PGA Golf Exhibitions has announced the final audited attendance figures of 44,679 attendees at the 2004 PGA Merchandise Show, an increase of 2.5% over the 2003 Show attendance figures of 42,809. Several categories of significance saw growth including PGA buyers by 6%, golf buyers/non-PGA pros by 14% and all buyer categories combined for an 11% increase.
Industry professionals from all 50 states and 78 countries converged at the annual industry gathering. The top five states by attendance were Florida, California, New York, Georgia and Illinois. The top five countries (following the U.S.) by attendance were Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
“Successful programs such as Demo Day, the Pro-Pro Series, Equipment Testing Centre, education conference and daily fashion shows brought a new energy to this year’s Show that translated into additional buyers on site,” said PGA Golf Exhibitions vice president and show manager Christopher McCabe. “We are confident that this collective focus on new show programs by Reed Exhibitions, the PGA and our allied golf partners is providing a solid foundation for a stronger, healthier business gathering for everyone in the industry to enjoy and benefit from.”
Many new and returning ancillary Show programs met with success in 2004. Demo Day participation increased to more than 4,000 attendees; the education conference doubled attendance from last year’s inaugural effort as did the PGA’s Business of Golf Conference; the Pro-Pro Series of five tournaments for PGA members was sold out; daily fashion shows had standing-room only attendance; and the ETC saw some 400,000 balls hit during the four-day show.
Thousands of products, accessories, fashions and golf-related services were presented by 1,156 exhibitors within 505,300 net square feet of exhibit space. The 2005 PGA Merchandise Show returns to the Orange County Convention Centre, 24-27 January.
Preparations also are well underway for the industry’s premier fall business gathering, the 2004 PGA Fall Expo, Sept. 20-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information on the PGA Merchandise Show or the PGA Fall Expo, industry representatives should visit www.pgaexpo.com or call 1-800-PGA-EXPO.
The PGA Merchandise Show, organized in partnership with The PGA of America, is one of four leading golf trade shows in PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions’ global golf portfolio including the PGA Fall Expo in rotating U.S. West Coast cities; the Ontario PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Toronto, Canada; and the PGA Merchandise Show of Australia in Sydney.
The next shows will take place as follows:
The PGA Fall Expo
20-22 September, 2004
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
The 2005 PGA Merchandise Show
27 – 30 January 2005
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla.
PGA exhibitions www.pgaexpo.com