Spotlight on ASA’s East and West Coast Consumer Shows
Shows on both coasts once again attract thousands of outdoor enthusiasts
In 2010, the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) consumer shows once again had another successful season, attracting thousands of anglers, boaters and outdoor enthusiasts to locations on the East and West coasts preparing for the spring outdoor season.
Four shows on the East Coast and two shows on the West Coast provided outdoor enthusiasts with opportunities to improve their skills by meeting with professional anglers and hunters and also pick up the latest products before heading outdoors for the spring season. Show floors were packed from Worcester, Mass., to Long Beach, Calif.
On the East Coast, Show Director Jonathan Sauers reported that ASA’s Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Exposition Shows saw large crowds with attendance up nearly five percent from 2009. A new show was added in 2010, the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow and Sauers reported that attendance was significantly higher than his projected attendance.
The ASA/Fred Hall Shows’ two shows in Long Beach and San Diego (Del Mar) attracted tens of thousands of anglers. Anglers and boaters enjoyed thousands of exhibitors, hundreds of boats and hundreds of fishing and boating seminars at the two shows.
A father and son look for a catch during the San Diego Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
ASA/The Fred Hall Shows…The Ultimate Outdoor Experience
The 64th Fred Hall show at the Long Beach Convention Center drew massive crowds in early March. The show continued its tradition of being one of the premier fishing shows in the industry.
In the end of March, thousands of attendees found the latest products in the fishing and boating industry at the 35th annual Fred Hall’s San Diego Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
The aisles were packed with show goers looking to pick up the latest gear for the upcoming outdoors season at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
A child test drives one of many fishing boats for sale at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Hall said that while the sheer volume of business in Long Beach, the first show of the season, was somewhat surprising in a recession, the continued strong showing in the Del Mar Show was totally unexpected. According to Hall, retailers reported that sales of high-end merchandise at the Del Mar show were “off-the-charts.” Destination resorts reported that while the 2010 Fred Hall Long Beach Show was the best show they had attended anywhere in over three years, some of them had beaten the Long Beach records by Saturday at the Del Mar Show. According to Hall, sales were brisk despite the economic situation in the state of California.
“Retail outlets, manufacturers, manufacturers representatives, boat dealers, destination resorts and small independent businesses reported record sales at the shows and continued activity following the events,” according to Show Producer Bart Hall.
More than 600 seminars took place at the two shows and according to Hall saw some of the highest attendance he has seen at the shows.
“This bodes well for the future of fishing, boating and hunting,” said Hall. “When people are so intensely interested in the seminars it means that they are interested in the future of outdoor recreation.”
ASA’s Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition Shows
On the East Coast, ASA’s Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition shows once again saw solid attendance, an increase of nearly five percent from 2009. The shows were held in Worcester, Mass.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Suffern, New York; and Somerset, New Jersey.
A young show attendee Helping Ducks Unlimited build a wood duck box at the Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Expo in Worcester, Mass.
Huge crowds gathered for Jason Reynolds Fetch-n-Fish demonstration at the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow in Oaks, Penn.
“Every year tens of thousands of people attend our shows and learn something new, plan a trip or family vacation, and purchase a new toy or two,” said Sauers. “They come out and they spend. This year as we have seen the economy start to turn so did spending at the shows.”
This year marked the first year of the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow in Oaks, Pa. “This was the inaugural year for the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow and despite a hefty amount of snow on Thursday and Friday in the Philadelphia area, the show exceeded attendance projections,” said Sauers, “In fact, total show attendance was up 4 percent over last year.”
The shows featured full schedules of seminars and special events to provide outdoor enthusiasts hands on preparation to improve their fishing and hunting skills. Some of the world’s most famous professional anglers and hunters provided knowledge to show attendees. The 2010 Bassmaster Classic Champion Kevin VanDam took part in the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow just days after winning his third Bassmaster Classic.
ASA, Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition and the Fred Hall Shows thank all of the shows’ sponsors, exhibitors and attendees for helping make the 2010 consumer show season a great success.
Jam packed aisles were the norm at the World Fishing & Outdoor Expo in Suffern, New York.
It’s never too early to think about the 2011 consumer shows.
Mark your calendar now!
ASA’s Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Expos
February 10-13, 2011—Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Expo, DCU Center, Worcester, MA
February 17-20, 2011—Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks, PA
March 3-6, 2011—World Fishing & Outdoor Expo, Rockland Community College Field House, Suffern, NY
March 18-20, 2011—The Saltwater Fishing Expo, Garden State Exhibit Center, Somerset, NJ
The Fred Hall Shows…The Ultimate Outdoor Experience
March 9-13, 2011—Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA
March 24-27, 2011—Del Mar Fairgrounds, San Diego/Del Mar, CA