UP FRONT
It should come as no surprise to anyone involved
in this industry that the 1981 AMOA Show was the
biggest and best ever. In terms of total attendance,
the granddaddy of coin-op shows surpassed the
10,000 mark. A truly astonishing fact for a national
trade show that drew only 5,300 five years ago.
Despite the grossly inadequate facility of the
crumbling Conrad Hilton, the show was a huge
success. Oh , there were the usual problems with
lengthy registration lines, separate exhibit areas,
overcrowded aisles and booths, and the almost
unbearable heat. But thank heavens, this is the last
time the AMOA Show will ever be held at the Conrad
Hilton. Moves to Chicago 's Hyatt Regency next year
and then New Orleans' Rivergate in 1983 will provide
a welcome relief to all.
With the AMOA Show behind us now, all eyes are
turning toward toward the Amusement Operators
Expo to be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in
Chicago, March 26-28. While the move from New
Orleans to Chicago has disappointed only a small
percentage of attendees, we are steadfast in our
commitment that the AOE shall not be held in the
same city year after year. One reason for this is that
the AOE was established and always will be an
operator-oriented exposition. Unlike the AMOA
Show-which draws heavy attendance from
manufacturing and distributing personnel as well as
its own membership and a large international
attendance-the AOE Show, through its intensive
seminar program, attracts the street and arcade
operators throughout America.
This is not to say that the AMOA is going about it
the wrong way by keeping its show in Chicago year
after year. Quite the contrary . Chicago is the most
logical and ideal location for the AMOA. Most of the
industry' s manufacturing concerns are based there
and the city of Chicago is so centrally located that it is
easily accessible for members, distributors, and
international visitors as well. When the AOE is held
outside of Chicago, we do not expect the Chicago-
based manufacturers to bear the expense of sending
hundreds of employees. Although we welcome
international visitors, we don't promote international
attendance due to the fact that the various seminars
offered are all given in English.
The ultimate goal of the AOE Show is to make itself
available to as many operators as possible. Moving the
AOE Show around to such cities as New Orleans, San
Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, and possibly some others
will enable more operators all across America to take
advantage of the comprehensive seminar program
offered by the AOE which has contributed
emmensely to its rapid success. Witness last year's
seminar program that offered 31 seminars with an
average attendance at each seminar of 100-plus
operators. The number of seminars scheduled for the
PLAY METER , January 15 , 1982
upcoming AOE Show has been increased to 40 to
accommodate the growing demand for the vital
information those seminars provide. Moving the AOE
around like this simply makes it easier for more
operators in different parts of the country to take
advantage of what the AOE has to offer.
Here again, this is not to say that the AMOA
should be providing more seminars. The format size
and purpose of that show is such that no time is
available for large numbers of lengthy seminars.
There are so many exhibits and so many people, it's all
one can do to visit every booth and still attend the
meetings and seminars. The AMOA is doing well to
provide the seminars it does offer-which, by the
way, have improved this year.
Because the AOE is a much smaller show that the
AMOA-both in terms of attendees and exhibits-
more time is available for a comprehensive seminar
program and all the exhibits can easily be taken in
with a less crowded and a more relaxed atmosphere.
The AOE Show is designed for serious minded
operators dedicated to improving their business as
well as their profits.
The AOE Show has never considered itself in
direct competition with the AMOA Show, nor does it
have any aspirations of replacing or ever surpassing
the AMOA Show. In terms of attendance we don't
expect hundreds of international attendees. In terms
of the exhibit area, we are pursuing a course that
would allow the display of amusement equipment
only. For that reason alone, we don't expect ever to
surpass the number of booths sold by the AMOA
which accepts gambling exhibitors, apparently for its
international attendees.
What I'm really trying to get across here is that
there is a definite need for two national trade shows
for this industry, each one serving its own unique
purpose.
Both the AMOA and the AOE occur during the
peak buying seasons of the coin-op year, the AMOA
in the Fall and the AOE in the Spring. In their own
unique ways, both the AMOA and the AOE serve a
very vital function and contribute to the combined
growth and prosperity of the industry. We fully
support our two national trade shows and encourage
each one of you to support them as well. The more we
communicate and interact with one another, the
faster this industry will grow and prosper. And believe
me, the sky is still the limit.
~+-
Ralph C. Lally II
Editor and Publisher
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