D – The international board game event, Spiel ’22, impressed parlour game fans from all over the world from October 6-9, 2022. According to the official figures, around 147,000 visitors came to the Essen Exhibition Centre over the four days of the show, to explore the more than 1,800 new games on display. “This year’s Spiel, which was organised by the new owner, Spielwarenmesse eG, was a total success,” commented a delighted Dominique Metzler, Managing Director at the Friedhelm Merz Verlag, organisers of the event. In comparison to the previous year, according to the publishing company, 53% more visitors poured into the exhibition grounds in Essen to examine the offerings of 980 exhibitors from 56 countries.
After the return of many large game publishing companies to the Spiel, the record number of 1,800 new games presented at the trade fair, turned the event into a huge attraction. Furthermore, the product show was also enhanced by a diversified supporting programme, which underlined the organiser’s claim that the show makes a contribution towards the further development of the culture of board games. For example, the second edition of the Educators’ Day was held on the Friday of the show. The programme that especially addresses educators and teachers is dedicated to the implementation of board games in lessons and their integration into work with the community and elderly.
“After the show, the companies are looking optimistically ahead to the Christmas business,” the Managing Director of the Friedhelm Merz publishing company, Florian Hess, summed up afterwards. “Games are always played – even if the buying power in this segment is not easy to assess over the next months due to the current challenging situation.” One thing is certain though – namely the venue date for the coming edition of Spiel: Next year, the international board game event, Spiel, is scheduled to take place in Essen from October 5-8, 2023.
Photo source: Spielwarenmesse eG
