With each passing day, the likelihood of Messe Friedrichshafen (the company behind Eurobike) following through with their announcement to bring a major bicycle trade show to Portland grows slimmer.
With only ten months left until their alleged show, they still have not confirmed dates, approached exhibitors, or even given it a name. Even as skepticism builds, they haven’t communicated with the media since the initial announcement. I would expect that if they were serious, they’d want as much positive spin and PR as they could get.
Does this seem fishy to anyone else?
“I’m not holding my breath for them coming in 2007.”
– Mark Pizzuti, Oregon Convention Center
Today I ventured downtown to check out the NBDA Super Seminar. Many industry insiders were there and most of them seemed to share my skepticism.
One of them — who didn’t want me to use his name — said the whole thing seems, “half-baked” and that he “wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t even happen.”
**Update: I have spoken with Matt Pizzuti, the marketing and sales director for the Oregon Convention Center. Pizzuti has been the primary contact with Messe Friedrichshafen and says,
“I’m not holding my breath for them coming in 2007. The indication we’re getting is that they’re scrapping their plans for 2007 to better prepare for 2008. The feeling I’ve gotten is that they’re still getting their team together.”
Something is definitely wrong with this picture. It just doesn’t add up.
Theories abound…
Did they make the announcement just to test the waters and have now pulled back because the response was not as good as expected?
Was the initial announcement a mistake that was leaked to the press before they were ready?
Whatever’s going on I have a growing suspicion that we won’t be seeing a Eurobike Portland anytime soon. If my hunch is correct, than that’s really too bad. Nearly everyone I’ve spoken with says Messe Friedrichshafen’s Eurobike is the cream of the trade show crop and I bet they would have put on an awesome show.
Hey Don Walker…is it too late to bring your show here? No hard feelings huh?