IGE secures Earls Court contract to 2015

The famous exhibition centre is the favoured home of the international gaming community due to its central London location, accessibility, excellent travel links and its proximity to quality hotels, restaurants, theatres and a raft of hospitality facilities that international gaming professionals expect when visiting one of the world's most vibrant capital cities.

Commenting on the contract, which has been agreed by show organisers Clarion Events and Earls Court Olympia, Julian Graves, Managing Director of Clarion Events Gaming Exhibitions, said: "We are delighted to have completed our contractual negotiations and agreed this five year contract. During our consultation with the casino and gaming industry it became abundantly clear that almost to a person, they consider Earls Court to be their home and that Earls Court is where they want to stay particularly in light of the success that the exhibition has enjoyed over the last two decades.

"We have been aware of the speculation surrounding the venue at a time when the industry wants stability, certainty and confidence in the future. We have made a five-year contractual agreement to provide that continuity and enable the industry, Clarion Events and EC&O to focus firmly on continuing to develop IGE as the leading international exhibition for the gaming industry."

The speculation surrounding the event had been fuelled by earlier media reporting regarding venue owner CapCo coupled with small sections of the industry seeking to undermine confidence in the future of IGE.

Nigel Nathan, Managing Director of Earls Court Olympia, confirmed: "CapCo has made no secret of their desire to redevelop the Earls Court site, however this is an enormously complex project, one with significant implications for London. Because of the scale of the proposed project it has been required to be submitted as part of the London Development Plan, a 15-year strategic vision for London which was launched in January 2010. The project is in the early stages of consultation, requires political support, at local, regional and national level and then full planning permission and funding."

The large international casino element within IGE will celebrate its 21st birthday at Earls Court in January 2011. Nine months ahead of the flagship edition opening its doors at Earls Court the show is at 80 % capacity underlining its status as the international gaming community's most popular and successful business event.