SUPERCOMM Sponsors Parting Ways
By Margo McCall -- Tradeshow Week, 10/11/2004
After enduring the telecom train wreck of recent years, SUPERCOMM was finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. But due to a parting of the ways of its two sponsor associations, after next year the 25-year-old tradeshow heavyweight will likely go dark.
The U.S. Telecom Assn., which represents telecommunications service providers, and the Telecommunications Industry Assn., which represents manufacturers, had been negotiating for two years to hammer out extension terms on their five-year contract.
But in the end, the co-owners of the SUPERCOMM brand couldn't come to an agreement on terms to continue their management of the show. "Neither party was willing to extend the contract pursuant to its current terms and therefore the time had come for some decisions to be made," said Walter McCormick, USTA president and CEO.
For its part, USTA decided to withdraw from SUPERCOMM after next year's June 6–9 show at Chicago's McCormick Place and throw its weight behind its own annual TELECOM convention, which will run from Oct. 9–13 at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.
The TIA as of press time had not disclosed its plans. "The TIA board of directors was hopeful that, as we have been providing a fabulous event for 25 years, that we could continue providing a fabulous event for the industry," said TIA President Matt Flanigan. "One of the partners has decided to expand their own event."
Besides SUPERCOMM, TIA produces the Wi-MAX World Conference & Expo, set for Nov. 2–4 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel; STARTRAX, a networking conference slated for April 14–16 at the Mark Hopkins InterContinental in San Francisco; and SUPERCOMM India, which will be held Feb. 2–4 at the Pragati Maidan Exhibition Centre in New Delhi.
Flanigan said the TIA has been given permission to continue to produce SUPERCOMM India, which last year drew more than 100 exhibitors and 15,000 attendees. TIA also organizes U.S. pavilions for Intl. Telecommunications Union events, including TELECOM WORLD.
Since neither association has the authority to use the SUPERCOMM brand without the other's permission, the future of the annual telecom industry gathering is in doubt. One partner could have bought out the other, but they couldn't agree on terms to accomplish that.
In 2003, SUPERCOMM ranked No. 78 on the Tradeshow Week 200, drawing 25,357 attendees and 538 exhibitors to a 278,000 net sq. ft. showfloor. The previous year, it ranked No. 37, with 36,993 attendees, 816 exhibitors and a 484,000 net sq. ft. showfloor.
The 2004 show, held June 20–24 at McCormick Place, attracted 26,300 attendees and 691 exhibitors to a 302,820 net sq. ft. showfloor.
Last year's TELECOM drew 144 exhibitors and spanned 23,000 net sq. ft.
