Merkur Gaming “wholeheartedly” celebrated Clarion Gaming‘s choice of Barcelona as the host city for its ICE and iGB Affiliate events starting in 2025, highlighting that a move from the UK to mainland Europe has been a “hoped-for development” for several years.
Following an extensive six-month bidding process, Clarion Gaming last week announced that Barcelona will be the host city for ICE and iGB Affiliate from 2025, while iGB L!VE will relocate to London that year. Barcelona was selected from a four-city shortlist, competing alongside Madrid, Paris, and ICE’s long-term home, London.
ICE moves, on a five-year contract from 2025 to 2029, to the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, billed as one of the largest and most modern exhibition venues in Europe with its 8 halls and convention spaces totaling 240,000 square meters.
ICE and iGB Affiliate will be the only major events taking place in Barcelona over the January dateline, expected to create an exclusive venue and city experience for exhibitors and attendees in 2025.
One difficulty since the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2020 has been the additional immigration and customs regulations and costs that this move caused. “Clearly, moving ICE to a mainland European country removes these difficulties and gives ICE a new scope for further growth and development,” Merkur said.
Athanasios “Sakis” Isaakidis, Merkur’s Chief Executive
Athanasios “Sakis” Isaakidis, Merkur’s Chief Executive, International, stated: “This announcement represents great news: not just for Merkur but absolutely for the entire gaming industry. Of course, we still have ICE in London for the 2024 upcoming. I predict that this will be a fantastic event in its own right and a platform for looking forward to a whole new landscape from 2025 onwards.”
“On behalf of Merkur, I have to congratulate Clarion Gaming for the massive amount of work that they have undertaken to take on board the majority wish of their industry stakeholders, investigate thoroughly all the possibilities that became apparent and do all of the complex negotiations that were necessary to bring this entirely new scenario over the line to the completion that has now been announced,” he added.
Merkur further thanked Clarion for all the years that the two have co-operated thus far and wished them and ICE all the very best for the future. “We stand together for what I am certain will be a bright future for the entire gaming industry,” the executive concluded.
Originally established in 1999 as an evolution of the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE) that dates back to 1936, ICE has evolved from a modest event focused on land-based casino gaming to encompass the rapidly evolving sectors of online gambling, sports betting, and lottery, among others.
The ICE relocation project, run in partnership with event strategy and location specialist Equimore, factored more than 30 variables into its decision-making process. Venue visits, city presentations, and detailed negotiations also took place to choose the new host city.
The ICE Advisory Board, comprising a range of international brands active in online and land-based gaming, has endorsed the decision. As a result, ICE will leave its long-term home in London. The move also brings to an end a 12-year tenure at ExCeL London.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2023/08/07/68207-merkur-celebrates-clarion-39s-choice-to-move-ice-and-igb-affiliate-to-barcelona
