There is much conjecture in the international coin machine industry about the fate of the 2020 IAAPA trade show, due to be held in Orlando, Florida, on November 17-20.
Source: RePlay
There is evidence coming through that many companies are downsizing their booths and that international suppliers are either not going or are drastically reducing staffing numbers for the show.
With Florida still in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, along with most of the rest of the US, there are some hard decisions to be made by the organisers. IAAPA is saying nothing right now and is clearly watching the situation keenly, but must be compelled to make announcements one way or the other within the next couple of weeks.
Major exhibitors in the coin machine section such as Sega Amusements International and BANDAI NAMCO both told InterGame that they are cutting back.
Paul Williams (pictured, bottom), CEO at SAI, said: “We have taken a smaller booth this year, around 50 per cent of our normal size. We are not sure that the international people will be allowed to travel yet. Even if they are, then we may make a company decision not to permit them to travel or certainly to reduce the numbers. We normally have 20-plus people from the UK there, but I would anticipate no more than five this year. Our USA office staff will attend.”
John McKenzie (pictured, top), sales chief for BANDAI NAMCO on both sides of the Atlantic, said: “We have downsized our booth to around half of that we operated last year. Our approach is that it will be a very difficult show for international travel from overseas as well as a justifiable reluctance from US operators to invest in equipment.
“That said, we are trying to support the industry and will use the opportunity to find out from the trade how we can help both them and ourselves next year. After all, our objective is to supply games to the market.
“If the show goes ahead – and I am still not 100 per cent convinced that it will – then we will likely reduce the US staff by half and only send one or two staff from Europe. Our show budget will be reduced by at least half as well.”
Another international exhibitor who preferred to remain unnamed, said: “Personally, I hope the show is cancelled. I doubt if there will be any international customers. It will be mainly the US customers that will come – and I doubt if many will be in the mood to purchase. If they do buy, then it will be games that are already known in the market place. There is no purpose exhibiting new games at the show because there will not be many sales. Like many manufacturers, we are delaying all our product launches.”
