Dallas Safari Club Convention Summary

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I was told (but don't know how accurate it is) that one of the reasons DSC did not stick with KBH venue was they wouldn't be able to use the area upstairs where the gun booths are at. I was also told those vendors pay more for some of their booths and that is a lot of revenue for DSC. I didn't look upstairs during TTHA but someone said it was not under construction. Personally, I think they could easily have the gun part of the show in the next hall over or something like that. It doesn't all have to be in 1 room. It could be in multiple halls under 1 roof basically.

The hall to the right and up some stairs as you'd enter the main hall was not under construction in January at the time of the TTHA show. We in fact parked the pickup truck in that area for offload of our booth. As did many others on move-in day.

While I didn't really venture over to the left, I believe that hall may have been utilized also for move-in and/or move-out. It sure appeared to be in use when we left the show after pack out.

@Philip Glass would know better, but I believe there is intention of expanding the TTHA show next year into one of if not both of those adjacent halls with respect to the main hall. I think that may be a little aggressive, but they've got a full year to work on it, we'll see.

 

[lhook7]

There is a podcast available on the blood origins website or the Apple Podcasts app. Episode #435 with former DSC CEO Corey Mason that explains why DSC moved the convention to Atlanta. There is also another episode #497 that Corey Mason talks about the next steps for DSC and why we went to the Wild Sheep Foundation. I think these podcasts will answer a lot of questions for the people on this thread.

After listening to these podcasts, I understand why they made the move the to Atlanta. A million square feet of convention space is definitely hard to come by. My company has also worked for the architect and the city of Dallas and I can guarantee everyone that nothing they do will be in a timely manner. The city of Dallas did not even close bidding for a construction manager until the end of October and I’m still not sure if they’ve selected one.

There may be a lot of things DSC needs to change but at the end of the day they’re still one of the good guys. I think it’s unfortunate that the weather and the Kay Bailey played out the way they have this year but I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet.

Did they explain why they lied to their membership?

 

[Ryan Brown]

Did they explain why they lied to their membership?

Are you referring to the convention center not being torn down? If so, I would say what the city of Dallas does is beyond the control of the Dallas safari club. I would also point out that the amount of exhibitors that were at the TTH show was a third of the what the DSC convention normally uses. If not, I am not sure what lie you are talking about.

 

[lhook7]

Ryan,

Yes, that is one of the lies. The others revolve around who made the decision and why members were not notified.

 

[Ryan Brown]

Ryan,

Yes, that is one of the lies. The others revolve around who made the decision and why members were not notified.

The first podcast I listed explains that. It was recorded in December of 2023. Based on the information they had at the time, I would have made the same decision.
I do agree that it could have been communicated better and it would have been better if they involved the membership and exhibitors in that decision.

 

[wesheltonj]

I listened to that. (1) 40% of the membership is from Texas, that's a lot of Texas foot traffic. (2) I did not hear the reason San Antonio or Houston was dismissed. The 800K SF that DSC uses also includes two food courts. San Antonio has 1.5 million SF and 500K continuous SF Space. The food court could have been moved outside of the continuous space. SA has plenty hotel space. (3) Houston has two facilites that have the SF that could hold the event. Yes, it might piss off HSC, but you could have cut a deal with HSC for joint conventions for 5 years.

From what I understand, there is not even a building permit on file for the main convention center in Dallas. They are working on the Black Arts section. The membership was told that the KBH was being "torn down" and rebuilt. Next, the membership was told that loading area would be unavailable. Both was BS, it's a remodel. Next year, TTHA is taking "F" which will give them the same SF and DSC.

 

[Philip Glass]

The hall to the right and up some stairs as you'd enter the main hall was not under construction in January at the time of the TTHA show. We in fact parked the pickup truck in that area for offload of our booth. As did many others on move-in day.

While I didn't really venture over to the left, I believe that hall may have been utilized also for move-in and/or move-out. It sure appeared to be in use when we left the show after pack out.

@Philip Glass would know better, but I believe there is intention of expanding the TTHA show next year into one of if not both of those adjacent halls with respect to the main hall. I think that may be a little aggressive, but they've got a full year to work on it, we'll see.

TTHA will likely be bigger but it will remain a smaller and more regional show. There is no intention for it to replace DSC.

 

[lhook7]

The first podcast I listed explains that. It was recorded in December of 2023. Based on the information they had at the time, I would have made the same decision.
I do agree that it could have been communicated better and it would have been better if they involved the membership and exhibitors in that decision.

Thank you! I’ll download it and listen

 

[Yukontom]

I think you may have your info crossed. I sat and chatted for about an hour with 2 very well-known Zimbabwe outfitters. I was told that Dalton and York were banned from SCI because of a booth infraction last year. They allegedly sub leased a booth which is apparently against the rules. According to my source they are banned from even entering the SCI convention center. SCI has strict rules about "brief casing" and this runs afoul of those rules. Seems like a major penalty for a minor infraction. It could be that my sources had bad info, but they are generally credible and we were all sitting at the DSC convention so it seems unlikely.

Maybe someone with a direct D&Y contact could clarify.

Came in late on this thread but want to comment on the D&Y situation at SCI.
The word "banned" may be a bit strong here. My understanding is that for quite a while there were outfits paying for booth space and then "subletting" to other entities. It appears that this was continuing this year except that in the case of D&Y someone offered a specific complaint that resulted in their space being canceled and offered to someone on the wait list. I don't know that they were banned from the exhibit hall completely, but were aware that SCI does prohibit soliciting in the hall. Hopefully they will get this resolved for next year.

As far as DSC is concerned I started out many years ago on the show circuit by attending SCI in Reno. It was OK except difficult to get to from central Indiana. I also liked that they included folks from The American Custom Gunmakers Guild which tickled my fancy on building rifles. When they moved it back to Vegas I quit going mainly because I just don't like Vegas. Then I discovered DSC which hit the easy button. Early direct flight to Dallas, grab a car, and I'm registering as they open the exhibit hall doors. Plenty of good hotels within walking or a short drive from downtown. When I heard about the Atlanta move I was out. I have spent time there previously as part of my job and knew that I wanted nothing to do with downtown Atlanta. Now SCI is the easy button. Simple 1/2 day drive and can spend the afternoon in the show.

Would love to go back to DSC because there are a few folks there who do not do SCI, but they have to get it out of Atlanta. I heard a rumor about the complaints being heard and possibly buying out the Atlanta contract. San Antonio was mentioned as a possibility and just to plug my home state Indianapolis convention center has plenty of space. In fact, SCI was supposed to rotate through Indy and got canceled due to the success of the Nashville location. Only problem with Indy is the lack of direct international flights but that never stopped anybody from getting to Reno.

 

[wesheltonj]

I just received my copy of "Lone Star Outdoor News." DSC has a one page ad for their new "Summer Expo & Gala,' July 17-19 in Grapevine. I wonder how many of the overseas outfitters are going to give up a week in the middle of their hunting season, to fly back to the USA for a show?

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Would love to go back to DSC because there are a few folks there who do not do SCI, but they have to get it out of Atlanta. I heard a rumor about the complaints being heard and possibly buying out the Atlanta contract. San Antonio was mentioned as a possibility and just to plug my home state Indianapolis convention center has plenty of space.

The email sent to exhibitors to renew their booth last week has a 2026 DSC Atlanta logo attached.

 

[wesheltonj]

The email sent to exhibitors to renew their booth last week has a 2026 DSC Atlanta logo attached.

That's what I heard too, along with a price increase for booth space.

 

[Yukontom]

That's what I heard too, along with a price increase for booth space.

Good luck to all.

 

[Doug3006]

If DSC doesn’t listen to its exhibitors and stays in Atlanta next year, they risk a boycott. Maybe not all, but even a few would be devastating. Outfitters can’t afford another sale less convention!

 

[lhook7]

I finally received an email from DSC. Nothing to do with the subject at hand, they were soliciting me to upgrade from “Lifetime” member to “Legacy” member for $5,000.

 

[wesheltonj]

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I finally received an email from DSC. Nothing to do with the subject at hand, they were soliciting me to upgrade from “Lifetime” member to “Legacy” member for $[emoji6],[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]].

I will be passing on that opportunity. Too afraid that Legacy might only be for a few years. Either me or DSC could be dead.

 

[mdwest]

Yep… got the same email…

Honestly, a price increase in Atlanta, and hitting up life members to give more money for a “new” status, smells of desperation to me… and tells me the organization isn’t really understanding the position it’s in

 

[lhook7]

Yep… got the same email…

Honestly, a price increase in Atlanta, and hitting up life members to give more money for a “new” status, smells of desperation to me… and tells me the organization isn’t really understanding the position it’s in

Completely agree.

 

[Red Leg]

Yep… got the same email…

Honestly, a price increase in Atlanta, and hitting up life members to give more money for a “new” status, smells of desperation to me… and tells me the organization isn’t really understanding the position it’s in

Got the same email. Read like the ones I would get from that NRA organization trying to get me to upgrade about five or six years ago before it fell into the abyss.

 

[AZDAVE]

If anyone can speak to the DSC leadership. Tell them to pull their heads outta 3rd point of contact. Pay the penalty to get out of atlanta. NOW!!! Put a $10 fee on the TEXAS DSC convention. Hold it in a domed football stadium if you have to. But if they stay in atlanta another year there won't be a DSC in 3 years.