In the United Kingdom and international events organizer Clarion Gaming has reportedly announced that next year’s edition of its ICE London exhibition has been postponed by some eleven weeks due to concerns over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
According to a Thursday report from Inside Asian Gaming, the 31st edition of the annual three-day extravaganza had been set to kick off inside the 100-acre ExCeL London exhibition center on February 2 but is now scheduled to take place from April 20 to 22 at the same riverside London location.
Renowned reputation:
Inside Asian Gaming reported that ICE London is widely considered to be the gaming industry’s largest annual trade show with its most recent edition said to have attracted well in excess of 36,000 visitors. However, the source moreover detailed that this early-February exhibition dealing with all things gaming was one of the industry’s last before the coronavirus pandemic took hold globally with the giant ExCeL London eventually being transformed into a ‘Nightingale hospital’ complete with approximately 4,000 beds.
Direct dialogue:
Kate Chambers, Managing Director for Clarion Gaming, reportedly declared that her team decided to reschedule next year’s edition of ICE London after conducting ‘discussions with the market’ that had quite understandably exposed ‘some doubt and nervousness’ regarding the show’s traditional February dates.
Reportedly read a statement from Chambers…
“While the world is likely to be in a much better place in April of 2021, I’m certain that we will experience more bumps in the road. However, I’m confident that with the on-going support of the ICE London and iGB Affiliate communities as well as the dedication of the Clarion Gaming team, we can navigate those challenges and deliver events that all sectors of the international industry want and need.”