Supercomm returning to Chicago

(Telephony) After its five-year run in Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center is over, the telecom industry’s largest trade show will be moving to Chicago.

Beginning in 2003, Supercomm will move to Chicago’s McCormick Place.

According to Gary Lytle, interim president and CEO of U.S. Telecommunications Association, the show’s move was precipitated by increased attendance of both vendors and carrier representatives.

“It’s not that we didn’t like Atlanta; it’s that they just couldn’t handle it,” he said.

In a signing ceremony today at McCormick Place, USTA and the Telecommunications Industry Association--the show’s two owners--signed a deal that will keep Supercomm in Chicago for three years.

“The airport was a huge factor, considering we’ve got 132 countries represented at this year’s show,” Lytle added.

During its first year, Supercomm is expected to take all of McCormick Place’s exhibit areas, which total 2.2 million square feet.