Hanover Fairground

The Hanover Fairground (in German: Messegelände Hannover) is an exhibition area in the Mittelfeld
district of Hanover, Germany. Featuring 392,453 m² (4.2 million sq.ft.) of covered indoor space, 58,000 m²
(624,306 sq ft) of open-air space, 24 halls and pavilions, and a convention center with 35 function rooms,
it is the largest exhibition ground in the world.

History

The area of the fairground originally was an aircraft works. After World War II, the British military
government in Allied-occupied Germany wanted to hold a trade fair and sought for a good place, since
Leipzig, the traditional fairground of Germany, was unavailable, being in the Soviet occupation zone. The
hangars in Laatzen, south of Hanover, were deemed suitable for this purpose, and so the Hanover Fair,
then named Exportmesse 1947 was first held in 1947 to promote the economic recovery in the Bizone.
The concept proved to be successful, and so a permanent fairground was established, growing over the
years.

Timeline

1947: Exportmesse held for the first time (August 18 - September 7).

1948: First intercontinental telephone call between Hanover and New York City.

1950: Exportmesse is renamed to Deutsche Industrie-Messe

1956-1958: Hermesturm erected.

1961: The Deutsche Industrie-Messe is renamed to Hannover Messe.

1970: Hall 1 is opened, then the largest exhibition hall in the world. It becomes permanent home
to CeBIT, a subdivision of the Hanover Industry Fair.

1986: The CeBIT computer expo is held independently for the first time, after outgrowing the
Industry Fair.

1990s: The fairground undergoes extensive remodeling in preparation for the Expo 2000. Hall 13
is constructed, at its time of completion the largest hall in the world without internal structural
columns.

2000, June–October: The Expo 2000 world exhibition is held at the fairground and the surrounding
areas.

2000: The Messehochhaus at the northern end of the area becomes the new home of the
Deutsche Messe AG, the fairground's operator. It is a 20-floor highrise that stands at 110 m (360
ft) with antenna.