International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment EXPO 2000 Preview

Held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky., EXPO 2000 caters to a wide variety of attendees and exhibitors involved in the outdoor power equipment industry. According to OPEI, 600 manufacturers and suppliers of lawn and garden products, outdoor leisure products, rental lines, outdoor power equipment and related products will exhibit at the show. These exhibitors will be spread out over the 222,000 net square feet of space indoors and 642,000 net square feet in the outdoor demonstration area with about 130 companies featured in the outdoor area.

Several associations are participating in EXPO 2000 as well, including:

• American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE)
• Engine Service Association (ESA)
• Equipment & Engine Training Council
• Lawn & Garden Dealers Association (LGDA)
• North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA)
• Outdoor Power Equipment Distributors Association (OPEDA)
• Outdoor Power Equipment Aftermarket Association (OPEAA)
• Professional Lawn Care Association Of America (PLCAA)
• The Service Dealers Association (TSDA)

Among the products at EXPO 2000, lawn and landscape contractors will find aerators, back hoes, chippers/shredders, edgers, skid-steers, lawn mowers, pruners, trimmers, loaders and hundreds of other products.

EXPO 2000 ONLINE. To reach the registrants from more than 60 countries, OPEI has developed a web site devoted to the annual EXPO. Visitors to the EXPO 2000 web site at http://opei.mow.org/demo/expohome.htm can find a variety of information related to this year’s show, which is divided up into sections for attendees and exhibitors.

Attendees can view a daily schedule of events, learn what products to look for at the show, find details about special events and attractions in the area, fill out an online registration form for the show and research nearby housing rates. Attendees can also view the schedules for Technician Certification Day, July 23, which provides the opportunity to receive certifications from the Engine Service Association, Tecumseh Products Co., Kohler Co. and Briggs & Stratton Corp. in proper engine repair and maintenance.

Exhibitors can view targeted information about the show, including the benefits of exhibiting at the show, a floor plan of the facilities, booth rates and details about exhibit space. The exhibitors can also fill out an online registration form to be sent to OPEI for reserving floor space.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Web users can get additional online information by logging on to Lawn & Landscape Online during the show. The staff of Lawn & Landscape Online will provide daily updates of the day’s events via a remote upload of files onto the web site. Log on to www.lawnandlandscape.com/opeiexpo2000/home.htm during the show to find these live updates. – S.H.]

EXPO 2000 ON TV. Speaking of live coverage, EXPO 2000 will be covered on EXPO TV NEWS, a full, on-site television production devoted exclusively to convention coverage throughout hotels in the Louisville area. Included in the scheduled coverage on EXPO TV NEWS are details about show seminars and interviews with OPEI executives. Coverage will also include video of the outdoor demonstration area where attendees operate various power equipment.

Following the show, five minutes of highlights from the EXPO TV NEWS coverage will be produced into a video to be featured online. The "Highlights of EXPO 2000" video will be available by visiting www.conventionchannel.net/expo.htm. That web address currently features more information about EXPO TV NEWS and also includes the Internet-ready video "Highlights of EXPO ’99" from last year’s show.

ENTERTAINMENT. EXPO 2000 includes fun for attendees and families with a variety of entertainment options. For the gamblers, Caesar’s casino is open almost around the clock and is near downtown Louisville. Family attractions include sightseeing tours and the adjacent Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Thrill Park. Other weekend activities and entertainment include NASCAR racing, discounted tickets to the Louisville RiverBats minor league baseball team and World Championship Wrestling in Louisville.

In addition to OPEI-scheduled entertainment, exhibitors plan additional attractions, including trade association meetings and mixers and exhibitor-scheduled dealer meetings, contests, giveaways and special events.

Notorious for its summer heat, Louisville will be a hot spot once again for this year’s International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment EXPO 2000.