OutDoor Moves to Munich; New Event for Old Site

In an internal voting process, a majority of members of the European Outdoor Group (EOG) have voted to hold the OutDoor trade show in Munich from 2019. This means that Messe Friedrichshafen will hold the forthcoming 25th edition of the OutDoor trade fair (17 – 20 June 2018) for the last time together in the existing EOG partnership.

However, the show must go on. In full independence and with support from numerous major industry players, Messe Friedrichshafen will be develop and hold a new version of the trade show in Friedrichshafen from 2019.

“We view the vote with great disappointment. After all, the OutDoor was born at Lake Constance and has been here for a quarter of a century. We have written a unique and successful chapter for the history of this industry,” said CEO Messe Friedrichshafen Klaus Wellmann commenting on the industry association’s vote.

Looking to the future, he added, “Our location, and in particular our concept for a new direction for the leading show, has good support from many EOG members, plus backing from numerous other outdoor industry players. Friedrichshafen will continue to offer a unique trade show atmosphere, where international outdoor experts set the course for the future of the business and celebrate their commitment to the outdoors. As such, we’re nevertheless confident and well prepared to enter a new outdoor trade show era at Lake Constance from 2019.”

Support from the industry for a new, independent event is already in place, said the head of OutDoor/ Eurobike for Messe Friedrichshafen, Stefan Reisinger: “Before the vote, we had already received very positive feedback for our vision of a future outdoor show. This came from several of the 96 EOG members and also a large number of the 869 other exhibitors who attended the 2017 show and were not part of the EOG decision. Our location and services have contributed decisively to the success of the OutDoor show. There is scepticism whether this success can simply be transplanted somewhere else. We are going to continue to offer the industry an authentic and unique home at Lake Constance.”

Show organizers are now conducting talks with the industry to consolidate the new direction from 2019. Dates and Details are to be announced with this year’s OutDoor 2018