Game on for FSB

Sports equipment exhibition FSB has reported a 56 per cent increase in footfall compared to its most recent edition, firmly placing it back on the map as the trade’s premier exhibition for sports flooring and leisure infrastructure.

The Cologne-based exhibition – which drew to a close on Friday – is co-located with pool and wellness event aquanale. Between them, the two shows attracted 25,000 visitors from 123 countries, putting footfall back at pre-pandemic levels. Both shows also reported a strengthened international presence, with the majority of visitors – 60 per cent – originating from outside Germany.

Smart Display’s client Playrite confirmed the buoyancy of the show, reporting that the aisles were busier than they have been for several years.

“We definitely saw an increase in footfall,” says Chris Pickles, director at Playrite, a specialist supplier of surfaces for sports and leisure. “It was busier than we have seen in some time, and the increased attendance made for an excellent show.”

For Chris – a regular at FSB and a repeat customer at Smart Display – having the right stand was even more important in making the brand’s presence known amidst an impressive total of 552 exhibitors.

“We had so many comments on the stand,” he says. “Smart Display maximised the height of the stand, meaning that Playrite was the name that could be seen right along the corridor.”

Now back in the UK, Chris and those at the helm of Playrite are already planning their next exhibition appearance at FSB 2025.

“We are proud to keep driving the future developments of these sectors forward as a crucial market partner,” says Oliver Frese, chief operating officer of FSB’s showground Koelnmesse. “Both trade fairs have impressively consolidated their leading positions as international industry platforms, and we can now build on the successes that we achieved before the pandemic.”

The next edition of FSB will return to Koelnmesse on 28 to 31 October 2025. Exhibitors and visitors involved in the planning and design of public spaces, amenity areas, sports facilities, playgrounds, sports equipment, exercise and recreational facilities are invited to make a note of the event, and register their interest here.

Are you looking to exhibit? Smart Display is a regular at FSB, and can take care of everything from designing your stand, through to transportation through customs, installation, breakdown and storage. Get in touch today, and plan ahead for 2025.