Day three of the 2024 IAAPA Expo was another busy affair.  Generally, days one and two are the busiest with a marked drop off on day three but from the looks of crowds on the floors and reports from vendors, day three was a another busy one.

Amusement Devices & Manufacturing (ADM)

Brian Woodke of Amusement Devices & Manufacturing (ADM) said he was optimistic about the economy and the positive economy was bringing current and future buyers to the show.  He said about 10% of his customers were first time buyers, or those entering the business for the first time.  He said his rides, which are easy to set up and have lower labor costs for set up and tear down, make them very appealing to new entrants into the business. More established carnival owners will buy 2 and 3 sets of his rides and give them to one crew to set up in the same time as they would a regular carnival ride.

Woodke is seeing a rise in customers playing rental and corporate events and he believes that segment of the market is growing.  He has clients doing major corporate event for companies like Nike and Ralph Lauren.  These corporate giants spend a lot of money on their events and it is a great market to be in.  The events, and those for private parties, are often very private, with workers having to hand over their cell phones and agree not to use social media to show the private event.



Woodke was a pioneer in the rental market and says that segment continues to grow, making up about 60% of his sales and increasing.  “They get it, what a great market it is to rent rides”, he added.  Some vendors are even forming networks and working together to book their attractions or buy in bulk.  It has become a growing segment of the amusement industry.

Speaking of IAAPA, Woodke said it has been a “fabulous show”, with lots of traffic and purchases. Woodke likes to stay in his shop working, only taking a break to come to IAAPA, then heading back home and coming out again for the Gibtown convention before returning to the shop the rest of the year.

ADM now builds about 20 different types of rides, plus food stands and even game trailers.  Woodke said he will introducing a new ride — the Invasion — and will have a Sugar Glider in Gibsonton along with two new ride concepts for attendees to see.

 

Amusement Midway Providers (AMP) adds Wave Swinger

Jason Wagner of AMP as another attendee from the carnival world.  The show plays the former Crabtree Amusements route and is the product of a combination of Wagner Shows and Armstrong Shows.  They travel from Texas all the was to North Dakota and back. 

Wagner said he has seen some softening in the economy in certain places while in other areas, spending has held strong. 

The show runs two units for most of the year, combining for bigger events such as the Colorado State Fair which runs over Labor Day.  This was the first year for a new manager at the event, Andrea Wiesenmeyer, who took over after Scott Stoller's departure.  The fair had an excellent run, ending up only down 3% from the previous year.

AMP has added some events in Colorado, building upon their presence at the Colorado State Fair.  In addition, the show added two new events for 2025, the San Angelo (Texas) Fair and the Cajun Heartland Fair in Lafayette, LA. 

Both Armstrong and Wagner were from Texas, where their shows were based.  AMP now boasts 73 rides.  This year, they added a Wave Swinger ride from Lamborghini.  They also just completed a complete refurbishment project on a Spider from Battech, named the Venom.

 

Reithoffer Shows to Take delivery of New Booster in 2025

Reithoffer Shows was out in force at the trade show with Rick Reithoffer leading a contingent that included Rick Jr. and Matthew Reithoffer. 

The company was out shopping for new spectacular equipment and ordered another spectacular ride to add to its already phenomenal arsenal, but the ride won't be delivered for two years due to extended lead times.

What the company is celebrating is a new Booster ride coming in April of 2025.  The new Super Spectacular has ovals so the crew and inspectors can look inside the the arm to inspect.  It also has a heavier gauge steel than many similar attractions.  The ride will be on full display during the 2025 season. 

Othe new recent purchases for the show include a “Hulk” ride from Technical park, a Bertazzon Ice Jet, and Bertazzon Wave Swinger.  The Wave Swinger is a beautiful piece according to Reithoffer, sporting hand painted scenery with depictions of Venice.  These rides have been a great addition to the show over the last few years.

Reithoffer said 2024 was a “good year”, especially thank to the efforts of the OABA and others to help carnivals bring in foreign labor to the US.  He says all showmen and fairs should support the OABA is their efforts to support new legislation to ensure the continued viability of the H-2B program and to bring about permanent improvements to the program.  His show has about 90% H-2B labor and the workers have become invaluable to Reithoffer and all other showmen in the US.

Reithoffer said he loves going out west, playing events such as the New Mexico State Fair and dates in Texas, a departure from their traditional East Coast route.  Ricky said the moves have let him see more of the country and the differences in people and culture.

One sore spot for the show, and for all shows and events in these times is the issue of security.  Especially for spring “still dates”, the show has had to fence the grounds each week, hire extra security and place metal detectors at entrances, all in an effort to keep troublemakers, mostly youth from running on the midway.  Reithoffer reported that their efforts have paid off for the most part and they are hopeful that the measures will enable them to keep their spring dates intact for the foreseeable future.

Next week, we will have our wrap-up column from the IAAPA trade show and look at what equipment has been purchased at what has so far been a very successful event.