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Learning Latin
What used to be the Allentown Outdoor Show and then became the Lehigh Valley Outdoor Expo is no more? There is no mention of it on the website for the Lehigh Valley Expo Center, the website for the expo is a dead link (www. lvoutdoorexpo.com) and in searching, I came across this article:
http://www.readingeagle.com/blog/outdoors/archives/2006/01/no_more_allento.html
(full article is below)
Anyway, it's hard to imagine that its no more because of places like Cabela's. Although I enjoyed my trip to the Hamburg Cabela's, I will really miss the outdoor show because I grew up there! My father took me to the first show and every year for many many years. I've won fishing equipment, been kicked off the shooting range for being too good and learned alot about the outdoors from all the vendors and showcases. In fact, it was part of my birthday present to be taken there and now its no more.... There was always something special about going there every year and even though it lost some appeal when it moved out of Allentown and into the lehigh valley building, I still went because it was a part of me. Now its no longer there
January 07, 2006
No More Allentown Outdoor Show
The Allentown Outdoor Sports and Travel Show is canceled this year, and it is probably gone forever.
The Allentown show was a good local show that drew a wide and impressive range of vendors. The Weaknecht Big Buck Contest was a draw there every year, and the PA. Outdoor Writers Scholarship auction was always a source of bargains.
Operators of the Allentown show blame a lack of vendor interest for the closing, and a drop in attendance over the past few year years, especially since Cabela's opened in Hamburg. Obviously if attendance is down, vendor interest will wane. With the closing of Weaknecht Sporting Goods, in Hamburg, this year, another nail got pounded into the coffin.
The big box, Disney-world, atmosphere of Cabela's, Gander Mountain and Bass Pro has out -sparkled and easily outdrawn the little outdoor shows like Allentown that have been hard pressed to come up with any impressive new draws over the years.
Parents have to ask themselves, why pay to see the same-old-thing at the outdoor show when you can get such exciting sights for free at the big-box stores?
Other shows may fall to the same problems. It looked to me as if the Hamburg show had lost considerable luster last year, and I have no exact numbers, but it felt like attendance was down too.
It's hard for the small outdoor shows to compete against the Cablea glitz, but there certainly are good reasons to try. Many small shows are fund-raisers, like the Union Fire Company that benefits from the Hamburg show. The outdoor organizations like the fur trappers, turkey federation and Trout Unlimited lose considerable exposure opportunities to relate their causes and drum up new members. Over years I have enjoyed meeting fans of our TV and radio shows, hooking up with guides for future tapings and interviewing organization leaders. Outdoor shows are a convenient way to get lots of story ideas in a very short time.
But unless local show operators are prepared to compete with the P.T. Barnum strategy of the big box stores by offering extraordinary events or personalities as public draws, we may be observing the demise of another small town tradition, like the once popular pancake breakfast on the opening morning of trout.
Specialty shows seem to be fairing okay, like the Timonium Bass show or the Somerset Fly Fishing Show, and Bob Rush, whose family has taken over the Bloomsburg Early Bird Show has lit a fair under his marketing people, and they have contracted with NJ bass pro Mike Iaconelli for two days of seminars, Jan. 26 and 27, which to my way of thinking is a huge draw.
But maybe there were just too many outdoor shows and interest has waned from competition among themselves. Whatever the reason, the loss of the Allentown Sports and Travel Show was initially shocking, but upon reflection it probably was a wise and understandable move for the operators to make.
http://www.readingeagle.com/blog/outdoors/archives/2006/01/no_more_allento.html
(full article is below)
Anyway, it's hard to imagine that its no more because of places like Cabela's. Although I enjoyed my trip to the Hamburg Cabela's, I will really miss the outdoor show because I grew up there! My father took me to the first show and every year for many many years. I've won fishing equipment, been kicked off the shooting range for being too good and learned alot about the outdoors from all the vendors and showcases. In fact, it was part of my birthday present to be taken there and now its no more.... There was always something special about going there every year and even though it lost some appeal when it moved out of Allentown and into the lehigh valley building, I still went because it was a part of me. Now its no longer there
January 07, 2006
No More Allentown Outdoor Show
The Allentown Outdoor Sports and Travel Show is canceled this year, and it is probably gone forever.
The Allentown show was a good local show that drew a wide and impressive range of vendors. The Weaknecht Big Buck Contest was a draw there every year, and the PA. Outdoor Writers Scholarship auction was always a source of bargains.
Operators of the Allentown show blame a lack of vendor interest for the closing, and a drop in attendance over the past few year years, especially since Cabela's opened in Hamburg. Obviously if attendance is down, vendor interest will wane. With the closing of Weaknecht Sporting Goods, in Hamburg, this year, another nail got pounded into the coffin.
The big box, Disney-world, atmosphere of Cabela's, Gander Mountain and Bass Pro has out -sparkled and easily outdrawn the little outdoor shows like Allentown that have been hard pressed to come up with any impressive new draws over the years.
Parents have to ask themselves, why pay to see the same-old-thing at the outdoor show when you can get such exciting sights for free at the big-box stores?
Other shows may fall to the same problems. It looked to me as if the Hamburg show had lost considerable luster last year, and I have no exact numbers, but it felt like attendance was down too.
It's hard for the small outdoor shows to compete against the Cablea glitz, but there certainly are good reasons to try. Many small shows are fund-raisers, like the Union Fire Company that benefits from the Hamburg show. The outdoor organizations like the fur trappers, turkey federation and Trout Unlimited lose considerable exposure opportunities to relate their causes and drum up new members. Over years I have enjoyed meeting fans of our TV and radio shows, hooking up with guides for future tapings and interviewing organization leaders. Outdoor shows are a convenient way to get lots of story ideas in a very short time.
But unless local show operators are prepared to compete with the P.T. Barnum strategy of the big box stores by offering extraordinary events or personalities as public draws, we may be observing the demise of another small town tradition, like the once popular pancake breakfast on the opening morning of trout.
Specialty shows seem to be fairing okay, like the Timonium Bass show or the Somerset Fly Fishing Show, and Bob Rush, whose family has taken over the Bloomsburg Early Bird Show has lit a fair under his marketing people, and they have contracted with NJ bass pro Mike Iaconelli for two days of seminars, Jan. 26 and 27, which to my way of thinking is a huge draw.
But maybe there were just too many outdoor shows and interest has waned from competition among themselves. Whatever the reason, the loss of the Allentown Sports and Travel Show was initially shocking, but upon reflection it probably was a wise and understandable move for the operators to make.
