sector has taken on an important role in the football industry since the authorisation this year by FIFA of the use of artificial turf for competitive games.

Arena and stadium experts from the Netherlands, the companies that constructed and manage the Amsterdam Arena, propose a multi-pronged stadia solutions package. Summit Structures of USA who will be showcasing their innovative approach to roofing and facility coverings will present other stadia construction products and services. A full range of pitch and stadia facilities is proposed by Sport France who have equipped the Stade de France which played host to the World Cup Final in 1998. A popular stand for weary businessmen may prove to be that of Starena International who provide a range of seating options for stadia.

Improved stadia management and increased stadia revenues are also on view. Terraplas from the UK showcase their protective pitch coverings, which add numerous possible revenue sources to your stadium. Why not install a Rent One giant screen in your stadium to complement the new possibilities being opened at Football Expo? A flexible approach to stadia is offered by Global Games from the USA who manufactures inflatable pitches, or Floating Fields innovative folding pitch!

The secure access systems sector is represented in strong numbers by numerous industry leaders including GSO and Kaba Gallenschutz from Germany, their European neighbours Skidata from Austria, Euroticketpass from France and Keyware from Belgium each bringing with them their own technologies and solutions.

Add all these elements to an advertising board system provided by French company Apilogic or their Belgian counterparts Postermatic and you can equip your stadium from A - Z.

Unrivalled Media Coverage

Due to the seemingly insatiable worldwide appetite for football and football business news, Football Expo enjoys unrivalled press coverage. Football Expo last year attracted over 200 media representing international organisations such as Reuters, Agence France Presse, BBC and the Financial Times and specialised trade press such as PanStadia, Soccer Investor and Football Insider.

This year promises even higher levels of media coverage. Football Expo in association with the Union of Sports Journalists of France will host a football tournament open to members of the international press before and during the event. You can obtain more information on the journalists tournament by logging on to www.usjsf-journalistes.fr

Discussions and Practical Workshops

This years Football Expo Symposium will be kicking off with a look ahead to the first Asian World Cup which will take place in Japan and Korea in June of next year. The conference will be looking at the economic impact of the World Cup on the host countries, participating Asian countries and the continent in general, and the development of football in this the worlds most populous continent.

Women's football is also set to undergo a closer examination - Can the enormous potential for the game be realised? Leading industry figures will be looking at the USA example and other successful ladies leagues to see what lessons can be learned for the development of the game internationally.

Other conference sessions will be analysing the format of international club competitions as well as the youth development and academies and the money explosion in the TV Rights industry.

An integral element in the Football Expo Symposium is the workshop programme designed to provide practical advice, which can have a direct impact on how football and trade organisations run their businesses. This year, Football Expo's handpicked problem-solvers will be addressing four key areas. The first of these will be Insurance and Risk Management, which will provide practical advice on what needs to be insured and how to negotiate the deal that fits your particular conditions. Independent experts will also be advising on the pros and cons of different turfing solutions for your stadia.

Other topics will include an A-Z of creating a club TV channel as well as a course on expanding your brand internationally, which promises to attract participants in high numbers. The full programme is constantly evolving with confirmations of private presentations. The highlight so far must be the legal workshop and round table seminar programme offered by Townleys - sports law at Hammond Suddards Edge who will be providing free specialist legal consultations.

Join the football family in Cannes and experience the difference Football Expo will make to your business.
 

Email: contact@footballexpo.com or visit the web site at www.footballexpo.com