ICE 2025 Makes Its Debut in Barcelona, Marking a New Era for This Unique Occasion
Rewritten Article:
Swapping London for Barcelona, the world-famous ICE gaming conference made its debut in the Spanish city this week. This mammoth annual gaming event spans over three action-packed days, showcasing exhibits, workshops, networking events, and much more.
With an anticipation to welcome over 55,000 gaming industry enthusiasts, the iconic event is set to be a spectacle. This year, the festivities will unfold at Fira Barcelona Gran Via.
According to Stuart Hunter, the Managing Director of ICE organizer Clarion Gaming, the move from London was prompted by valuable feedback from exhibitors. They felt the need for a larger space to display their product ranges and weren't pleased with escalating costs associated with exhibiting in London.
During its stint in London, ICE London, which took place at the ExCel, had been an annual affair since 1999. In 2023, the event smashed its own records for attendance and exhibitors, welcoming a staggering 40,000 visitors and 650 exhibitors.
Hunter emphasizes the benefits of the new Barcelona venue, such as its proximity to the airport – just a short 10-15 minute ride away compared to the perennial challenge of reaching the ExCel from major London airports. The Grand Via also boasts a capacity roughly twice that of the ExCel.
The gaming conference's relocation has afforded other events in London the opportunity to step up, including the iGB LVE and smaller events like EAG Expo, which can now utilize the vacated ExCeL London venue.
- The exhibitors at the ICE gaming conference, now held in Barcelona, are eager to utilize the larger space available at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, as they felt restricted by the space constraints at the ExCel in London and were displeased with rising costs.
- This move to Barcelona has created a vacancy for other events in the UK, such as the iGB LVE and the EAG Expo, to expand, leveraging the previously occupied ExCel London venue in the financial and casino-and-gambling industry.
