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Sep
11
Remembering 9-11 in Las Vegas
Filed Under Attendee News, Interbike | 1 Comment
Just wanted to write a brief post on this 10th anniversary of 9-11 from here in Las Vegas. A lot of the industry is travelling to Interbike today from all parts of the US and the world today. We’d like to take at least brief moment to remember and acknowledge the events that took place 10 years ago today and honor the heroes that arose from those tragic events as we plan for a week of talking about, riding and celebrating bikes.
I arrived in Las Vegas yesterday afternoon and took a stroll over to the New York New York Hotel on the other end of the Strip from the Sands. Here’s a photo I took of their Statue of Liberty which has a permanent memorial to 9-11 along the sidewalk at its base:
Following the events of September 11, 2001, firefighters from around the world who visited Las Vegas created an impromptu memorial at NY-NY by leaving t-shirts from their home fire battalions on the fence that surrounded the statue. Apparently, several thousand shirts had been left by 2003 and the hotel subsequently donated many of them to the University of Nevada Las Vegas to be archived.
The hotel kept some of the shirts and built a permanent memorial consisting of lighted marble and glass display cases each featuring one of the shirts. You can see some of them at the bottom of the photo above.
On a side note, I have a personal connection to 9-11. My wife and I were scheduled to move to California from Connecticut (about 40 miles north of New York City) on September 11, 2001, as my employer in the bike industry at the time was transferring a number of us to offices out West. Luckily, we were supposed to be on an afternoon flight that day and, needless to say, we were only able to move west a few days later.
We’re coming up on our 10th anniversary of living in California, and we’ll never forget the date. Of course, our connection to the date pails in significance to that of the many families directly affected by the events that day. Our thoughts go out to all of them today.
Safe travels and we’ll see you all in Las Vegas.
Jun
24
Preview of the Las Vegas Ironman 70.3 Worlds Course
Filed Under Interbike | Comments Off
Our friends over at Wattie Ink have posted a video preview of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship course that will held held in Las Vegas this year for the first time on September 11, the day before our OutDoor Demo opens. The race will be centered in Henderson at Lake Las Vegas, not too far from Bootleg Canyon, the home of the Demo. The bike course will take racers down around Lake Mead, a place many in the industry are familiar with from the annual Tour de Lake Mead industry ride on the second morning of the Demo.
We’ve made arrangements with Ironman to provide a retailer-exclusive viewing area at the race at the finishing straight – so consider coming out a day early if you’re into tri. It’s a limited opportunity and we’ll be sending out details soon.
We’ll also be having more news and details on some more awesome triathlon-focused events and content at Interbike 2011 coming soon!
Oct
13
News: Interbike Returns to September in Las Vegas in 2011
Filed Under Attendee News, Exhibitor News, Industry News, Interbike, OutDoor Demo | 5 Comments
Here’s the press release we sent out last night announcing a change of dates for 2011 that supersedes our initial plan to move the show to August in Anaheim that we announced just prior to this year’s show.
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Interbike Returns to Las Vegas in September for 2011 Show
Show organizers respond to support for September dates and Las Vegas
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – Oct. 12, 2010 – In response to feedback to its announcement three weeks ago that it was moving the show to August in Anaheim for 2011, Interbike today announced the 2011 edition of the show will stay in Las Vegas and will be held September 12-16.
“The announcement that we were moving the show dates and location elicited a very real response that surveys and discussions alone couldn’t accomplish,” said Andy Tompkins, Interbike show director. “Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to this year’s show and the countless conversations we’ve personally had with exhibitors and retailers regarding the future dates and location of Interbike, we are reversing our earlier decision to move the 2011 show to Anaheim in August. We are hearing loud and clear that, at this time, the industry prefers September dates and the convenience of Las Vegas.”
The indoor portion of the show will be held September 14-16 at the Sands Convention Center, with the OutDoor Demo being held in Bootleg Canyon September 12-13. The 2012 show also will be held at the Sands in Las Vegas September 19-21 with the Demo September 17-18.
The attention brought by news of moving the show to August allowed the entire industry to examine how it utilizes Interbike, what the show means to the marketplace, and helped solicit real and frank opinions from every sector of the industry. Based on this feedback and the success of Interbike 2010 (see press release), the show will move back to September in Las Vegas.
“Interbike has always been and will continue to be the industry’s show,” continued Tompkins. “We have heard the market’s passion and commitment to this event and we want you to know that we are listening. We believe the new direction will best serve the current needs of the marketplace.”
About Interbike
Interbike (a business unit of Nielsen Expositions, the parent company of the Outdoor Retailer (OR), Action Sports Retailer (ASR), Health+Fitness Business, and Fly Fishing Retailer trade shows) is a full-service trade show company that creates, markets and produces high-quality expos and educational conferences. Producers of the OutDoor Demo and Interbike International Bicycle Expo, Interbike is the leading bicycle industry business-to-business event management company, bringing together top manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of cycling. Interbike (www.interbike.com) gathers more than 1,100 cycling-related brands and close to 23,000 total attendees annually.
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Jul
27
CrossVegas Wheelers & Dealers
Filed Under Cycling, Events, Interbike, Racing | Comments Off
From Brook Watts of CrossVegas comes news that registration for this year’s races will open on August 1. Also note some updates to the event for its third year. We will again be providing complementary shuttle service to CrossVegas from the Sands for registered Interbike attendees, exhibitors and media (bring your badge!). Here’s their press release:
July 26 (Boulder Colo.) The rush is on for entry into the biggest cyclocross race in the U.S. CrossVegas registration opens on August 1st at Noon Eastern Time for all categories. Categories include Elite Men, Elite Women and the Wheelers & Dealers presented by Mountain Bike Magazine race for bicycle industry members attending Interbike.
The 2009 edition of CrossVegas is scheduled Wednesday Sept. 23rd in Las Vegas following the first day of the Interbike show. Heading into its third year, CrossVegas has become a fixture on the U.S. cyclocross calendar attracting almost 10,000 spectators to the stadium setting of Desert Breeze Soccer Complex in Las Vegas.
Exclusive online registration is at BikeReg.com. Registration is limited for each category to 100 racers and is expected to fill rapidly.
In addition to competitor registration BikeReg.com will offer general admission ticket sales for the event. An admission of $8 per person has been created this year to cover the expense of fencing mandated by park authorities. “We’re victims of our own success,” explained CrossVegas co-promoter Brook Watts. “There have been serious traffic hazards created by fans parking in adjacent businesses and jaywalking major thoroughfares. As a result the fencing was required to mitigate the traffic issues as well as control fans hauling in prohibited beverages.”
Food and beverages sales, including beer, are available at CrossVegas beginning at 6:00 pm. In addition, Interbike will again provide a free shuttle bus throughout the night from The Sands Convention Center. “It’s the best bargain in Vegas,” explains Watts, “what else can you do in Las Vegas for eight bucks?”
Avoid the crowds at the gate and purchase tickets in advance for pick up at the Will Call window at the event or at the CrossVegas booth at Interbike.
The Wheelers & Dealers presented by Mountain Bike Magazine offers divisions for Men, Women, Media, Manufacturer, Retailer, Distributor and Advocacy. New this year will be Wheelers & Dealers number pickup at the CrossVegas booth at Interbike on Wednesday allowing racers a chance to avoid the rush at race time. In addition, the Wheelers & Dealers start time has been bumped to 7:00 pm to give racers and fans more time to get to the event after the show ends.
CrossVegas 2009 promises a great show for racers and fans alike. “If you’ve been to CrossVegas you know what an incredible show it is. If you’ve never been then you’ve got to come see the biggest race in the U.S. ” Watts concludes.
Complete information at: www.crossvegas.com
About Cross Partners LLC
Cross Partners LLC is a Boulder Colorado based group headed by Chris Grealish and Brook Watts that stages international cyclocross events including CrossVegas. The team has a combined 40 years experience creating and managing cyclocross events at every level.
Oct
1
Armstrong Interbike Press Conference Video
Filed Under Attendee News, Cycling, Events, Exhibitor News, Industry News, Interbike, Racing, Video | 2 Comments
Here’s another highlight video from our friends at Cyclefilm. This one is from the Lance Armstrong press conference that took place at Interbike last Thursday morning. For your viewing pleasure in case you missed it or if you were there and want to relive the event. Definitely worth a view. Supporting cast includes: Greg LeMond, Don Catlin, Taylor Phinney, and 200 members of the cycling and non-endemic press. Also, look for Eddy Merckx following Lance as he enters the room.
Lance Armstrong Returns – Press Conf Las Vegas from CYCLEFILM on Vimeo.
Jun
26
Viva Las Vegas
Filed Under Attendee News, Exhibitor News, Industry News, Interbike | 3 Comments
In case you haven’t seen the news yet:
Interbike International Bicycle Expo and OutDoor Demo to Remain in Las Vegas
Host city research and industry feedback confirms Las Vegas is the best return on investment for exhibitors and attendees of North America’s largest cycling trade show
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – June 26, 2008 – After two years of collecting potential host city data and retailer, manufacturer and industry partner feedback, Interbike management today announced the trade show will remain in Las Vegas, and is currently finalizing an agreement with the Sands Expo and Convention Center to host the industry’s show for a minimum of three more years, beginning with the 2010 show.
“The decision to keep the Interbike show in Vegas comes after years of research and communication with our retailer attendees, exhibiting manufacturers and important industry partners,” said Lance Camisasca, Interbike’s industry consultant. “The data and communication we have collected, along with industry recommendations from organizations like the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) and Bikes Belong, confirm our decision to keep the show in Las Vegas.”
Keeping Las Vegas as the host city for the Interbike trade show came into question two years ago when the time came to renew the show’s contract with the Sands Convention Center, which expires with the 2009 show. Among other things, members of the industry were interested in seeing the show support a more cycling–friendly city, while maintaining the best return on investment for exhibitors and retail buyers.
The Decision Process
In identifying possible locations for the show, Interbike selected key market criteria it considered mandatory for a host venue. Interbike’s top venue requirements include: Read more