The IAA Mobility trade fair attracted 400,000 visitors last year – but also sparked some controversy. In addition to the protests by climate protectionists, criticism of the exhibition in the public squares in the center of Munich, the so-called Open Spaces, arose. They were too oversized for many, and critics considered the Mercedes stand on Odeonsplatz directly in front of the Feldherrnhalle to be too large and out of place.
That is why representatives of the city council and the affected district committees, the organizers – i.e. Messe München and the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) – as well as environmental organizations have come together for a “round table” to deal with the criticism.
This Tuesday, the results of the round were discussed in a joint meeting of the economic and district administration committees. A key wish expressed at the round table was to reduce the exhibition space on Königsplatz and Odeonsplatz and instead to straighten out the open space. The parliamentary groups of the Greens and the SPD have now taken this up in an amendment.
It envisages no longer using the square in front of the Feldherrnhalle as an exhibition space, but instead creating a “consumption-free place” to linger there. In addition, the net exhibition area at Königsplatz is to be reduced by 2,000 square meters in order to create a crossing option for pedestrians and cyclists. As a compensation, areas are to be made available in Ludwigstraße north of the existing open space, provided that the district administration department has no objections.
The vote on the bill is adjourned
The route of the so-called Blue Lane, which connects the exhibition center in Riem and the city center, should also be reconsidered. The route via the A94 and the Prinzregentenstraße, which was reserved for environmentally friendly traffic, turned out to be a failure in retrospect, not least because it was also used by other motorists and traffic jams formed there too. Finally, the Open Space 2023 should no longer be fenced in, as was the case in 2021 due to the Corona regulations.
SPD parliamentary group leader Anne Hübner and Green parliamentary group leader Dominik Krause criticized the proposal from the economics officer because they basically wanted to leave everything as it was in 2021. Hübner called the proposed changes fair, she did not fundamentally question the concept of the IAA Mobility. Nevertheless, they are tricky insofar as the use of public spaces is contractually guaranteed to the organizers. It was also an essential part of the application for the IAA. Economics officer Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU) therefore warned that Munich could lose the IAA again and damage its reputation as a trade fair location. In addition, there could be claims for damages.
The VDA itself is in principle open to suggestions, as Managing Director Jürgen Mindel emphasized at the meeting. However, he emphasized that the VDA had to talk to the exhibitors about this, which would take time. It must first be clarified with the KVR whether it is even possible to relocate exhibition areas. The vote on the bill and the amendment was therefore adjourned to the city council’s general meeting on June 29 – not much time for discussions and new plans. Mayor Katrin Habenschaden (Greens) therefore asked everyone involved to network well.