ICE London expects to announce new spring dates early January; trade bodies back postponement

Clarion Gaming on Wednesday confirmed that discussions regarding new dates for the 2022 editions of ICE London, ICE VOX and the co-located iGB Affiliate London are progressing and will continue through the holiday period. Clarion stated it intends to announce the new dates early in the New Year after due diligence has been completed. 

The decision to find new dates in Spring 2022 has been welcomed by leading industry bodies on both sides of the Atlantic. Marcus Prater, Executive Director of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers stated: “The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) understands the difficulties of navigating all aspects of the business world during this ongoing pandemic and we appreciate the thoughtful consideration Clarion Events put into the decision to postpone ICE. Global gaming suppliers are anxious to gather at a better time and in particular want to welcome back the international community and especially those based in Europe to ExCeL and the ICE exhibition.”

The Gambling Business Group (GBG), the UK-based cross-sector strategic body whose members include many of the leading brands represented on the show floor, also endorsed the decision. GBG Chief Executive Peter Hannibal said: “The industry needs positive and successful editions of ICE London and iGB Affiliate London more than ever before. Clarion has shown itself to be progressive custodians of the brands and excellent partners to everyone involved in the gambling space. Businesses seek certainty and moving the shows into Spring 2022 represents the best possible option. A difficult decision but the right outcome in my opinion. The Gambling Business Group and its members look forward with great enthusiasm to being part of the international celebration of the gambling industry in all of its forms.”

In a communication to exhibitors, Stuart Hunter, Managing Director, Clarion Gaming wrote: “We have been working closely with ExCeL London to secure a new dateline in April 2022. We have seen good progress over the last few days and now have a preferred date we are working towards, but we will require some additional time to iron out some operational challenges prior to confirming the final dates with you and the wider gaming industry. This work needs to continue through the Christmas period and we will then be in a position to confirm the selected date during the first week of January."

"Whilst we had hoped to have been able to confirm dates today (22nd December), the migration of events the size and scale of ICE and IGBA are hugely challenging – requiring full dialogue with our extended contractor base and other UK organisers who have tenancy at ExCeL to ensure the international gaming industry can meet with minimal disruption. I would like to thank you for your continued support and patience, it is hugely appreciated and I look forward to working with you closely in the new year towards ICE in April 2022.”