Exhibitors Page

RINKexpo takes place May 13 & 14

The 6th annual, NARCE (North American RINK Conference & Expo), will take place May 12-15, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel O'Hare International in Chicago. NARCE 2008 will be the largest event the arena industry has ever seen. The conference, developed by STAR (Serving the American Rinks), USA Hockey, and U.S. Figure Skating again presents important educational programs and certification. Our concurrent tradeshow, the RINKexpo, provides you with the most effective opportunity to showcase your goods and services to the most active people in the field.

At NARCE 2008, you'll meet newcomers to the industry as well as your current customers. As the largest publication in the rink industry, RINK Magazine provides unmatched marketing opportunities. Our strong and expanding circulation, coupled with our relationship with rink managers all over North America, ensures that your products and services are prominently displayed before the decision makers who both purchase and recommend products and services.

NARCE's extensive marketing campaign began with the November/December issue of RINK Magazine. The magazine's marketing of the conference and expo will include multiple pages of advertisements, inserts, e-mail campaigns, telemarketing, and personal visits and interaction. STAR, USA Hockey and U.S. Figure Skating will also promote NARCE to their own lists. These collaborative efforts of RINK Magazine, STAR, USA Hockey, and U.S. Figure Skating are unmatched.

NARCE is a MUST event. It is the single venue that brings together the entire rink industry, and it will be marketed better than any show in the industry.

Here's what makes NARCE the best event for you.

• Saturation of marketing efforts to more than 5500 rinks
• Convenient trade show hours to maximize your sales efforts cost effectively
• Quality educational programs presented by industry experts
• Convenient location for attendees and exhibitors
• Activities and attractions, which attracts attendees and holds them at the tradeshow

Be sure to reserve a prime booth location as quickly as possible for maximum positioning.

Background Information

NARCE is the industry's largest event, featuring educational programming by STAR, USA Hockey, and U.S. Figure Skating, as well as the RINKexpo trade show. This year's event will once again attract the industry's educated consumers, along with many new participants seeking to learn more about their business. The RINKexpo trade show serves as the venue to provide these consumers with a single, one-stop shopping location for all of their business needs. NARCE is a unique educational experience for the rink owner, operator and manager.

Conference Program

A conference, programmed by STAR, USA Hockey, and U.S. Figure Skating, will be run alongside the RINKexpo trade show. The overall purpose of NARCE is to educate attendees on rink operations, maintenance, and on-ice programs. STAR offers certification programs that are aimed at individuals who own, operate, or manage facilities, while USA Hockey and U.S. Figure Skating provide education for skating instructors and program directors.

The conference program will feature multiple tracks, including:

• Programming, Marketing & Promotions
• Ice Maintenance and Equipment Operation
• Ice Making and Painting Technologies
• Basic Refrigeration
• Advanced Refrigeration
• Ice Arena Accounting
• Facility Maintenance
• Operations & Risk Management
• Hockey Director Program
• Skating Director Program

Exhibitor Profile and Product Categories

Leading vendors to the rink industry will display an array of products and services including the following:

• Refrigeration Systems
• Dehumidification Systems
• Water Treatment Systems
• Rental Skate Manufacturers
• Maintenance Equipment and Supplies
• Repair Supplies
• Engineering and Architecture Firms
• Insurance Firms
• Rink Supplies
• Management Companies
• Skating Program Services
• Pro Shop/Retail Products
• Snack Bar/Vending Products

Attendee Profiles

In 2007, more than 600 industry representatives walked the floor at a sold out RINKexpo, representing nearly 200 facilities, over 40 states and 5 countries. NARCE attendees include

• Rink Owners, Operators and Managers
• Skating Program Directors, Instructors and Administrators
• Hockey Program Directors, Coaches and Administrators