A Glimpse at Tradeshow History (May)

1851 – Building made of glass attracts six million visitors
In 1949, the British made an official and stark decision that a tradeshow was the only way to freely access the world trading markets. This decision led to the “Great Exhibition of the Works of All Nations,” also known as the “Crystal Palace Exhibition” of 1851.

The Crystal Palace, the main exhibit space, was created in less than nine months and covered 19 acres. The building was constructed using 293,655 panes of glass and housed almost one million square feet of exhibit space.


About 14,000 exhibitors occupied the building, showing over 100,000 products and services. A total of six million people attended the show, which ran from May 1 to October 11, 1851.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Exhibition

1889 – Exposition held on anniversary of French Revolution
The Exposition Universelle, held during the 100th year anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, or the start of the French Revolution, opened in May of 1889. The tradeshow covered 240 acres.

Transportation around the Exposition was provided by a 1.9-mile long railway. In just six months of operation, the railway carried about six million people.

However, the main attraction of the Exposition Universelle was the reconstruction of the Bastille, the medieval fortress that was stormed in Paris in 1789. The fair surrounded the neighborhood around the structure and was mainly featured in front of the Eiffel Tower.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposition_Universelle_(1889)

1926 – Philadelphia show goes bankrupt
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Sesquicentennial Exposition was held on May 26, 1926 in Philadelphia, Pa.

At the entrance to the exposition, show planners built an 80-foot replica of the Liberty Bell, which was the show’s symbol, and covered it in 26,000 light bulbs. In anticipation of the show, a bridge was built across the Delaware River between center city Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey. This bridge is now known as the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Despite all of the attractions and new buildings, the fair was overwhelmingly unsuccessful. It only drew in about 10 million people and was unable to cover its debts. After the show in 1927, the assets were sold at auction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesquicentennial_Exposition

1984 – New Orleans becomes home to architectural wonders
On Saturday, May 12, 1984, the Louisiana World Exposition opened its doors in New Orleans, La. The expo’s theme was “The World of Rivers – Fresh Waters as a Source of Life.”

Along the Mississippi River, an 84-acre space was cleared and replaced by the many structures of the Fair. Much unlike the World’s Fair in New York during the 60s, there were no huge exhibitions or attractions.

Although the show went bankrupt, it is still known in New Orleans for its post-modern architecture, such as the Wonderwall, a path built from the rotunda entrance that took attendees past vendors and exhibitors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Louisiana_World_Exposition

Tradeshow History as reported by Exhibit City News

2000 – Las Vegas Convention Center begins 1.3 million square foot expansion
In May 2000, physical details of the 1.3 million square foot expansion to the Las Vegas Convention Center were released during a meeting with builders and general contractors.

The expansion, which included 918,000 square feet of exhibit space as well as 80,000 square feet of food service facilities, would be scheduled to finish in late 2001. Construction plans included the demolition of the Las Vegas News Bureau facility as well as the building of a new structure spanning Desert Inn Road.

Steel work for the project began in the fall of 2000 and ultimately had the classification of a high-rise building.

2004 – National Hardware Show announces partnership
In May 2004, the National Hardware Show made its new official home in Las Vegas. Previously held in Chicago, the National Hardware Show was forced to look into new venues due to rising costs in the windy city.

The move to Las Vegas attracted 2,300 exhibitors, three times the amount previously exhibiting in Chicago.

It was also at this time that Reed Exhibitions, the company sponsoring the event, announced its partnership with George Little Management. The two companies agreed to co-situate their events, the National Hardware Show and the Gourmet Products show, beginning in May 2005.

2006 – McCormick Place reaches agreement with riggers union
In May 2006, McCormick place struck a deal with Riggers Union Local 136 in Chicago, Ill. The five-year contract allowed for greater work flexibility, which resulted in lower labor costs for exhibitors.

The agreement was considered a major milestone for Chicago as a tradeshow destination. It was also considered a huge step for the tradeshow industry by reforming operational practices at McCormick Place.

The coalition was expected to create jobs and additional tax revenues, which made McCormick place a more competitive exhibition hall.

2009 – Freeman closes Philly branch
On May 15, 2000, Freeman closed its Philadelphia office in a move toward more efficient operations.

Freeman’s New York branch had traditionally provided all equipment and most production for Philadelphia events. For the last year, however, the New York branch produced all events in Philadelphia. Closing the Philadelphia branch merely formalized the arrangement, and few Freeman employees were affected by the closing.

At the time, Freeman produced a number of sizeable events in the city’s Pennsylvania Convention Center, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American Society of Cell Biology and AIIM/OnDemand, among many others.