<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10.11
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      AGREEMENT, dated as of January ___, 2001, by and between Key3Media Events,
Inc. (the "Company") and Eugene L. Cobuzzi ("Executive").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

      WHEREAS, the Company is desirous of employing Executive, and Executive is
desirous of being employed by the Company, on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement;

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual covenants and
agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby mutually acknowledged, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

      1.    DEFINITIONS. The following terms shall have the indicated meanings
            when used in this Agreement, unless the context requires otherwise:

            (a) "BASE SALARY AMOUNT" shall mean $300,000 per full Contract Year.

            (b) "BENEFIT PLAN" shall mean each vacation pay, sick pay,
      retirement, pension, profit sharing, welfare, medical, dental, disability,
      life insurance, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock
      issuance and option or other employee benefit plan, program or arrangement
      of any kind or nature whatsoever, if any.

            (c) "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall mean the Board of Directors of the
      Company.

            (d) "CAUSE" shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section
      7.

            (e) "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the Common Stock, no par value, of the
      parent of the Company, Key3Media Group, Inc. ("Group").

            (f) "COVENANT PERIOD" shall have the meaning ascribed to that term
      in Section 9(a).

            (g) "CONTRACT YEAR" shall mean each year during the term hereof
      commencing January 15 and ending on the immediately following January 14.

            (h) "CUSTOMER" shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in
      Section 9(c).

            (i) "DISABILITY" shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in
      Section 6(a).

            (j) "DISABILITY PERIOD" shall have the meaning ascribed to that term
      in Section 6(a).

            (k) "PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY" shall have the meaning
      ascribed to that term in Section 10(a).
<PAGE>

            (l) "COMPANY BUSINESSES" shall have the meaning ascribed to that
      term in Section 9(a).

      2. EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby
accepts employment with the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth herein.

      3. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT. The term of employment hereunder shall be for a
period of two years commencing on January 15, 2001 and ending on January 14,
2003, subject to early termination as herein provided (the "Initial Term").
Executive shall have the option to extend the term of this Agreement for an
additional two year period (i.e. from January 15, 2003 through January 14, 2005,
hereinafter, the "Extension Term"), by providing Company with written notice of
his exercise of said option not more than 180 days nor less than 90 days prior
to the end of the Initial Term.

      4. POSITION AND DUTIES. Executive shall serve as the Senior Vice President
of the Company. Subject to the authority of the Board of Directors and the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, the Executive shall have all of the powers and
duties incident to the office of Senior Vice President and such other powers and
duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Executive agrees to serve without
further compensation, if elected or appointed thereto, as an officer or a
director of any of the Company's domestic and foreign subsidiaries and
affiliates. The indemnity provisions set forth in the Company's by-laws relating
to officers and employees shall apply to Executive.

      5. EXCLUSIVE DUTIES. During Executive's employment by the Company,
Executive shall devote his entire working time, attention and energies to the
business of the Company and will not take any actions of the kind described in
Sections 9(a), 9(b) and 9(c).

      6. COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS.

            (a) BASE SALARY. During each Contract Year of the term hereof, the
      Company shall pay to Executive the Base Salary Amount. The Base Salary
      Amount shall be subject to increase, at the sole discretion of the Chief
      Executive Officer or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
      of the Company, as applicable, on or around each anniversary date of the
      execution of this Agreement. The Base Salary Amount shall be paid to
      Executive in accordance with the Company's regular payroll practices with
      respect to senior management compensation.

            In the event that Executive shall become disabled as a result of
      bodily injury or physical or mental illness (whether or not occupational)
      to such extent that in the sole opinion of the Board of Directors, based
      upon competent medical advice, he can no longer perform the duties of
      Senior Vice President of the Company (a "Disability"), the Company shall
      only be obligated to continue to pay the Base Salary Amount to Executive
      for the 120-day period immediately following the date of Disability (the
      "Disability Period"). The right to receive salary payments during the
      Disability Period, if applicable, shall survive any termination of
      employment by virtue of Disability pursuant to Section 7.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

            (b) ANNUAL PERFORMANCE BONUSES. During each Contract Year, the
      Company shall pay Executive an annual performance bonus as determined by
      the Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee in its sole
      discretion, the determination of which shall be based upon such standards,
      guidelines and factual circumstances as the Board of Directors or its
      Compensation Committee deems relevant, including, without limitation, the
      operating results for the Company during such Contract Year, the
      importance of the efforts of Executive in achieving such operating results
      and the achievement by the Company and/or Executive of performance goals
      previously established by the Board of Directors for such Contract Year;
      provided, however, that in no event shall the bonus for any Contract Year
      of the term hereof be less than $50,000 for a full Contract Year.

            (c) EXPENSES. Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt
      reimbursement from the Company for all documented business expenses
      incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder, provided that
      Executive properly accounts therefore in accordance with the Company's
      reimbursement policy, including, without limitation, the submission of
      supporting evidence as reasonably requested by the Company.

            (d) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the term hereof, Executive shall be
      entitled to participate in and receive benefits under all of the Company's
      Benefit Plans generally available to senior management of the Company.
      Coverage under the Company's medical and dental insurance plans shall
      commence on the first day of employment hereunder. Additionally, Executive
      shall be entitled to the benefits set forth on Schedule 6 hereto.

            (e) VACATIONS. During the term hereof, Executive shall be entitled
      to sick leave and paid holidays consistent with the Company's sick leave
      and holiday policy for senior management and not less than three weeks
      paid vacation during each Contract Year (or such other vacation time as is
      consistent with the Company's policy for senior management).

             (f) STOCK OPTIONS. Executive shall be entitled to a grant of
      125,000 options to purchase the common stock of Group, at the fair market
      value of said stock on the date of grant, vesting over a four year period,
      subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Group's stock option plan
      and the accompanying stock option agreement. Notwithstanding anything to
      the contrary in the Group stock option plan or the accompanying stock
      option agreement, the options will fully vest immediately and become
      immediately exercisable upon a Change of Control, which means:

                  (I) individuals who, on the date hereof, are members of the
                  Board of Directors of Group (the "Incumbent Directors") cease
                  for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;
                  provided, that any new director who is approved by a vote of
                  at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors shall be
                  treated as an Incumbent Director;

                  (II) the stockholders of Group approve a merger,
                  consolidation, statutory share exchange or any manner of
                  corporate transaction in which Employer


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                  is not the surviving corporation or entity or more than 50% of
                  the value of Group is affected by a merger or acquisition;
                  provided, however, that such approval shall not be a Change in
                  Control if immediately following such transaction, Fredric D.
                  Rosen is the highest ranking officer of the surviving entity;
                  or

                  (III) the stockholders of Group approve a plan of complete
                  liquidation or dissolution or a sale of all or substantially
                  all of the assets.

      In the event of a Change of Control, the Executive may elect to receive in
cancellation of his outstanding and unexercised stock options, a cash payment in
an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price of such stock
options and (A) in the event the Change of Control is the result of a tender
offer or exchange offer for the common stock, the final offer price per share
paid for the common stock multiplied by the number of shares of common stock
covered by such stock options, or (B) in the event the Change of Control is the
result of any other occurrence, the aggregate value of the Common Stock covered
by such stock options, as reasonably determined by the Compensation Committee at
such time.

      7. TERMINATION. The Company or Executive may terminate the employment of
Executive hereunder upon the occurrence of a Disability (as defined in Section
6(a)) for a period of no less than 120 days during any consecutive twelve-month
period. The Company may also terminate the employment of Executive hereunder
upon Executive's death or for Cause. For purposes hereof, "Cause" shall mean (i)
fraud, theft, misappropriation of funds or conviction of a felony, (ii)
Executive's engagement in illegal conduct tending to place Executive or the
Company in disrepute, (iii) dereliction or gross misconduct in Executive's
performance of his duties as an employee of the Company or the failure of
Executive to perform his duties in a manner consistent with the instructions of
the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or (iv)
violation by Executive of any of his material covenants contained in this
Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 10. Upon the termination of
Executive's employment for any reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive
all compensation (including, without limitation, a pro rata portion of the
minimum annual performance bonus, unless such termination is for Cause) for the
then current Contract Year through the date of such termination plus all accrued
but unreimbursed expenses. In addition, upon the termination of Executive's
employment for any reason other than for or by virtue of Cause, death,
Disability or Executive's voluntary termination of employment, the Company shall
continue to be responsible for the payment of all Base Salary Amount and minimum
annual performance bonuses for the remainder of (a) the Initial term, if such
termination occurs on or prior to January 14, 2003 or (b) the Extension Term, if
such termination occurs not less than sixty (60) days after Executive has
delivered written notice to Company of his exercise of his option to extend this
Agreement through and until January 14, 2005; provided, however, that Executive
shall have a duty to mitigate (as to a new position comparable to Executive's
position hereunder) commencing on the first anniversary of the date of
termination; and, further provided that Executive shall perform his covenants,
duties and obligations under Sections 9(a), 9(b) and 9(c) during the remainder
of the term hereof. Termination of Executive's employment for any reason
whatsoever shall not affect Executive's ability to exercise stock options that
have vested prior to the date of termination. Company and Executive agree that
in the event that Company is engaged in a business that Executive is prohibited
from engaging in pursuant to his separation agreement with USA


                                      -4-
<PAGE>
Networks, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries and after Executive exercises
reasonable efforts to obtain a waiver from such prohibition and Executive is not
granted a waiver from such prohibition, then Executive shall resign from his
position with the Company and this Agreement shall automatically terminate.
Executive and Company hereby agree that any termination of this Agreement in
connection with the Separation Agreement shall be a voluntary termination by
Executive for all purposes under this Agreement.

      8. DEVELOPMENTAL RIGHTS. Executive agrees that any developments by way of
invention, design, copyright, trademark or other matters which may be developed
or perfected by him during the term hereof, and which relate to the business of
the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, shall be the property of the
Company without any interest therein by Executive, and she will, at the request
and expense of the Company, apply for and prosecute letters patent thereon in
the United States or in foreign countries if the Company so requests, and will
assign and transfer the same to the Company together with any letters patent,
copyrights, trademarks and applications therefore; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not apply to an invention that Executive develops entirely on
his own time without using the Company's equipment, supplies, facilities or
trade secret information except for those inventions that either:

            (a) relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the
      invention to the Company's business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated
      research or development of the Company; or

            (b)   result from any work performed by Executive for the Company.

      9.    COVENANTS.

            (a) COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE. During the two (2) year period
      following the termination of this Agreement (the "Covenant Period"),
      Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company,
      directly or indirectly engage in or assist any activity which is the same
      as, similar to or competitive with the Company Businesses (other than on
      behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates) including,
      without limitation, whether such engagement or assistance is as an
      officer, director, proprietor, employee, partner, investor (other than as
      a holder of less than 5% of the outstanding capital stock of a publicly
      traded corporation), guarantor, consultant, advisor, agent, sales
      representative or other participant, anywhere in the world that the
      Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates has been engaged,
      including, without limitation, the United States, Canada, Mexico, England,
      Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. The "Company Businesses" shall
      mean the production and/or promotion of trade shows, conferences and
      seminars, as well as the publication of related magazines or journals.

            (b) SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. During the Covenant Period, Executive
      shall not (i) directly or indirectly induce or attempt to induce
      (regardless of who initiates the contact) any person then employed
      (whether part-time or full-time) by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
      or affiliates, whether as an officer, employee, consultant, adviser or
      independent contractor, to leave the employ of the Company or to cease
      providing or otherwise alter the services then provided to the Company or
      to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or (ii) in any other manner seek
      to engage or employ any such person (whether


                                      -5-
<PAGE>
      or not for compensation) as an officer, employee, consultant, adviser or
      independent contractor in connection with the operation of any business
      which is the same as or similar to any of the Company Businesses.

            (c) NON-SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS. During the Covenant Period,
      Executive shall not solicit any Customers of the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries or affiliates or encourage (regardless of who initiates the
      contact) any such Customers to use the facilities or services of any
      Competitor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
      "Customer" shall mean any person who contracts with the Company or any of
      its subsidiaries or affiliates to provide services related to the Company
      Businesses.

      10. CONFIDENTIALITY. Executive shall not at any time (during or for a
period of sixty (60) months after termination of employment) disclose (except as
may be required by law) or use, except in the pursuit of the business of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, any Proprietary Information of
the Company. "Proprietary Information of the Company" means all information
known or intended to be known only to employees of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates in a confidential relationship with the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or affiliates relating to technical matters pertaining
to the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, but
shall not include any information within the public domain. Executive agrees not
to remove any documents, records or other information from the premises of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates containing any such proprietary
information, except in the pursuit of the business of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates, and acknowledges that such documents, records and
other information are the exclusive property of the Company or its subsidiaries
or affiliates. Upon termination of Executive's employment, Executive shall
immediately return all Proprietary Information of the Company and all copies
thereof to the Company.

      11.   GENERAL PROVISIONS.

            (a) EXPENSES. All costs and expenses incurred by either of the
      parties in connection with this Agreement and any transactions
      contemplated hereby shall be paid by that party.

            (b) NOTICES. All notices, demands and other communications hereunder
      shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to
      have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by
      overnight courier service, by cable, by telecopy, by telegram, by telex or
      by registered or certified mail to the respective parties at the following
      addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a
      notice given in accordance with this Section 11(b)):

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

                        (i)   If to the Company:

                              Key3Media Events, Inc.
                              5700 Wilshire Blvd.
                              Suite 325
                              Los Angeles, CA  90036
                              Attention:  General Counsel

                        (ii)  If to Executive:

                              Eugene L. Cobuzzi
                              3784 Winford Drive
                              Tarzana, CA  91356

            (c) HEADINGS. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement
are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

            (d) SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
devisees, legatees, executors, administrators, successors and personal or legal
representatives. If Executive is domiciled in a community property state or a
state that has adopted the Uniform Marital Property Act or equivalent or if
Executive is domiciled in a state that grants to his spouse any other marital
rights in Executive's assets (including, without limitation, dower rights or a
right to elect against Executive's will or to claim a forced share of
Executive's estate), this Agreement shall also inure to the benefit of, and
shall also be binding upon, his spouse. If Executive should die while any
amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all
such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement to Executive's designee or, if there be no such
designee, to Executive's heirs, devisees, legatees or executors or
administrators of Executive's estate, as appropriate.

            (e) SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
illegal, invalid or unenforceable under existing or future laws effective during
the term of this Agreement, such provisions shall be fully severable, the
Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or
unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of this Agreement, and the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and
shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by
its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid
or unenforceable provision, there shall be added automatically as part of this
Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or
unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.

            (f) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, the schedule hereto and any
applicable option agreements pursuant to Section 6(g)) constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof and supersedes all


                                      -7-
<PAGE>

      prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between
      the Company and Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof
      and thereof.

            (g) ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement and the rights and duties hereunder
      are not assignable by Executive. This Agreement and the rights and duties
      hereunder may not be assigned by the Company without the express written
      consent of Executive (which consent may be granted or withheld in the sole
      discretion of Executive), except that such consent shall not be required
      in order for the Company to assign this Agreement or the rights or duties
      hereunder to an affiliate (as such term is defined in Section 9(b)) of the
      Company or to a third party in connection with the merger or consolidation
      of the Company with, or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets
      or business of the Company to, that third party.

            (h) AMENDMENT; WAIVER. This Agreement may not be amended or modified
      except by an instrument in writing signed by, or on behalf of, the Company
      and Executive. Either party to this Agreement may (a) extend the time for
      the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other party
      or (b) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions of the
      other party contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid
      only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party to be
      bound thereby. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be construed
      as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the same
      term or condition, or a waiver of any other term or condition, of this
      Agreement. The failure of any party to assert any of its rights hereunder
      shall not constitute a waiver of any such rights.

            (i) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
      construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York,
      applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within
      that state.

            (j) JURISDICTION AND VENUE. The parties hereto agree that all
      actions or proceedings initiated by either party hereto and arising
      directly or indirectly out of this Agreement which are brought pursuant to
      judicial proceedings shall be litigated in a Federal or state court
      located in the State of New York. The parties hereto expressly submit and
      consent in advance to such jurisdiction and agree that service of summons
      and complaint or other process or papers may be made by registered or
      certified mail addressed to the relevant party at the address to which
      notices are to be sent pursuant to Section 11(b) of this Agreement. The
      parties hereto waive any claim that a Federal or state court located in
      the State of New York is an inconvenient forum or an improper forum based
      on lack of venue.

            (k) EQUITABLE RELIEF. Executive acknowledges that the covenants
      contained in Sections 9 and 10 are reasonable and necessary to protect the
      legitimate interests of the Company, that in the absence of such covenants
      the Company would not have entered into this Agreement, that any breach or
      threatened breach of such covenants will result in irreparable injury to
      the Company and that the remedy at law for such breach or threatened
      breach would be inadequate. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that the
      Company, in addition to any other rights or remedies which it may have,
      shall be entitled to seek such equitable and injunctive relief as may be
      available from any court of



                                      -8-
<PAGE>
      competent jurisdiction to restrain the Executive from any breach or
      threatened breach of such covenants.

            (l) ATTORNEYS' FEES. If any legal action or other proceeding is
      brought for the enforcement of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall
      be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs incurred
      in that action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which it
      may be entitled.

            (m) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
      counterparts, and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
      which when executed shall be deemed to be an original while all of which
      taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Executive have executed this Agreement
as of the date and year first written above.

                                    Key3Media Events, Inc.


                                    By:  /s/ Ned S. Goldstein
                                       ------------------------------

                                    Title: Executive Vice President
                                           --------------------------

                                       /s/ Eugene L. Cobuzzi
                                    ---------------------------------
                                    Eugene L. Cobuzzi, an individual

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
                                   Schedule 6



                                    Benefits

During the term hereof:

      (a) Exec-u-care. So long as the Company maintains in effect a medical
reimbursement plan through Exec-u care for certain of its senior executives,
Executive (including his dependants) shall be included as a participant in said
plan.

      (b) Life Insurance. So long as Executive is insurable, the Company agrees
to maintain in effect during the term hereof insurance on Executive's life
payable to his estate or his named beneficiary or beneficiaries in the amount of
$1,000,000. The ownership of such insurance policies may, at the sole discretion
of the Executive, be transferred to a trust for the benefit of his spouse or
family.