The Equip Exposition 2022, Louisville, Kentucky, set a record in overall attendance, according to Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI, in a press conference on the last day of the event.
“For the first time in the show’s history, we’ll have 25,000,” says Kiser. “That’s a win. That’s a big win.”
The show’s previous record was 24,903 in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s total as of the last day of the show was 24,936. Of that amount, 9,487 were landscapers, 3,415 were dealers and 3,589 were hardscapers. All 50 states were represented along with 49 countries.
Equip also set records in overall square footage for exhibitor space, part of which included an expanded 30 acres of outdoor demo area, and in sponsorship and ad sales revenue, says Kiser.
This year was also the first time that Equip was managed by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute in its 39-year run, rebranding under the new name at the end of last year’s event. That change was part of what drew people to the show this year, along with new products and show upgrades, says Kiser.
“I think there’s just enough change that it drove attendance,” he says. “The challenge for us is always how do you keep it going? What’s new?”
The show also had the support of the Equip office in Louisville, opened just before last year’s event, as well as new board members.
One of the additions to the show was Mulligan’s 5k Fun Run and Walk, which started off at 7 a.m. Oct. 19 across Louisville’s Big Four Bridge and drew 250 runners. Along with its education sessions, the show maintained other past events such as the Mutt Madness dog adoption area.
“At 39 years old, we’re reinventing ourselves again, and it’s a successful model for business,” he says.
Read more about Equip Exposition.
