The Kona stand last year in the RDS; next year sees the Irish Cycling Show move to City West
The expo-style ‘Irish Cycling Show’ is to return next year after its inaugural outing back in May, but with an earlier date and a switch of venue from Dublin’s RDS.
Hugh Bonner, whose Donegal-based company Mara Media runs the event, told stickybottle the show is moving to the City West exhibition centre just off the M50 and would be moving forward to an early March date of 9th and 10th.
Tickets will also be cheaper next year, with family passes aimed at encouraging parents to bring their young children along.
“We were absolutely delighted with the way it went last year and the research we did after it showed people had a great time; that it was fun and full day out for them,” Bonner said.
Advertisement
“Some of the feedback focused on the fact that the RDS was hard to find for some people and you also had to pay for parking. So with the new exhibition centre at City West, the parking is free and it’s just off the M50 so it’s very handy for people no matter part of the country you’re coming from.”
Bonner said the fact the Luas lines run to the west Dublin venue also made it very attractive.
Related News
“It’s actually bigger than the RDS so we’re not compromising on the size of it at all. We had 4,000 people in the doors back in May. So we’ll be looking to add another 1,000 people or so to that and also add more exhibitors.”
Bonner said those exhibitors who offered goods for sale rather than simply putting their equipment on display had enjoyed a lucrative weekend in May.
“One of the things that people said after the RDS show and that was probably a bit surprising in a recession was that they would have liked more opportunity to buy things. So we’ll definitely be pushing that retail element more this time.”
Bonner teamed up with An Post’s ‘One4All’ as the title sponsor last year and is hopeful of repeating that relationship for the 2013 show.
“Obviously now we have the first year done and dusted. We’ve a lot of contacts made and I expect all of the exhibitors last year to come back again; in fact a good few of them have already told us they’ll be there. So for us it’s about packing it with even more stuff for people to see and do. We had stunt riders last year and a test track where people could take bikes for a spin. All of that was really popular so that will definitely be happening again.”
“We’ve booked the BMX freestyle rider Keelan Philips again and we’re adding the Animal Bike Tour stunt team.”
A cycling personality will also be signed up to appear at the show next year.
Bonner said he believed bringing the show forward by just over a month to March 9th and 10th would mean it wouldn’t clash with a number of other large sports events as it did last year, with the 2012 RDS show having clashed with the start of the An Post Rás started and also rugby’s Heineken Cup.
Topics
