YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
New momentum in a dynamic new environment: From 2015, FSB, the International Trade Fair for Amenity Areas, Sports and Pool Facilities, will take place at Koelnmesse's modern North Halls. With the new "themed hall concept", FSB and aquanale, the International Trade Fair for Sauna, Pool, Ambience, taking place simultaneously, are setting the right course for a successful future in Cologne. The fair duo will take place from 27 - 30 October 2015 in Cologne, across an exhibition area of around 80,000 sqm in Halls 6, 7, 9 and 10. From now on, exhibitors at both events will benefit from an improved infrastructure in the new areas of the Cologne exhibition grounds. In addition, the modern, naturally lit halls provide the optimal transit route to guide the stream of visitors through the Messe-Boulevard. The North Halls also avail of the perfect transport connection to Congress Centres North and East. Entrance East is situated conveniently near the ICE train station as well as the public transport hub of Köln Messe/Deutz. "The new structure for the FSB sections of amenities, sport and public pool construction means that existing synergies - amongst themselves and together with aquanale - can be exploited more effectively, creating more business networks on a national and international scale," says Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer at Koelnmesse GmbH. The restructuring represents a further consolidation of FSB's leading position as the world's largest industry event in the games, sport, amenities and pool construction sectors.
Showcasing trends within the games, sport, pools and amenities industry every two years, FSB is the source of inspiration for the design of tomorrow's urban living spaces. Here, all the sector partners get an overview of new technologies, product innovations, process optimisations and visionary planning. Since 1969, the International Trade Fair for Amenity Areas, Sports and Pool Facilities has combined new ideas with the tried and tested and, in addition to the fair, offers an international congress and workshop programme. "By successfully bringing together the swimming pool sectors from aquanale and FSB's 'Public swimming pool construction' last year, all sectors involved have already confirmed that integrated trade-fair concepts are a guarantee for a successful future and that such concepts have to advance together", says Klaus Meinel, Managing Director of the International Association of Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS).
The joint presentation means that all aspects of the public and private swimming pool, wellness and sauna sectors are now represented in Cologne on one platform and in clearly defined theme worlds. The connection between the private and public bathing area is to be the 6th Cologne Swimming Pools & Wellness Forum.
With the new layout concept revolving around the themed halls, FSB is also exploiting synergistic effects within the other focus areas, enabling the respective sectors to benefit. The "Amenities" sector unites the previously separated areas of playground equipment/playground planning with amenities/urban furnishing in Hall 9 and creates a meeting place where public and private industry decision-makers, landscape architects as well as planners can exchange on future-orientated solutions.
From 2015 on, Halls 7 and 10 will house the sport and leisure worlds, with sports facilities, accessories, equipment, sports facilities care, flooring, artificial turf as well as ice and winter sports - divided according to whether it is an indoor or outdoor sport. Many sports activities will make more of a splash in the new halls, like basketball in cooperation with the Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA), soccer and ice-skating. In this way, visitors to the fair will get a profound impression of the diversity of the sporting and leisure infrastructure.
Another advantage of FSB 2015 is its new date. The fair will no longer take place during North Rhine Westphalia's autumn holidays and is therefore guaranteed unrestricted attention from municipal decision-makers, planners, landscape architects and sporting associations.
In 2015, FSB has yet another highlight: Long-term FSB partner, IAKS, the International Association of Sport and Leisure Facilities, is celebrating its 50th anniversary on the occasion of FSB 2015. The association will take this opportunity to cast a look back in time at the history of the sports and leisure infrastructure. Outstanding sporting structures, sports personalities and athletes of the last fifty years as well as the pioneering developments for the sector will be showcased and celebrated, to name but a few of the attractions.
