PG36-37 Show Review Final 3/27/07 10:55 AM Page 37
Show Review
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international industry experts. A sightseeing trip round
historic Seville and a behind-the-scenes tour of the city's Hall A on the second day of the show
Isla Magica theme park, which is celebrating its 10th
anniversary in 2007, both sold out.
Of frustration to some guests, however, was the fact
that Isla Magica was not open the rest of the time,
despite being touted as one of the city's attractions by
EAS organisers in advance. As for the giant Ferris
Wheel that appeared on much of the show's literature,
that had been removed months ago by operator
World Tourist Attractions. So really the only
amusement equipment most visitors got to see in
Seville was at the show itself, and there were very few
rides on show. Outdoor exhibits, for example, were
almost all of the blow-up variety.
But the exhibitor list was impressive, with most
major manufacturers and suppliers represented, albeit
with smaller stands in several cases. Not all of them
got their displays in time though, and a number of
operational issues blighted the start of the show for
some.
Positioned close to the entrance of the main hall, because of the location in Southern Spain we have
Hall 2, Mack Rides was well placed to pick up visitors seen few key players from countries like Germany, Euro Attractions
as they entered the show. “The first day was very busy Holland, Belgium and the UK, and no Arabs or
Show organisers
and we had some good meetings,” confirmed the Asians.”
tweak 2008
company's Sascha Rigling. “There are relatively few people from outside
“Attendance is up, which is always good,” noted Europe,” agreed Ruud Koppens of ETF Ride Systems.
dates to avoid
Peter van Bilsen of Vekoma Rides Manufacturing. “I “I though we would see more visitors from the Middle
London clash
have also enjoyed all the parties, we got a real East.”
flavour of Seville.” It's inevitable that as the Euro Attractions Show
According to Jack Mendes of Bob's Space Racers: moves around the continent, it will pick up a different
IAAPA and EAASI,
“For us, it's been a good show. Traffic was up and we crowd each time, but poor air links to Seville (even
organisers of the Euro
saw a lot more new people, people we didn't know most Europeans needed to catch at least two flights)
Attractions Show (EAS),
before, and that was very positive.” surely stopped some potential visitors from making it.
have switched the dates
Who knows what the final attendance would have
of the 2008 event
Countries missing been had the show been located somewhere more
planned for Nice in
“I have mixed feeling about the show,” said Olaf easily accessible?
France to avoid a direct
Mordelt of German animation specialist Heimo, Maybe we will find out next January when EAS visits
clash with the ATEI/ICE
which is currently installing a dark ride at Isla the popular Côte d'Azur tourist resort of Nice in
coin-op/casino exhibition
Magica. “There is a high attendance, yes, but I have France, followed by a second show for 2008 in
in London.
not see all the people I needed to see. I think Munich around the time of Oktoberfest.
EAS 2007 will now run
from Wednesday to
Friday, January 23 to 25.
Originally it was to take
place Tuesday to
Thursday the same week
- identical dates to ATEI.
Although there will still
be an overlap, for most
operators and all but a
handful of exhibitors it
should not present a
major problem as ATEI
abandoned its focus on
parks and attractions
sector a few years ago,
and even the British
Association of Leisure
Parks, Piers and
Attractions (BALPPA) has
scaled down its dinner
held on the eve of
Seville’s own GPD Productions was keen to make its
the London show.
presence known at EAS with this impressive stand
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APRIL 2007