No more SHOT Show for Reed Exhibitions

[GunLink]

Reed is out:

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, today announced that it has reached an agreement with Reed Exhibitions to terminate the agreement the parties had for the management of the SHOT Show.
...
NSSF is actively engaged in the process of identifying a new show management company to manage and produce the SHOT Show beginning with the 2014 SHOT Show.

We're surprised it took them that long to give them the boot after the frenzy following ESOS. I imagine the process of terminating the agreement was probably a long one filled with lots of lawyers. Hope they find someone good to take over.

 

[lobo9er]

Good. Time to clean shop.

 

[Sam1911]

Awesome!

 

[GunLink]

Any pool on who you think they're going to get to take over?

I wasn't too familiar with Reed other than seeing their name on the SHOT app before their big fiasco. Are their competitors folks like GES and Freeman, or likely somebody more firearms-centric?

 

[bikerdoc]

Good riddance to Reed. They did not get it!

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Here's the full text:

NSSF Statement on Management of the SHOT Show®

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, today announced that it has reached an agreement with Reed Exhibitions to terminate the agreement the parties had for the management of the SHOT Show®. Accordingly, effective immediately, Reed Exhibitions will no longer be manager and producer of the SHOT Show.

Reed Exhibitions provided excellent service to NSSF and the customers of the SHOT Show for more than three decades, however, the company's decision to restrict the sale of certain types of firearms this year at its consumer hunting and fishing show -- an event unrelated to NSSF and the SHOT Show -- was in conflict with NSSF's mission to serve the shooting sports industry. As a result, both organizations decided it was in the best interest of the SHOT Show to end their relationship.

NSSF is actively engaged in the process of identifying a new show management company to manage and produce the SHOT Show beginning with the 2014 SHOT Show.

The SHOT Show -- the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show -- is owned and sponsored by NSSF. It is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for all professionals involved with the shooting sports, hunting and law enforcement industries. The 2014 SHOT Show will be held Jan. 14-17 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.

 

[Grmart]

Great news!!!!!! Now maybe they'll move out of that dump at the Sands and get it back to the convention center.

Cheers,

George

 

[Rembrandt]

Look for the NRA to possibly run it.

 

[GunLink]

I thought about that since NRA took over the PA show, but it seems like that might be somewhat of a competition/conflict of interest as gun rights/gun safety organizations. Perhaps not, though, since SHOT is an industry show.

And +1 to getting out of the Sands Expo.

 

[trailgator]

Rightly so. Glad to hear it.

 

[Old Fuff]

Shows at the Convention Center during the early months of the year are literally scheduled years in advance. One advantage Reed had was they had made those advanced reservations. Now whoever takes over the SHOT Show may have to inprovise a bit until they become established.

On the plus side, the show has brought a lot of money to Vegas, and they know it. They'll do every thing they can to keep it from moving.

 

[Dean Weingarten]

If NSSF had sense, (and they seem to), they would have included transfer rights to those reservations for future shows in the termination agreement.

 

[Old Fuff]

If NSSF had sense, (and they seem to), they would have included transfer rights to those reservations for future shows in the termination agreement.

I believe that Reed owned those reservations outright, and in affect leased or provided them to NSSF as part of the deal between them. Now Reed is free to offer those dates to other conventions (or whatever). But if no one takes them (which is unlikely) then Reed would be stuck with a very large bill.

The real issue is (or was) as the show manager could Reed dictate what exhibitors could or couldn't display, regardless of the show owner's position. In this case the answer was, "NO!"

Clearly Reed, based in the UK, wants only politically correct shows.

 

[CoRoMo]

...the company's decision to restrict the sale of certain types of firearms ... was in conflict with NSSF's mission...

Yup. Forget them.

 

[Rembrandt]

Here's an article about the NRA and trade shows... http://washingtonexaminer.com/nra-expanding-into-the-gun-sportsman-show-business/article/2527716

The NRA currently is doing their Annual Convention, the former Eastern Sports Show, and numerous smaller events....it would make sense for them to expand and do the Shot Show. Can't divulge my sources, but it could happen.

 

[splithoof]

Let us hope that due to their failure, they go bankrupt. All officers in the corporation deserve the unemployment line. They can tuck tail and head back to jolly old England, and take Piers Morgan with them.