Sportfishing Industry Trade Show Sold out for Seventh Straight
Year
ASA to unveil top 10 innovative fishing products at ICAST
2008
June 30, 2008, Alexandria, VA— Seventy-five
years ago, the sportfishing industry united to form what is now the American
Sportfishing Association (ASA). This July, the industry will unite once
again for the 51st International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades
(ICAST) – the world’s largest sportfishing trade show - from
July 16-18, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the 2008 show
floor is sold out for the seventh year in a row with over 431 exhibitors filling
over 1,350 booths across 350,000 square feet of floor space. ICAST represents
the cornerstone of the sportfishing industry, driving sportfishing companies’ product
sales year round. Approximately 10,000 attendees are expected in Las
Vegas to attend ICAST and the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Tradeshow
(MAATS) which is co-locating with ICAST at the Convention Center.
ICAST is the only place where attendees and exhibitors can see sportfishing
manufacturers’ entire product lines; save money and time by taking
advantage of ICAST-only
specials offered by over 100 exhibitors; network with a veritable “who’s
who” in the sportfishing industry; and help shape the 2009 consumer
market by voting for the prestigious New Product Showcase “Best
of Show” awards in 17 product categories, as well as the coveted
overall “Best of Show” award.
During the Industry Breakfast which kicks off the show’s opening
on Wednesday morning, July 16, ASA will unveil the top 10 products that
have transformed the way people fish over the course of the last 75 years.
ASA partnered with the Recreational Boating & Fishing
Foundation (RBFF) to survey the foundation’s thousands of Anglers’ Legacy
Ambassadors, the country’s most avid anglers, who voted for
the products they feel have been most instrumental in shaping the sport
over the past seven and a half decades.
“Despite an uncertain economy, I want to thank the entire sportfishing
industry for their support of the show. Our pre-registration numbers
across the board are higher than last year which is a good indicator.
People are coming. We’re going to have a good show.”
New in 2008 is the Industry Resource Center (IRC). ASA, the National
Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and RBFF have joined forces on
the show floor to answer questions about issues facing the industry.
All three groups will be available during show hours to discuss ongoing
policy issues about access to resources; conservation and habitat restoration;
the state of the industry; efforts to engage more people in fishing and
boating; and how all this affects the industry’s bottom line.
The New Product Showcase, ICAST’s flagship feature, continues to
be the highlight event at ICAST. Hundreds of companies will unveil their
innovations in sportfishing gear and accessories in the New Product Showcase.
As in previous years, the New Product Showcase Preview Reception will
be held the evening before the show begins (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
on July 15), so that exhibitors have more time to explain their innovations
to buyers and media. New Product Showcase winners will be announced during
the Chairman’s Industry Awards Reception the following evening,
Wednesday, July 16.
Back for its third year is Reelin’ and Dealin’ —A
Guide to ICAST-only Specials. The guide helps buyers maximize
their time and savings on the show floor and capitalize on major product
discounts offered by scores of manufacturers.
For complete ICAST information, visit www.asafishing.org/ICAST.
ICAST 2008 Show Hours
Wednesday, July 16 Thursday,
July 17 Friday,
July 18
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 8:30
a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 8:30
a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thank You ICAST Sponsors!
The American Sportfishing Association thanks the following companies
for their generous support of ICAST 2008: Gold Sponsors: Fishing
Tackle Retailer, New Product Showcase; Crocodile
Bay Resort, Buyer Raffle Grand Prize; Plano
Molding Company, Chairman’s Industry Awards Reception; Townsend
and Townsend and Crew, Industry Breakfast; and VERSUS,
Cybercafe. Silver Sponsors: In-Fisherman,
Convention Lanyards; FLW Outdoors,
Convention Bags; Fishing
and Hunting News, Magazine Distribution Sponsor;and Gemini
Sport Marketing, Press Room staff shirts. Bronze Sponsors: Duncan
McIntosh Company/FishRap, Saltwater Sportsman, Alphatan International
Inc, Pelagic, Inc., Classic Fishing Products, Inc., Native Sun Sports-Get
Reel…Get Fish!, The Habanna Co., Glacier Glove, First Light Net
and Fishworks, Inc.
SHOW
HIGHLIGHTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
All events are held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and are open during
show hours unless otherwise noted.
Anglers’ Legacy Innovations Awards Display
Lounge 1142
The winning products of the Anglers’ Legacy Innovations Awards
will be on display in Lounge 1142 on the show floor. The country’s
most avid anglers voted for the top 10 innovative sportfishing products
during a nationwide survey. The winners will be announced during this
year’s Industry Breakfast.
Industry Resource Center
Adjacent to the New Product Showcase (Lounge 2446)
Exhibitors and attendees can learn about policy and conservation issues
facing the sportfishing industry and what is being done to address them
as well as what is being done to increase participation in the sport.
New Product Showcase Preview Reception and Showcase
Sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer
There is no doubt that the single most important feature for exhibitors
and attendees is the New Product Showcase, ICAST’s flagship feature.
The Showcase offers exhibitors, buyers and members of the media a special
opportunity to debut and preview hundreds of the next season’s
innovations in fishing gear and accessories. This is where the tackle
industry debuts its latest innovations and recognizes the “best
of the best.” Beginning at the New Product Showcase Preview Reception,
Tuesday, July 15, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., and ending at 1:00 p.m. on
July 16, buyers and members of the media will evaluate each new product
and vote for them based on their innovation, execution, workmanship and
practicality. There are 17 categories along with the overall “Best
of Show.” Just by voting, an individual is automatically entered
into a drawing for up to $3,000 in cash.
Industry Breakfast
Wednesday, July 16, 7:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Sponsored by Townsend and Townsend and Crew
Since 1980, the Industry Breakfast is the one trade show venue where
exhibitors and attendees can hear about the state of the sportfishing
industry and what is being done to address those issues. Just before
the show floor opens on July 16, the Industry Breakfast will feature
remarks by ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman followed by remarks from
Frank Peterson, president and CEO, Recreational Boating & Fishing
Foundation. Peterson will discuss the accomplishments that have been
made to help increase fishing and boating, including the redesigned Take
Me Fishing campaign and the success of the Anglers’ Legacy program.
To commemorate ASA’s 75th anniversary, the Anglers’ Legacy
Innovations Awards – the products that transformed fishing - will
be announced. This is a “do not miss” event.
Chairman’s Industry Awards Reception
Wednesday, July 16, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Las Vegas Hilton – Ballrooms B & C
Sponsored by Plano Molding Company
Since 1962, the association has been recognizing outstanding products
and association members at this annual industry event. Randy Lemcke,
vice president, Plano Molding Company and current Chairman of ASA’s
Board of Directors, is host of this year’s reception where the
New Product Showcase “Best of Show” award recipients will
be announced.
ICAST Seminars
North Halls, N260
ICAST 2008 will feature two
free seminars open to all attendees. One will cover how the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service and state fish and wildlife agencies administer
and use the funds from the federal manufacturers’ excise tax. The
other seminar will cover patent and other intellectual property
protection for fishing tackle and marine products.
Buyer Raffles
Grand prize trip sponsored by Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa
Rica
Each time a buyer writes an order with an exhibitor, he or she is eligible
to enter their name in the ICAST Buyer Raffle. Cash prizes are awarded
as well as the grand prize of a trip for two to Crocodile Bay Lodge in
Costa Rica. Drawings will be held Wednesday, July 16, and Thursday, July
16, at noon and 5:00 p.m. and Friday, July 18, at noon and 3:00 p.m.
Names of daily winners will be posted in the ASA booth.
Cyber Lounge
Booth 1801
Sponsored by Versus
The Cyber Lounge serves as ICAST’s business center. This hotspot
is prominently featured on the show floor and is the place where exhibitors
and buyers can communicate and have access to the Internet.
Exhibitors’ Apparel Lounge
Lounge 454
The Apparel Lounge showcases sponsoring exhibitors’ latest apparel
and merchandise in a prominent lounge space on the ICAST show floor.
Mannequins sport apparel and accessories from Alphatan, First Light Net,
Fishworks, Gemini Sport Marketing, The Habana Company and Pelagic, LLC.
Foundations’ Showcase
Located at Lounge 1301
The FishAmerica and Future
Fisherman Foundations’ Showcase features an array of products
from companies who contribute a percentage of their sales to the foundations
through cause-related marketing partnerships.
For complete ICAST information, visit www.asafishing.org/ICAST.
ICAST is a trade-only event and is not open to the public.
###
The American
Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s
trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the
entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice,
speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state
and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations,
angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and
policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing
itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will
remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring
economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also
represents the interests of America’s 40 million anglers who
generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact
on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one
million people.
