Cycle News Friday, December 03, 2004

NEC blow as Bike Show moves to Stoneleigh

Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre has been dealt another blow after the annual Bike Show announced it was leaving the venue after ten years.

The Bike Show is to move to Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire because the park has better outdoor facilities.

The NEC is currently fighting to cling on to the Motor Show, which could move to London after 26 years in Birmingham.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers, which organised the biannual event, has asked three centres to present bids for the lucrative event.

The Bike Show, which is the biggest event of its kind in the UK, attracts about 28,000 visitors each year.It covers cycling from road bikes to BMXs.

A spokeswoman for the event said: "We moved, not because of costs, but basically because Stoneleigh Park has more outdoor space. It is very hard to portray the bikes in the right way if your are trying to cycle around an indoor arena. At Stoneleigh, there are miles and miles of green space and bike trails."

Sue Horrigan, group business director exhibition sales and planning at the NEC, said: "We gain more events and exhibitions than we lose. The NEC strives to be as competitive as possible and is the busiest exhibition centre in Europe."

(Source: http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=14936195&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=nec-blow-as-bike-show-moves-to-stoneleigh-name_page.html)