NetWorld+Interop Moves Down the Strip
By Heidi Genoist -- Tradeshow Week, 5/10/2004
LAS VEGAS—Just before the scheduled opening of NetWorld+Interop 2004 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in mid-May, MediaLive Intl. signed a contract with Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino to move the show there starting in 2005.
"As an event, NetWorld+Interop has taken pride in showcasing the highest quality networking technologies the industry has to offer, and Mandalay Bay Convention Center's state-of-the-art facilities seemed like a natural fit," said Lenny Heymann, general manager of N+I. Heymann pointed to the facility's size, location and amenities, such as a ballroom that can accommodate 8,500, as factors that played a part in the decision to move.
MediaLive and Mandalay Bay were reluctant to give further details of the change in venue, since the two were planning to roll out the official announcement at the May 9-14 show – possibly the last at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where it has taken place since its inception.
N+I was launched in 1986 by ZD Events, acquired in 2001 by Key3Media, which became MediaLive Intl. last year when private equity firm Thomas Weisel Capital Partners bailed the publicly held Key3 out of bankruptcy. As the self-described "end-to-end networking and communications event," N+I was badly damaged by the bursting of the technology bubble. It hit its peak in 2001, climbing to No. 32 in the Tradeshow Week 200 with 525,000 net square feet of exhibit space, 848 exhibiting firms and 61,000 professional attendees. By the following year, it had dropped to 320,000 net sq. ft., 572 exhibitors and 40,283 attendees. At this year's show, organizers are hoping for 300 exhibitors and 20,000 attendees – about one-third as many participants as three years ago.
N+I is the second show in as many weeks to decide to move to Mandalay Bay. In mid-April, the Natl. Assn. of Television Program Executives announced it was moving its annual conference and exhibition from the Sands Expo & Convention Center to Mandalay Bay for 2005 and 2006.
MediaLive would not comment on whether COMDEX would follow suit. The information technology show tumbled 142 places in this year's TSW 200, dropping to No. 180 with 150,000 net sq. ft., 550 exhibitors and 39,229 professional attendees, according to a BPA Intl. audit.
