For more than 40 years ISPO Munich has consistently strengthened its leading position: It is a global platform for the industry and popular meeting place for sports business professionals from all over the world, driving innovation and hosting exciting events.
This year, the world’s largest sports trade fair broke the 85,000 visitor mark for the first time. The proportion of visitors coming from abroad showed particularly strong growth, with an increase of six percent. One key topic was “Women in Sports”, which was showcased via its own dedicated platform and tailored tours. Increasing digitalization also continues to dominate the industry, and Adidas returned to Munich to organize a top-level symposium focusing on the subject.
With over 60 more exhibitors making their way to Munich in 2016, a total of 2,645 presented the latest trends, innovations, and products to more than 80,000 trade visitors from 120 countries. For visitors and the press alike, the focus of the event was on wearable technology. This year, ISPO set up its very own sizable editorial team for the four days of the trade fair, tasked with reporting back daily on the products, personalities, and parties on ISPO.com.
Superlative records in the more than 40 years of exhibition history: At ISPO Munich more than 2,585 exhibitors welcome over 83,000 visiting industry professionals on 104,940 square meters net exhibit space. The topics “Health & Fitness” and “Wearable Technologies” are right on track and set new standards. Special exhibits such as ISPO Cold Water Surfing are also proof that the leading international exhibition has a talent for finding up- and coming trends and sports. At the show, retailers and manufacturers discuss how to jointly react to the changing climate conditions and consumer behavior.
For the first time a special exhibit hall is dedicated to the segment “Health & Fitness”. Visitors as well as exhibitors are extremely pleased with this service. Numerous celebrities from the fitness industry are on site and offer valuable advice. Shortly before the event opening the two new services ISPO Community and ISPO Open Innovation are launched. The global sports business immediately begins taking advantage of these innovative ideas and provides a lot of positive feedback.
ISPO strengthens its leading position as a year-round service provider. Visitors rate powerful services such as ISPO Award, ISPO Brandnew and ISPO Academy as excellent. The premiere of the ISPO Textrends Forum offers designers and product managers a new centralized platform for textile trends and topics. CEO Klaus Dittrich is pleased with the success: “We want to establish ourselves even more profoundly as a year-round full-service provider, networking global competences, as well as actively driving developments and trends in the sports business forward.”
The health megatrend is presented in grand scale under the name Healthstyle. The high-caliber side event program offers conferences and themed exhibitions covering these and other future markets. The show also provides insights into professional marketing concepts for the digital era. Despite challenging conditions ISPO Munich retains its reputation as the number one meeting place for the global sports business.
Innovative rocker technologies and shapes revolutionize the ski segment. Ski hardware manufacturers celebrate sensational triumphs. And ISPO Munich also breaks records. With more than 80,000 industry professionals visiting from 106 countries the exhibition enjoys a historical increase in event statistics.
The 70th event is also the 40th birthday of ISPO Munich. Held in the Bavarian metropolis on the Isar River, the leading sports business event has established itself as a popular meeting place for the international industry. Months before the event opens the 175,000 square meters of exhibit space are fully booked. Management change: After 25 years as the CEO of Messe München and the Head of ISPO Munich Manfred Wutzlhofer is replaced by Klaus Dittrich.
More Safety for Winter Sports: Helmets and protectors are much in demand in 2009. The Outdoor Community continues to grow strongly; exhibit space rentals cover four exhibit halls in 2008. One of the top themes the exhibition focuses on is sustainability. In 2007 the “Best Ager” trend platform targets well-to-do consumers aged 50+. In the same year ISPO China moves to Beijing. In 2006 ISPO Munich launches its first “Wearable Technologies” platform. Visitors as well as exhibitors express a lot of interest in new textiles and innovative hardware with integrated technology.
In 2005 ISPO China is held in Shanghai. Fashion hype: In 2004 the new Cross-Over Hall presents technical textiles for the ski market. The innovative ISPO Vision segment services the growing market of sport and lifestyle fashion that now begins to conquer the streets. The ISPO Card is introduced in 2002. The customer card offers a variety of discounts and benefits. As the world’s largest sporting goods exhibition ISPO Munich 2001 becomes a trendsetter for the global sports community. The entire exhibition is completely overhauled. The exhibit areas are newly restructured into sports communities. Visionary pioneer for “Wearable Technologies“: A jacket with integrated mobile phone wins the ISPO Brandnew Award. In the ski market the trend moves towards all-rounders: Customers want skis that can be used on groomed runs as well as in off-piste territory.
In 2000 young, up-and coming manufacturers present their innovations for the first time in the special exhibition “BrandNew—NewBrands”. Winner of the first ISPO Brandnew Award is Robby Naish. Thanks to the award his new sport kite surfing gains increased attention all over the world. The first ISPO Winter held in 1999 at the new exhibition center is a genuine success. Another sensation is the largest natural snow ramp ever at an exhibition. On the ramp measuring 100 meters in length and 25 meters in height freestyle snowboard, trick ski and telemark athletes show breathtaking stunts. On February 12, 1998 German Federal President Roman Herzog officially opens the New Munich Trade Fair—Neue Messe München in the eastern section of the city. In 1996 carving becomes a mega trend. Exhibitors help kick off the successful history of shaped skis. Manfred Wutzlhofer is welcomed as the Chairman of the Management of Messe München International and as the Head of ISPO.
In 1995 the Trend Forum bundles the exhibition’s innovations for the first time. Another new feature is the Sports Fashion Designer Show in the foyer with fabrics, colors and patterns. The 40th sports exhibition is held in 1994. Völkl is one of the first companies to present a shaped ski, its “Snow Racer”. This is the start of the carving ski’s sensational history of success. In 1993 the snowboard industry receives its first dedicated special exhibition. The topic of recycling begins to gain the attention of the sports community. Plans are made to reduce the amount of waste from discarded sporting goods. In 1991 insiders begin to put more focus on water sports like river rafting and Scuba diving.
The 30th show in 1989 posts a new visitor record: 40,403 sports business professionals visit the event in the Bavarian metropolis. In 1988 ISPO presents technical textiles such as fabrics and fibers for the first time in their own exhibit area. New sports arrive from overseas in 1987: Paragliding and snowboarding conquer Europe. The multi-talented ski athlete Willy Bogner is honored with the ISPO Trophy. In 1985 tennis sport gains a lot of attention. Boris Becker is on of the star guests at the ISPO Gala. 74 percent of surfing and water sports suppliers do not want a competing exhibition. The “Windsurfing” exhibition planned in Frankfurt thus does not come to fruition.
The future growth market of fitness already boasts 90 exhibitors in 1984. Athletic footwear now covers 17 percent of the entire exhibit area. In 1982 a live fashion show presents the latest ski fashion trends for the first time. This event evolves into on of ISPO Munich’s most popular traditions. The 10-year anniversary in 1979 is a twofold success. The first fall event immediately impresses the industry. The focus is on summer and year-round sporting goods. At the spring event a new popular sport begins its evolution: Cross-country skiing experiences considerable growth.
The weakening US-Dollar exchange rate rattles the sporting goods industry in 1978. The future of export business is uncertain. In 1977 an artificial ice rink and a ramp for skateboarders inside the exhibit halls as well as a synthetic ski slope in the outdoor area draw plenty of positive feedback from visitors. The first ISPO Symposium held in 1975 gains a lot of attention from the sporting goods industry and sports retail. In 1972 all of Munich suffers from “Olympic Fever”. The “Olympic exhibition” is held between the winter games in Sapporo and the summer games in Munich. A special honor: Federal Minister of the Interior Hans-Dietrich Genscher opens the exhibition.
As early as in the event’s second year ISPO Munich 1971 is extended to four days. Thanks to its early date it becomes the “Exhibition of Premieres”. Close to 100,000 items are presented, among them 2,000 ski models.
The sports fashion segment receives its own textile center with 20,000 square meters of exhibit space.
The first international sporting goods exhibition ISPO Munich opens its doors on March 8, 1970. 816 exhibitors from 25 countries cover 45,000 square meters of exhibit space. Even the management of Messe München International is astounded by the crowds of visitors on the first day. Overall, 10,777 visiting industry professionals from 34 countries come to the event. Even the media express a lot of interest: ZDF broadcasts its show “Aktuelles Sportstudio” live from the information area of the exhibition center.
