Entertainment technology tradeshow announces shift to ExCeL for 2013 event as Earls Court area redevelopment plans face crucial council decision, writes David Davies
AFTER MOREthan two decades at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, PLASA has revealed that its annual London tradeshow will relocate to ExCeL, situated in the east of the city, in 2013. The organisation has also confirmed a change of month – from September to October – in a move that will finally address the long-running overlap with IBC. The news emerged as hugely
controversial plans to redevelop the Earls Court area entered a decisive phase. On 3 September, Hammersmith & Fulham Council was due to determine whether houses on the West Kensington & Gibbs Green estates should be included within the scheme. On 12 September, councillors will decide whether to approve the entire redevelopment programme, which includes the proposed demolition of Earls Court Exhibition Centre. Speaking to PSNEurope in late August, Jonathan
The new ExCeL venue is said to offer excellent transport links and extensive on-site hospitality
Rosenberg – a community organiser and campaigner against the scheme – admitted that he feared the council would “approve the sale and demolition of the estates. After that, it will be up to the government to decide whether to grant consent for the disposal of West Kensington & Gibbs Green, or to call in and reject planning permission,” he said.
PLASA CEO Matthew
Griffiths confirmed that the inability to guarantee that the exhibition centre “would still be open in five years’ time” was an impetus to look elsewhere – but that the need to accommodate further expansion of the show was a more decisive factor. “We’ve been with EC&O
(Earls Court & Olympia) for 21 years, and it’s been a very fruitful relationship that has
helped us to develop the PLASA Show,” he remarked. “Relocating to ExCeL feels like we are ‘leaving home’ and are about to start the next phase of our growth.”
Looking ahead to the 2013
event – which will take place from 6-9 October, avoiding the annual IBC clash – Griffiths was particularly effusive about ExCeL’s “excellent” transport links and extensive on-site hospitality options. He also revealed that PLASA was mulling the possibility of co-locating a related event at ExCeL, but emphasised that discussions were at “a very early stage”.
Despite the impending council decisions, efforts to preserve the estates and exhibition centre were still in full swing at press time. Donations to the residents’ group campaign can be made via http://westkengibbsgreen. wordpress.com/save-earls-court/.nwww.plasashow.com
SOUNDBITES
Kazakhstan’s Palace of the Republic has installed a Harman AKGCS 5 digital conference system as part of a complete AV upgrade. The requirement was for synchronised translation for 3,000 people spanning seven languages, with a conference system that would serve 20 people. JBL cinema
loudspeakers, Crown CTs 2000 amplification, dbx and BSS processing and Soundcraft MH3 and Vi6 digital mixing consoles – provided by Asian Pro Music – were also specified for the installation. www.akg.com
Powersoft is extending its reach in Poland with the naming of SoundTradeas an exclusive distributor in the country and the announcement of a strategic partnership with local loudspeaker manufacturer Pol Audio. SoundTrade plans on starting the promotion of Powersoft products with a series of hands-on demonstrations, while the alliance with Pol creates the possibility of supplying Powersoft amplifiers bundled together with the company’s professional audio systems. www.polaudio.pl