Soccerex moves global event to Manchester

SOCCEREX has announced that it is to move its Global Convention from Rio De Janeiro to Manchester from 2014.

The international exhibition aimed at people working in the football industry is currently hosting its two-day European Forum in the city for the third year running, but chairman Tony Martin announced yesterday that the larger global event will move to the city under a four-year deal from 2014-717.

Marketing Manchester estimates that the deal is worth an estimated £23m to the city over the life of the contract.

Its chief executive Andrew Stokes said: “The new four-year relationship announced during this week’s European Forum is a major coup for the city and will generate £23m for the local economy during the life of the contract.

“The Global Convention commands significant international media attention and will further strengthen Manchester’s position as the spiritual home of football in the UK.

“We’re also working with Soccerex to develop the festival that runs alongside the conference to showcase the breadth of community engagement in football across Greater Manchester and raise the profile of the many social and charity initiatives there are associated with the game.

“Sport plays an increasingly important role in contributing to the city-region economy and events like Soccerex help us to communicate that message.”

Duncan Revie, chief executive of Soccerex, said: “This wonderful footballing city and my birthplace has served as a fantastic host to our European Forum for the last three years and we have enjoyed consistent growth.

“There was interest from many other cities but the potential here in Manchester was too big to ignore.”