Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and continued regulatory uncertainty, GIE/OPEI, LLC have announced that the 2020 GIE+EXPO show scheduled to take place in October in Louisville, Kentucky, will be postponed until next year.

Kris Kiser, President and CEO of OPEI, and managing partner of GIE+EXPO sent TurfPro and sister magazine Service Dealer a special video message explaining the decision which you can watch below.

Show ownership and management (GIE/OPEI, LLC) of GIE+EXPO, the Green Industry and Equipment Exposition, say they have been monitoring the situation closely, and have been working with state and local authorities to put on the safest show possible. Unfortunately, they say, the unpredictable nature of such a rapidly evolving environment prohibited this year’s show from taking place safely.

“The health and safety of our attendees and exhibitors is critical, and it is with profound regret that we announce the cancellation of our 2020 event,” said Kris Kiser.

“We’re looking forward to 2021 and already gearing up to make our next show a dynamic and engaging experience for the entire industry. I encourage exhibitors and attendees that have already registered or secured exhibit space to roll those monies forward to the 2021 show.”

Next autumn, the organisers say that attendees and exhibitors will experience several updates to the Kentucky Exposition Center grounds. The facility is undertaking $8 million in outdoor improvements and enhancements, including:

• Replacing the main entry gates to improve ingress and egress.
• Expanding paved areas on the north side of the building to increase exhibit space opportunities.
• Relocating more than 126,000 cubic yards of soil, to the Outdoor Demonstration Area to improve drainage and irrigation to the grounds.
• Adding permanent driving lanes to the Demo Area.
• Improving pedestrian access from nearby hotels

Despite the need to postpone this year’s show, the Kris Kiser says the industry in the U.S continues to thrive. “Manufacturers, landscapers, and outdoor power equipment dealers have been deemed essential during this ongoing pandemic, and the industry continues to play a major role in keeping greenspaces around the country safe and accessible,” he said.

“What we’ve learned during this period is the extraordinary importance of the living landscape to our mental and physical health, especially for homeowners who have a yard."