There are trade shows for everything and this includes electronic scoreboards. If you are thinking about a new scoreboard or shopping around, you might want to consider attending one of the tradeshows so that you can see and touch the scoreboards and talk to the vendors. Attending a tradeshow will also give you some additional options that you may not have thought of, such as conferences and presentations from industry experts.
The Athletic Business Conference & Expo is one of the better electronic scoreboard shows. As with most trade shows you can register for just the trade show itself (usually a free one day pass) or go ahead and attend the entire exposition. The benefits of the exposition itself is attendance of the speakers. These are often experts on a number of levels that include marketing, branding, types of scoreboards, etc. The best part is that they are usually supposed to offer information that is knowledge based without the prejudice of suggesting a particular company or product.
If you are going to attend the exposition, check out the times of the presentations as compared to the times of the floor trade show. A good trade show coordinator will not offer speaker times at the same time as the floor show. The vendors that are represented on the floor show pay quite an expensive rate for their booth and attendees and any presentations that takes away from their ability to talk to you is a disadvantage.
When you make the decision to attend a trade show you will probably be staying at a hotel either at the exposition or nearby. If the hotel is too expensive at the exposition, you may want to weigh the cost of a taxi too and from the convention center. These costs can often offset the lesser cost of a hotel so that it turns out to be more expensive.
Do some homework. You probably already have an idea in mind of the type of electronic scoreboard you are looking for. Do some online research regarding the companies that offer the type of scoreboard you are looking for. Download the map of the trade show floor and the location and booth numbers of those vendors that you want to talk to. If you will be there more than one day, see the highest priority vendors first and use the second day to visit other vendors. Have a list of questions prepared, but also be ready to view some of the newer features that you may not have thought of.
Bring your credit card. Trade show deals are offered at the trade show. If you are the decision maker you may be able to get an electronic scoreboard at the show for a price that is not going to be offered later. In most cases, you can let a vendor know who you are talking to at the show for possible purchase and they may negotiate a better price or throw in added features at no or low cost.
If you are just going to research and look for the electronic scoreboard of your dreams, be aware that a tradeshow can often be information overload. Take the brochures and jot notes on them for specific benefits of one product over another. Most vendors know that if you take all of the information home with you, only those with notes on them will get your attention. The rest may sit in your carry bag untouched.
An electronic scoreboard tradeshow can be fun. Give yourself some down time to digest the information and also to confer with others that may be making the decision. Buying at the trade show can also save you money, and everyone likes that.