Dallas Safari Club Convention Summary

[Green Chile]

I think the letter starts out with an important point...it was the CEO's first week on the job. Very difficult timing with all that is going on. I'm sure he feels like he is drinking from a fire hose while the building is on fire. I look forward to seeing what is sorted out and as Dave said, it's a minefield of competing priorities and personalities. I hope they are successful. Perhaps we need a change of marketing and communications leadership to show accountability and ownership of failures.

 

[Red Leg]

I should note, what I believe has been one of the meaningful contributions to the decision to openly review the show and the way going forward, and the CEO's decision to update the membership directly which was released today, has been our discussion on this thread.

 

[wesheltonj]

I am glad to see they are working on "solving the problem." But I am afraid, it's going to be death by a five cuts. I looked at ProPublica, if correct they have about 11 million in assets down from 15 million in assets at the highest. I understand the buyout to get out of Atlanta is 5 Million (could be more or less, that's the number floating around). Gossip is a buyout and moving to San Antonio. I really don't see that happening as the buy out is almost half their assets. More, likely they will stay in Atlanta but that's going to require spending a lot on advertising (and it will not be Safari Classic shows - Track Across Africa, Hornady's Dark & Dangerous, World of Sport Afield) and if they don't get the floor traffic they will lose exhibitors and money each year. Meanwhile, SCI/TTHA next year will take all the space that DSC would normally take. Texans, don't really want to travel to Atlanta, and DSC cannot count on that traffic, it's going to stay in Dallas at SCI/TTHA. It will be interesting to see what solution they work out.

 

[Doug3006]

Per Mr. McCanna; “there is a broad concern from our convention stakeholders regarding our ability to enjoy the degree of success for all stakeholders that we have become accustomed to over the years should our convention remain in Atlanta.” There’s only one solution I can think of that will address this concern. Get out of Atlanta!

 

[mdwest]

The problem is… leave Atlanta and go where?

Nashville and Dallas are now taken..

Orlando is big enough.. but is that the right destination?

Vegas is big enough… but is that going to work?

Etc etc

 

[Inkgardener]

The problem is… leave Atlanta and go where?

Nashville and Dallas are now taken..

Orlando is big enough.. but is that the right destination?

Vegas is big enough… but is that going to work?

Etc etc

I’m a little biased here…

Is Tulsa fairgrounds big enough? Not too far from Dallas.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Call me crazy but it should remain in Texas.

 

[Russ16]

I can’t believe there isn’t a place in the metroplex that can handle the show. The Gaylord comes to mind among many others.

 

[WAB]

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Call me crazy but it should remain in Texas.

San Antonio was mentioned earlier. I’ve been to many oil industry events there. Great town for a convention.

 

[mdwest]

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San Antonio was mentioned earlier. I’ve been to many oil industry events there. Great town for a convention.

And the national shooting complex in San Antonio is outstanding…

AH skeet or sporting clays shoot anyone?

 

[wesheltonj]

The problem is… leave Atlanta and go where?

Nashville and Dallas are now taken..

Orlando is big enough.. but is that the right destination?

Vegas is big enough… but is that going to work?

Etc etc

Only three places in Texas that are big enough. (1) Houston - already has HSC; (2) Dallas - already now has SCI/TTHA; and (3) San Antonio

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

My two cents:

The Paul Harvey explanation for the move to Atlanta will likely not become known for years, if ever.

I wonder (or maybe more accurately, I doubt) that they explored the option to run a concurrent show with HSC at George R. Brown in Houston. The HSC show is modest in size but the venue is large enough to accommodate DSC. I think this would have been possible if handled properly, but cards on the table I don’t know the personalities involved.

An improved communication plan is obviously in order, but I don’t think that will be enough to put a tourniquet on the number of people that simply won’t make the trip to Atlanta. The comments from some that are active in their industry and attend trade shows is valid—I’m one myself—but most of us do so out of necessity. When you’re talking about vacation time and pastimes/hobbies, that’s a different matter entirely and simply shopping of a population center with a huge convention hall is not enough.