Exhibition News Spring 2023 | Page 33

Spring — 33
INDEPENDENT ORGANISERS
Dina Asher-Smith on stage with hosts Iwan Thomas and Susie Chan

A winning weekend

Raccoon Media ’ s National Running Show returned to the NEC in January and saw exhibitor and sponsorship revenue increase by 38 % and the largest visitor audience it has ever attracted . Joe Gallop finds out how they struck gold again in Birmingham

Since launching in 2018 the

National Running Show has seen exponential growth and is clearly showing no signs of slowing down .
Having cleared the Covid hurdle , the event is not only seeing its strongest visitor numbers but is now more
profitable than ever , with several grants in place to encourage people to take up running . The fifth edition of Raccoon Media ’ s show saw it firmly back on track with a record 26,158 runners in attendance .
Held from 21-22 January ,
“ There was an incredible buzz in the air ”
the NEC event saw exhibitor and sponsorship revenue increase by 38 % ( a 30 % increase on pre-Covid figures ). In addition , the show ’ s survey responses indicate that the 273 exhibiting companies will benefit from over £ 14m spent by visitors .