NEC Confirm Retailing at Golf Expo 2000

The NEC have confirmed that the Golf Expo 2000 show in Birmingham will take place from November 2-5 next year.

The new owners of Britain's biggest golf trade exhibition have reached agreement with the European Golf Industry Association, the Professional Golfers' Association and the British Sports Industries' Federation for the final two days - a Saturday and Sunday - to be open to the public with a retailing facility.

Earlier this year, the public day at Golf Expo '99 was deemed a success in terms of the number of people who attended, but there was considerable disquiet amongst some visitors that they could look at the equipment on display but not buy it.

Rene Bros, the NEC exhibition manager responsible for running Golf Expo 2000, said: "In our experience letting the public into a show and not allowing them to buy things never works. It just creates ill will.

"The PGA have agreed to this happening, and are currently working out a formula to conduct the retailing."

The NEC acquired the Golf Expo show on a 10-year contract last summer after a previous deal with Reed Exhibitions had fallen through.