2,000+ Attendees. 100+ Sessions. 200+ Exhibitors. 1 AB Show.
2,300+ athletic, fitness, recreation and military decision-makers from around the world come to AB Show every year to learn new solutions from industry leaders, find new products and services and build community:
• AB Show brings the solutions to your unique challenges with 125+ educational sessions that cover topics ranging from leadership and people management to facility programming and design.
• Our show floor has everything you need to manage and equip your programs and facilities from the latest industry advancements to the basic essentials needed for day-to-day operations.
• From the golf course to the dance floor, our special events are designed to build community and facilitate relationships amongst our attendees.
Take a look at what previous AB Show attendees have to say about the event and the value they had in attending.
Adam Lockard
Director of Facilities | Woodside Club
As a regular attendee of large conferences on an annual basis, AB Show is far more educational in helping professionals relate to common trends in the fitness and health industry, and puts experts in front of the sessions to help remedy and resolve these trends. I would highly recommend attending the conference and going to as many educational sessions as possible.
As a regular attendee of large conferences on an annual basis, AB Show is far more educational in helping professionals relate to common trends in the fitness and health industry, and puts experts in front of the sessions to help remedy and resolve these trends. I would highly recommend attending the conference and going to as many educational sessions as possible.
Shane DeWald, CPRP
Recreation Manager | Blue Valley Recreation Commission
This was my first time at AB and thought it was great! I was fortunate to be one of the scholarship recipients this year and really appreciated everything. AB covers so much from the leadership and facility standpoint. I got the chance to network with tons of people. The sessions and keynotes all hit close to home for me and I left motivated to share with my staff. I would highly recommend this conference to anyone who asked. I hope to bring more of our staff next year.
This was my first time at AB and thought it was great! I was fortunate to be one of the scholarship recipients this year and really appreciated everything. AB covers so much from the leadership and facility standpoint. I got the chance to network with tons of people. The sessions and keynotes all hit close to home for me and I left motivated to share with my staff. I would highly recommend this conference to anyone who asked. I hope to bring more of our staff next year.
Denise Caldwell
Design Planner and Landscape Architect | Baltimore City Rec & Parks
This was the first year I attended AB Show and was pleasantly surprised about the educational session topics and presentations. I expected conference information to be limited in the way of recreation design and construction, but that wasn't the case. I was very pleased to attend sessions that related specifically to site work and information I could share with the architects about building construction. It was nice to have separate time for the Exhibit Hall so I wouldn't miss a session or exhibit. Lou Holtz hit a home run and Bonnie St. John had a good story to tell. I plan to always keep this conference on my calendar each year.
This was the first year I attended AB Show and was pleasantly surprised about the educational session topics and presentations. I expected conference information to be limited in the way of recreation design and construction, but that wasn't the case. I was very pleased to attend sessions that related specifically to site work and information I could share with the architects about building construction. It was nice to have separate time for the Exhibit Hall so I wouldn't miss a session or exhibit. Lou Holtz hit a home run and Bonnie St. John had a good story to tell. I plan to always keep this conference on my calendar each year.
Angela Caringella
Assistant Director of Youth Programs and Student Development | Moraine Valley Community College FitRec
We attend a couple of conferences each year in the campus rec industry that we're a part of at Moraine Valley Community College FitRec; but we also have KidRec, which is geared more toward our community, including programming for three months to 13 years. So being able to attend AB Show was a great fit for my role as far as the products in the expo hall and the educational sessions I attended. Overall, AB Show was beneficial and I really liked it!
We attend a couple of conferences each year in the campus rec industry that we're a part of at Moraine Valley Community College FitRec; but we also have KidRec, which is geared more toward our community, including programming for three months to 13 years. So being able to attend AB Show was a great fit for my role as far as the products in the expo hall and the educational sessions I attended. Overall, AB Show was beneficial and I really liked it!
Andrew Bohannon
Parks, Recreation & Facilities Director | City of Keene Parks & Rec Department
This was exactly what I needed at this point in my career and project. The sessions gave me the opportunity to dive into a world that I didn't know, but had recently been placed into with our upcoming rec center renovation. I was able to learn a great deal about the steps that design/ construction project owners need to take to be successful.
Having 15-20 minutes of undivided attention from architects was invaluable – I got new information from each discussion that led to new questions for each following meeting. I also had several takeaways from the keynote speech about what makes the great teams great.
AB Show did a great job! Keep up the great work – the show was awesome and more importantly, all the AB staff that I engaged with, rocked!
This was exactly what I needed at this point in my career and project. The sessions gave me the opportunity to dive into a world that I didn't know, but had recently been placed into with our upcoming rec center renovation. I was able to learn a great deal about the steps that design/ construction project owners need to take to be successful.
Having 15-20 minutes of undivided attention from architects was invaluable – I got new information from each discussion that led to new questions for each following meeting. I also had several takeaways from the keynote speech about what makes the great teams great.
AB Show did a great job! Keep up the great work – the show was awesome and more importantly, all the AB staff that I engaged with, rocked!
Chase Coonrod
Director of Health and Operations | Advanced Family Medicine and Wellness Center
There was a great opportunity to have discussion about how other facilities run across the nation. Our staff had the opportunity to speak with people about facility programming similar to ours (which is extremely hard to find).
We were able to bring back many great ideas regarding membership and membership retention that we are putting into effect immediately.
There was a great opportunity to have discussion about how other facilities run across the nation. Our staff had the opportunity to speak with people about facility programming similar to ours (which is extremely hard to find).
We were able to bring back many great ideas regarding membership and membership retention that we are putting into effect immediately.
Andrew Havrisko
Assistant Director of Recreational Programs | Ashland University
The sessions that were offered far exceeded my expectations and the knowledge of the presenters made for some fantastic presentations. Seeing as this was my first AB Show, I was pleasantly surprised at how applicable I found many of the sessions to be for my position in Campus Recreation.
My first time attending the AB show but I certainly hope it's not my last. Great educational sessions and extremely knowledgeable presenters. I look forward to returning in the future!
The sessions that were offered far exceeded my expectations and the knowledge of the presenters made for some fantastic presentations. Seeing as this was my first AB Show, I was pleasantly surprised at how applicable I found many of the sessions to be for my position in Campus Recreation.
My first time attending the AB show but I certainly hope it's not my last. Great educational sessions and extremely knowledgeable presenters. I look forward to returning in the future!
Tom Bryce
Manager | Saanich Commonwealth Place
AB Show is an awesome experience full of inspiration and ideal networking opportunities – well worthwhile. I have to figure how to get more staff to attend.
As a direct result of what I learned in the educational sessions, we're on the cutting-edge here in Canada and I've been able to bring together Directors of various Recreation and the Health Authorities in our municipality of about 300,000 people to create a partnership.
The keynote speech was also impactful and I've been able to share the sentiments learned through our department newsletter, reminding our 250+ staff why we do what we do; it brings my team back to our core business.
AB Show is an awesome experience full of inspiration and ideal networking opportunities – well worthwhile. I have to figure how to get more staff to attend.
As a direct result of what I learned in the educational sessions, we're on the cutting-edge here in Canada and I've been able to bring together Directors of various Recreation and the Health Authorities in our municipality of about 300,000 people to create a partnership.
The keynote speech was also impactful and I've been able to share the sentiments learned through our department newsletter, reminding our 250+ staff why we do what we do; it brings my team back to our core business.
Jason Eisold
Rec Center Manager | City of St. Louis Park Parks & Rec Department
AB Show is a good combination of education and networking opportunities. The conference offered interesting tracks covering topics that are important to me and my job. The presenters were knowledgeable on the technical side of things at a level beyond what I've seen at other conferences.
Plus, it was helpful to see the latest national trends and how we can bring them back to our community and building project.
Really appreciate the opportunity to attend the conference, a great experience and something I will look to attend annually. Thanks again.
AB Show is a good combination of education and networking opportunities. The conference offered interesting tracks covering topics that are important to me and my job. The presenters were knowledgeable on the technical side of things at a level beyond what I've seen at other conferences.
Plus, it was helpful to see the latest national trends and how we can bring them back to our community and building project.
Really appreciate the opportunity to attend the conference, a great experience and something I will look to attend annually. Thanks again.
Taylor Kent
Wellness Coordinator | St. Ambrose University
This was an amazing conference and it was really great to meet with the vendors and have some deeper conversations with them, especially as a VIP Hosted Buyer and having 15-20 minutes of their uninterrupted time.
Being able to attend the seminars was helpful because I learned about the latest fitness trends that we can incorporate into our programs, and as a result, we've added TRX and more yoga classes. What I learned from the seminars has also helped to guide us as we plan ahead for our building project.
The expo was huge and filled with innovations that I didn't even know existed. It was great to be able to learn about the latest trends in the seminars and then head into the expo hall to meet with the people who can help you meet those needs.
This was an amazing conference and it was really great to meet with the vendors and have some deeper conversations with them, especially as a VIP Hosted Buyer and having 15-20 minutes of their uninterrupted time.
Being able to attend the seminars was helpful because I learned about the latest fitness trends that we can incorporate into our programs, and as a result, we've added TRX and more yoga classes. What I learned from the seminars has also helped to guide us as we plan ahead for our building project.
The expo was huge and filled with innovations that I didn't even know existed. It was great to be able to learn about the latest trends in the seminars and then head into the expo hall to meet with the people who can help you meet those needs.
Jim Cleveland
Deputy Town Administrator | Town of Parker, CO
AB Show is an educational opportunity I can count on to annually provide insightful, innovative concepts. They bring in phenomenal, creative minds who present their content at the level of the operator, so that I'm able to easily bring home and integrate what I've learned. What's really great is that the curriculum is always fresh, exciting and reflective of the latest industry trends from aquatics to architecture, marketing to management/leadership and much more.
Plus, the show floor hosts companies featuring cutting-edge technology and products. This is important to me because we want to make sure our facilities and programs are always up-to-date – and AB Show allows us to do just that.
AB Show is an educational opportunity I can count on to annually provide insightful, innovative concepts. They bring in phenomenal, creative minds who present their content at the level of the operator, so that I'm able to easily bring home and integrate what I've learned. What's really great is that the curriculum is always fresh, exciting and reflective of the latest industry trends from aquatics to architecture, marketing to management/leadership and much more.
Plus, the show floor hosts companies featuring cutting-edge technology and products. This is important to me because we want to make sure our facilities and programs are always up-to-date – and AB Show allows us to do just that.
Keri Sullivan
Program Director | Randolph Recreation
Thank you for the opportunity! Every day I am scheduling more and more meetings/webinars etc. with lots of folks I had the chance to meet with at the conference. I learned so much and made some really great connections that I'm positive will be beneficial to us in our building process as we prepare to fill our building with the equipment and necessities to run fantastic programs in our new Intergenerational Community Center!
Thank you for the opportunity! Every day I am scheduling more and more meetings/webinars etc. with lots of folks I had the chance to meet with at the conference. I learned so much and made some really great connections that I'm positive will be beneficial to us in our building process as we prepare to fill our building with the equipment and necessities to run fantastic programs in our new Intergenerational Community Center!
J.P. Gallagher
Parks & Recreation Director | Butte-Silver Bow Consolidated Gov’t
I really enjoyed the Athletic Business Show. I met with a lot of great businesses and received great information from the sessions I attended. Once again thank you for the great conference. It was very valuable.
I really enjoyed the Athletic Business Show. I met with a lot of great businesses and received great information from the sessions I attended. Once again thank you for the great conference. It was very valuable.
Joe Cassidy
Executive Director of Campus Fitness & Recreation | Wake Forest University
It was a very productive trip for me. I ended up meeting with a total of 24 vendors and have already done business with a few, have demo models being shipped from a couple, and intend to do business with a few others.
It was a very productive trip for me. I ended up meeting with a total of 24 vendors and have already done business with a few, have demo models being shipped from a couple, and intend to do business with a few others.
