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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1
                                ADVANSTAR, INC.

                          SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                            1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
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     1.  Purpose.  The purpose of this Second Amended and Restated 1996 Stock
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Option Plan (the "Plan") is to amend and restate in its entirety the Amended and
Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan, as amended, of Advanstar, Inc. (the "Company")
and to encourage employees of the Company and of any present or future parent or
subsidiary of the Company (collectively, "Related Corporations"), and other
individuals who render services to the Company or a Related Corporation, by
providing opportunities to purchase stock in the Company pursuant to options
granted hereunder ("Non-Qualified Options"). Non-Qualified Options are referred
to hereafter individually as an "Option" and collectively as "Options." As used
herein, the terms "parent" and "subsidiary" mean "parent corporation" and
"subsidiary corporation," respectively, as those terms are defined in Section
424 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

     2.  Administration of the Plan.
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       A. Board or Committee Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by
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     the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or, by a committee
     appointed by the Board (the "Committee"). Hereinafter, all references in
     this Plan to the "Committee" shall mean the Board if no Committee has been
     appointed. Subject to ratification of the grant or authorization of each
     Option by the Board (if so required by applicable state law), and subject
     to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to (i)
     determine to whom Options may be granted; (ii) determine the time or times
     at which Options shall be granted; (iii) determine the exercise price of
     shares subject to each Option, which price shall not be less than the
     minimum price specified in paragraph 6; (iv) determine (subject to
     paragraph 7) the time or times when each Option shall become exercisable
     and the duration of the exercise period; (v) extend the period during which
     outstanding Options may be exercised; (vi) determine whether restrictions
     such as repurchase options are to be imposed on shares subject to Options
     and the nature of such restrictions, if any; and (vii) interpret the Plan
     and prescribe and rescind rules and regulations relating to it. The
     Committee shall take whatever actions it deems necessary, under Section 422
     of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, to ensure that
     Options granted hereunder are not treated as "incentive stock options"
     ("ISOs"). The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any
     provisions of the Plan or of any Option granted under it shall be final
     unless otherwise determined by the Board. The Committee may from time to
     time adopt such rules and regulations for carrying out the Plan as it may
     deem advisable. No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for
     any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or
     any Option

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     granted under it.

       B. Committee Actions.  The Committee may select one of its members as its
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     chairman, and shall hold meetings at such time and places as it may
     determine. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and acts
     by a majority of the members of the Committee at a meeting at which a
     quorum is present, or acts reduced to or approved in writing by a majority
     of the members of the Committee (if consistent with applicable state law),
     shall constitute the valid acts of the Committee. From time to time the
     Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members
     thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in
     substitution therefor, fill vacancies however caused, or remove all members
     of the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan.

       C. Grant of Options to Board Members.  All grants of Options to members
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     of the Board shall in all respects be made in accordance with the
     provisions of this Plan applicable to other eligible persons. Consistent
     with the provisions of the first sentence of paragraph 2(A) above, members
     of the Board who either (i) are eligible to receive grants of Options
     pursuant to the Plan or (ii) have been granted Options may vote on any
     matters affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of any
     Options pursuant to the Plan, except that no such member shall act upon the
     granting to himself or herself of Options, but any such member may be
     counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the
     Board during which action is taken with respect to the granting to such
     member of Options.

       D. Performance-Based Compensation.  The Board, in its discretion, may
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     take such action as may be necessary to ensure that Options granted under
     the Plan qualify as "qualified performance-based compensation" within the
     meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and applicable regulations
     promulgated thereunder ("Performance-Based Compensation"). Such action may
     include, in the Board's discretion, some or all of the following (i) if the
     Board determines that Options granted under the Plan generally shall
     constitute Performance-Based Compensation, the Plan shall be administered,
     to the extent required for such Options to constitute Performance-Based
     Compensation, by a Committee consisting solely of two or more "outside
     directors" (as defined in applicable regulations promulgated under Section
     162(m) of the Code), (ii) if any Options with an exercise price less than
     the fair market value per share of Common Stock are granted under the Plan
     and the Board determines that such Options should constitute Performance-
     Based Compensation, such options shall be made exercisable only upon the
     attainment of a pre-established, objective performance goal established by
     the Committee, and such grant shall be submitted for, and shall be
     contingent upon shareholder approval and (iii) Options granted under the
     Plan may be subject to such other terms and conditions as are necessary for
     compensation recognized in connection with the exercise or disposition of
     such

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     stock option or the disposition of Common Stock acquired pursuant to such
     stock option, to constitute Performance-Based Compensation.

     3.   Eligible Employees and Others.  Options may be granted to any
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employee, officer or director (whether or not also an employee) or consultant of
the Company or any Related Corporation. The granting of any Option to any
individual or entity shall neither entitle that individual or entity to, nor
disqualify such individual or entity from, participation in any other grant of
Options.

     4.   Stock.  The stock subject to Options shall be authorized but unissued
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shares of Common Stock of the Company, par value $ 0.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), or shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company in any manner. The
aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan is 2,051,124
(giving effect both to the 100-for-1 split of the Common Stock in May 1997 and
the 2-for-1 split of the Common Stock in April 1999), subject to adjustment as
provided in paragraph 13. If any Option granted under the Plan shall expire or
terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full or shall cease
for any reason to be exercisable in whole or in part or shall be repurchased by
the Company, the shares subject to such Option shall again be available for
grants of Options under the Plan.

     5.   Granting of Options.  Options may be granted under the Plan at any
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time on or after November 15, 1996 and prior to November 15, 2006. The date of
grant of an Option under the Plan will be the date specified by the Committee at
the time it grants the Option; provided, however, that such date shall not be
prior to the date on which the Committee acts to approve the grant.

     6.   Minimum Option Price.
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       A. Price for Options.  Subject to Paragraph 2(D) (relating to compliance
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     with Section 162(m) of the Code), the exercise price per share of each
     Option granted under the Plan shall be the fair market value of the Common
     Stock of the Company on the date of grant, unless otherwise specified in
     the agreement relating to the grant of such Option; provided that in no
     event shall such exercise price be less than the minimum legal
     consideration required therefor under the laws of any jurisdiction in which
     the Company or its successors in interest may be organized.

      B.  Reserved.
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      C.  Reserved.
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      D.  Determination of Fair Market Value.  If, at the time an Option is
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     granted under the Plan, the Company's Common Stock is publicly traded,
     "fair market value" shall be determined as of the date of grant or, if the
     prices or quotes discussed in this sentence are unavailable for such date,
     the last business day for

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     which such prices or quotes are available prior to the date of grant and
     shall mean (i) the average (on that date) of the high and low prices of the
     Common Stock on the principal national securities exchange on which the
     Common Stock is traded, if the Common Stock is then traded on a national
     securities exchange; or (ii) the last reported sale price (on that date) of
     the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market, if the Common Stock is not
     then traded on a national securities exchange; or (iii) the closing bid
     price (or average of bid prices) last quoted (on that date) by an
     established quotation service for over-the-counter securities, if the
     Common Stock is not reported on the Nasdaq National Market. If the Common
     Stock is not publicly traded at the time an Option is granted under the
     Plan, "fair market value" shall be deemed to be the fair value of the
     Common Stock (without discount for minority interest or illiquidity) as
     determined by the Committee after taking into consideration all factors
     which it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, recent sale and
     offer prices of the Common Stock in private transactions negotiated at
     arm's length.

     7.   Option Duration.  Subject to earlier termination as provided in
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paragraphs 9 and 10 or in the agreement relating to such Option, each Option
shall expire on the date specified by the Committee, but not more than ten years
from the date of grant.

     8.   Exercise of Option.  Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 9 through
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12, each Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable as follows:

       A. Vesting.  The Option shall either be fully exercisable on the date of
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     grant or shall become exercisable thereafter in such installments as the
     Committee may specify.

       B. Full Vesting of Installments.  Once an installment becomes exercisable
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     it shall remain exercisable until expiration or termination of the Option,
     unless otherwise specified by the Committee.

       C. Partial Exercise.  Each Option or installment may be exercised at any
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     time or from time to time, in whole or in part, for up to the total number
     of shares with respect to which it is then exercisable.

       D. Acceleration of Vesting.  The Committee shall have the right to
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     accelerate the date on which any installment of any Option becomes
     exercisable.

     9.   Termination of Employment.  The termination of employment of an
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optionee shall cause such optionee's Options to terminate immediately unless
otherwise specified in the agreement relating to the grant of such Options.
Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give any optionee the right to be
retained in employment or other service by the Company or any Related
Corporation for any period of time. For purposes of this paragraph 9, employment
shall be considered as continuing uninterrupted during any

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bona fide leave of absence (such as those attributable to illness, military
obligations or governmental service) provided that the period of such leave does
not exceed 90 days or, if longer, any period during which such optionee's right
to reemployment is guaranteed by statute or by contract. A bona fide leave of
absence with the written approval of the Committee shall not be considered an
interruption of employment under this paragraph 9, provided that such written
approval contractually obligates the Company or any Related Corporation to
continue the employment of the optionee after the approved period of absence.

     10.  Death; Disability.
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       A. Death.  If an optionee ceases to be employed by the Company and all
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     Related Corporations by reason of his or her death, any Option owned by
     such optionee may be exercised, to the extent otherwise exercisable on the
     date of death, by the estate, personal representative or beneficiary who
     has acquired the Option by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
     until the earlier of (i) the specified expiration date of the Option or
     (ii) 365 days from the date of the optionee's death.

       B. Disability.  If an optionee ceases to be employed by the Company and
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     all Related Corporations by reason of his or her disability, such optionee
     shall have the right to exercise any Option held by him or her on the date
     of termination of employment, to the extent of the number of shares with
     respect to which he or she could have exercised it on that date, until the
     earlier of (i) the specified expiration date of such Option or (ii) 365
     days from the date of the termination of the optionee's employment. For the
     purposes of the Plan, the term "disability" shall mean "permanent and total
     disability" as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code or any successor
     statute.

     11.  Assignability.  Options shall not be transferable except to the extent
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set forth in the agreement relating thereto.

     12.  Terms and Conditions of Options.  Options shall be evidenced by
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instruments (which need not be identical) in such forms as the Committee may
from time to time approve. Such instruments shall conform to the terms and
conditions set forth in paragraphs 6 through 11 hereof and may contain such
other provisions as the Committee deems advisable which are not inconsistent
with the Plan, including termination and cancellation provisions and
restrictions applicable to shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
Options. The Committee may from time to time confer authority and responsibility
on one or more of its own members and/or one or more officers of the Company to
execute and deliver such instruments. The proper officers of the Company are
authorized and directed to take any and all action necessary or advisable from
time to time to carry out the terms of such instruments.

     13.  Adjustments.  Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, an
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optionee's rights with respect to Options granted to such optionee hereunder
shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided, unless otherwise specifically
provided in the written agreement between the optionee and the Company relating
to such Option:

       A. Stock Dividends and Stock Splits.  If the shares of Common Stock shall
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     be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares
     (excluding, for the purpose of this paragraph 13(A), the 100-for-1 split of
     the Common Stock in March 1997 and the 2-for-1 split of the Common Stock in
     April 1999) or if the Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a
     stock dividend on its outstanding Common Stock, the number of shares of
     Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of Options shall be
     appropriately increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate
     adjustments shall be made in the purchase price per share to reflect such
     subdivision, combination or stock dividend.

       B. Consolidations or Mergers.  If the Company is to be consolidated with
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     or acquired by another entity in a merger or other reorganization in which
     the holders of the outstanding voting stock of the Company immediately
     preceding the consummation of such event, shall, immediately following such
     event, hold, as a group, less than a majority of the voting securities of
     the surviving or successor entity, or in the event of a sale of all or
     substantially all of the Company's assets or otherwise (each, an
     "Acquisition"), the Committee or, if in the absence of action by the
     Committee, the board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of
     the Company hereunder (the "Successor Board"), shall, as to outstanding
     Options, either (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of such
     Options by substituting on an equitable basis for the shares then subject
     to such Options either (a) the consideration payable with respect to the
     outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Acquisition, (b)
     shares of stock of the surviving or successor corporation or (c) such other
     securities as the Successor Board deems appropriate, the fair market value
     of which shall not materially exceed the fair market value of the shares of
     Common Stock subject to such Options immediately preceding the Acquisition;
     or (ii) upon written notice to the optionees, provide that all Options must
     be exercised, to the extent then exercisable or to be exercisable as a
     result of the Acquisition, within a specified number of days of the date of
     such notice, at the end of which period the Options shall terminate; or
     (iii) terminate all Options in exchange for a cash payment equal to the
     excess of the fair market value of the shares subject to such Options (to
     the extent then exercisable or to be exercisable as a result of the
     Acquisition) over the exercise price thereof.

       C. Recapitalization or Reorganization.  In the event of a
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     recapitalization or reorganization of the Company (other than a transaction
     described in subparagraph B above) pursuant to which securities of the
     Company or of another corporation are issued with respect to the
     outstanding shares of Common Stock, an optionee upon exercising an Option
     shall be entitled to receive for the purchase price paid upon such exercise
     the securities he or she would have received if he or

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     she had exercised such Option prior to such recapitalization or
     reorganization.

       D. Reserved.
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       E. Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of the proposed dissolution
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     or liquidation of the Company, each Option will terminate immediately prior
     to the consummation of such proposed action or at such other time and
     subject to such other conditions as shall be determined by the Committee.

       F. Issuances of Securities.  Except as expressly provided herein, no
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     issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities
     convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
     adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or
     price of shares subject to Options. No adjustments shall be made for
     dividends paid in cash or in property other than securities of the Company.

       G. Fractional Shares.  No fractional shares shall be issued under the
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     Plan and the optionee shall receive from the Company cash in lieu of such
     fractional shares.

       H. Adjustments.  Upon the happening of any of the events described in
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     subparagraphs A, B or C above, the class and aggregate number of shares set
     forth in paragraph 4 hereof that are subject to Options which previously
     have been or subsequently may be granted under the Plan shall also be
     appropriately adjusted to reflect the events described in such
     subparagraphs. The Committee or the Successor Board shall determine the
     specific adjustments to be made under this paragraph 13 and, subject to
     paragraph 2, its determination shall be conclusive.

     14.  Means of Exercising Options.  An Option (or any part or installment
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thereof) shall be exercised by giving written notice to the Company at its
principal office address, or to such transfer agent as the Company shall
designate. Such notice shall identify the Option being exercised and specify the
number of shares as to which such Option is being exercised, accompanied by full
payment of the purchase price therefor either (a) in United States dollars in
cash or by check, (b) at the discretion of the Committee, through delivery of
shares of Common Stock having a fair market value equal as of the date of the
exercise to the cash exercise price of the Option, (c) at the discretion of the
Committee and consistent with applicable law, through the delivery of an
assignment to the Company of a sufficient amount of the proceeds from the sale
of the Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option and an authorization to
the broker or selling agent to pay that amount to the Company, which sale shall
be at the participant's direction at the time of exercise, or (d) at the
discretion of the Committee, by any combination of (a), (b) and (c) above. The
holder of an Option shall not have the rights of a shareholder with respect to
the shares covered by his Option until the date of issuance of a stock
certificate to such holder for such shares. Except as expressly provided above
in paragraph 13 with respect to changes in capitalization and stock

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dividends, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or similar rights for which
the record date is before the date such stock certificate is issued.

     15.  Term and Amendment of Plan.  This Plan was adopted by the Board as of
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November 15, 1996. The Plan shall expire at the end of the day on November 15,
2006 (except as to Options outstanding on that date). Subject to the provisions
of paragraph 5 above, Options may be granted under the Plan prior to the date of
stockholder approval of the Plan. The Board may terminate or amend the Plan in
any respect at any time. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph 15, in
no event may action of the Board alter or impair the rights of an optionee,
without such optionee's consent, under any Option previously granted to such
optionee.

     16.  Reserved.
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     17.  Application Of Funds.  The proceeds received by the Company from the
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sale of shares pursuant to Options granted under the Plan shall be used for
general corporate purposes.

     18.  Reserved.
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     19.  Withholding of Additional Income Taxes.  Upon the exercise of an
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Option, the transfer of an Option pursuant to an arm's length transaction, the
vesting or transfer of restricted stock or securities acquired on the exercise
of a Option hereunder, or the making of a distribution or other payment with
respect to such stock or securities, the Company may withhold taxes in respect
of amounts that constitute compensation includible in gross income. The
Committee in its discretion may condition (i) the exercise of an Option (ii) the
transfer of an Option, or (iii) the vesting or transferability of restricted
stock or securities acquired by exercising an Option, on the optionee's making
satisfactory arrangement for such withholding. Such arrangement may include
payment by the optionee in cash or by check of the amount of the withholding
taxes or, at the discretion of the Committee, by the optionee's delivery of
previously held shares of Common Stock or the withholding from the shares of
Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of a Option shares having an
aggregate fair market value equal to the amount of such withholding taxes.

     20.  Governmental Regulation.  The Company's obligation to sell and deliver
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shares of the Common Stock under this Plan is subject to the approval of any
governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance
or sale of such shares. The Committee shall not grant Options under the Plan
unless the Company has complied with all applicable securities laws in
connection with such grant.

     Government regulations may impose reporting or other obligations on the
Company with respect to the Plan. For example, the Company may be required to
file tax information returns reporting the income received by optionees in
connection with the Plan.

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     21.  Governing Law.  The validity and construction of the Plan and the
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instruments evidencing Options shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware, or the laws of any jurisdiction in which the Company or its successors
in interest may be organized.

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