Couple questions about IAAPA (Mostly to Jeff)

How many years has this been done?(annual event). Do they hold this in various citys each year? Do all of the owners of parks(CF,SF,Paramount) attend this event? They should hold this event at McCormick place in Chicago one year. This is a facility designed to hold events like this. It would probably be better for IAAPA than being in a football stadium.

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"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL

I don't know how many years this has been going on, but I'm sure it has been a long time. This show is huge. Download the map from www.iaapa.org and you'll see what I'm talking about. I still haven't seen everything. Of course, if I spent less time sampling food, playing Ms. Pac-Man at Namco's booth, and marveling at the insanity that is the Slingshot, perhaps I'd cover more.

I'm not sure how many cities the show has been held in, but it must be held someplace that can accomodate it. Every square foot of this show is sold-out. I know it was in Orlando two years ago, and that's where it will be next year. Hmmm... I wonder what I can do in that area? ;)

I honestly don't think McCormick would be big enough. The World Congress Center really is that huge, and they're building another expansion as we speak. The company I work for in my day job puts on business-to-business trade shows, but none of them are this huge in scope. The dome is that "small" part of the show.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

O.K. Jeff, you are right. I checked the stats of both convention centers and the World Congress Center has McCormick place beat 2.5 million square feet to 1.3 million square feet. Damn, I thought McCormick was huge.

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"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL

Maybe the next expansion to McCormick will allow the show to go to Chicago.
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Everybody calm down, the coasters do not open for another fifteen minutes.

The IAAPA Trade Show has been held recently in Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas and Los Angeles. I believe the show is to be held in Dallas next year. It was held in LA a few years ago, but they had so many problems with the convention center unions that IAAPA has sworn never to go back there again.
They need a VERY big facility and a they like to have it were the weather is mild. So it looks like for the near future that Atlanta, Orlando and Dallas are going to be the show sites.

Dang, so much for having it in D.C. or Baltimore. I thought it was going to Orlando next year?
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Everybody calm down, the coasters do not open for another fifteen minutes.

How about Arenas such as Madison Square Garden, continental arena, or the nassau Coliseaum. Is there any other large arenas around the tri-state area?

How about Cobo Hall in Detroit.

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Ride with full FORCE *** This post was edited by Andrew on 11/18/2000. ***

Dutchman: As I said above, next year's show will be in Orlando.

No, Cobo couldn't hold 25% of this show. Also, an arena wouldn't be big enough for the midway (remember it now occupies the entire floor of the Georgia Dome).

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

You need more than an arena for a convention like this. The arena space is only for a few portable rides to be set up. The majority of the convention is contained in the show booths of the thousands of vedors of various park related items and servicies. The reason Atlanta works is because they have one of the worlds largest convention spaces (for size, see Jeff's post above) right next to the Georgia Dome for the rides.

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Everybody calm down, the coasters do not open for another fifteen minutes. *** This post was edited by WildOne on 11/18/2000. ***

I stand corrected.

what about the rosemont convention center in chicago?that place is huge...i go to a halloween trade show every march.

In a few yearsm they should have it the RCA Dome in Indy. Then I could go to it.

I am aquainted with one of the manafacturers that is on the trade show board. He told me at one time that IAAPA prefers to have the show at locations with a warm climate. It doesn't mean that it couldn't be held elsewhere, but it seems unlikely, since it is the preference of the membership.

Rosemont? Are you kidding? I've been to bigger Wal-Mart stores than Rosemont.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

hothitz, the only place that would have a chance in the Chicago area for this event is McMormick place.

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"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL

Wow! This show is HUGE! I loaded the map and was not too impressed at first. Then I zoomed out, and now I understand why it was taking my computer so long to draw the convention map (even through a T1). The Dome appears to house maybe 10% of the show max. I counted something like 1435 booths. Definately looks like it would be a fun place to get lost in!!!

How about Ford Field in Detroit when it opens? I'll be the first in line for tickets.

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And the winner for the 1996 election is Bob Dole!(SNL 11/11/00)

Jeff, the next 3 years the show will be in Orlando. We members will be surveyed after the next show to see if it returns to Atlanta or New Orleans in 2004. The only other real city that can handle 33,000 attendees is Vegas, and for clear reasons, no one would be in the show's seminars, including myself. While the magical midway in Orlando is better than the dome, it just means more rides on the floor, and good weather. Also means only the good shows up, I have seen some lame rides to sample. Plus I think New York and San Diego can do it, but then the price and availablilty of rooms come into play. Vegas has Comdex and that Rodeo in town, and I guess to them Atlanta and Orlando make sense. Also, Orlando has a ****load of stuff for families, and warm weather is a must. Though Atlanta did not follow up on that note this past week. Members have expressed interes in always keeping it in Orlando, so that may be the next step.

I'm all for that. I don't like Atlanta very much. The Congress Center and dome are nice facilities, but Atlanta is one of the creepiest places I've ever stayed at night, and I've stayed in Pittsburgh! (Sorry, had to do it with the PA members here. ;))

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com