With more than a million square feet of exhibits and 30 acres outside, organisers of Equip Exposition which took place last week in Louisville, Kentucky, say they once again broke records in attendance and exhibit space sales.
The trade show expanded its usual footprint at the Kentucky Exposition Center to add the West Wing this year due to space demands. “The 2023 show was our largest to date - in attendance, in booth sales, sponsorships, and in education sessions,” says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns Equip Exposition.
“It shows you how much companies and manufacturers want to be part of Equip Exposition and showcase their products to landscapers, dealers, and the entire industry. It is the place to be every October if you’re in this business.”
Kris continued, “We’ve now grown to fill all of the halls and have added a big part of the West Wing to our footprint. Not to mention, we have maxed out on outdoor demo space, which is one of our most popular features. It’s the only show in the industry where you can dig, cut, mow, mulch and test equipment before buying. This year we also added select workshops in Spanish, a women’s reception and an expanded UTV track outside.”
This year’s Equip say they brought together more than 27,000 registered attendees from all 50 U.S states and 46 countries. Landscape contractor registrations increased by 20% over last year, and dealers were up 5%.
Organisers say plans for 2024 are well under way, including a Welcome Reception at Churchill Downs, which will mark the 150th anniversary of the Kentucky Derby in May 2024 with upgrades to the racetrack, as well as another arena concert at the Yum! Center in downtown Louisville.
“Building on the success of this year’s show, we continue to incorporate new experiences for 2024. We’re currently looking for talent for another Yum! Center concert and building out the slate of speakers for our education series,” Kris says. “Every year, Equip Exposition invests in and commits to making the user experience unique in response to the industry’s needs, demands and market changes. So while it will be the same show you’ve always loved - it will just get better.”
Registration for the 2024 show is now open.
