2016 Toronto Sportsman show on the move and back to March

Got this email today.

MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT
The Canadian National Sportsmen's Shows is pleased to announce that a multi-year agreement has been finalized that will see the 69th edition of the Toronto Sportsmen's Show being held March 16-20, 2016 at The International Centre, located at 6900 Airport Road in Mississauga.

RETURN TO A 5 DAY FORMAT
Canada's Greatest and Most Historic Sportsmen's Show will return to its traditional five day format at The International Centre.

EASILY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION AND FREE PARKING
Jennifer Allaby, Ontario Regional Manager of the Canadian National Sportsmen's Shows and Show Manager of the Toronto Sportsmen's Show is excited by the prospects offered by this new venue.
"The International Centre is positioned in the middle of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), at the junction of seven major Ontario highways. It's also one of the only facilities of its kind to offer free parking for over 5,000 vehicles. The benefit of complimentary parking at The International Centre is that it dramatically lowers the cost of attending the show", said Allaby.

LISTENING TO EXHIBITORS AND ATTENDEES
"In discussions with many of our valued exhibitors and attendees it became very clear that they preferred the show's traditional family oriented March Break dates" remarked Walter Oster, Chairman & CEO of the Canadian National Sportsmen's Shows. "I am sure everyone realizes how difficult it is to relocate a show the size of the Toronto Sportsmen's Show, therefore I am extremely pleased that we have been able to enter into a new long term agreement with The International Centre to hold the 2016 Toronto Sportsmen's Shows on the March Break time slot."

LAYOUT AT THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE WORKS WELL FOR THE SPORTSMEN'S SHOW
Peter Lockhart, President, Canadian National Sportsmen's Shows believes the Toronto Sportsmen's Show will thrive in its new location." In addition to the free parking, ease of access and more moderate weather on the March Break dates, the facility layout at The International Centre dovetails perfectly with the many diverse elements of our show," said Lockhart. "As the attendees travel through the Toronto Sportsmen's Show they will see that each hall represents all of our great heritage activities. This builds a rewarding, interactive, family experience that benefits our attendees and exhibitors alike."

OVER 40 YEARS OF HOSTING MEMORABLE EVENTS
"The Toronto Sportsmen's Show is a truly iconic event and we are excited they have chosen our venue for the 2016 show," said Michael Prescott, Chief Executive Officer, The International Centre. "As a leading consumer show venue for over 40 years we pride ourselves on providing our clients and visitors with the highest level of services and expertise possible to create exceptional experiences. Welcoming the Toronto Sportsmen's Show to The International Centre continues to showcase our focus on providing outstanding events produced by exceptional teams."

This might be too little too late. I really enjoyed going to the sportsman show as a kid and young adult, but I've changed and so has the industry and the show. Maybe I'll return.

I would likely go if it's in the International Ctr. Good move. I despise going downtown Toronto.

I think I'll take the kids again its been 3yrs since we went and see how they do up there. I'm interested to see what they set admission prices at since the old shows up there were always reasonably priced.

I like the fact that they moved it back to March as it will be easier to get away with them.

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Originally Posted by terrym

I would likely go if it's in the International Ctr. Good move. I despise going downtown Toronto.

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Count me in. I HATE going to Toronto. You can't do an effing thing in that city without having to pay somebody for something.

Yep. International Ctr has free parking. Maybe they can bring back the retriever demonstrations. Who doesn't like to watch that?

This is a step in the right direction.... I will be there.... :)

Totally agree. Most sportsman attendees drive vehicles anyway, and free parking and better access to highways makes perfect sense. Another reason I boycott the auto show as I preferred the days it was at the International Centre.

Positive change, will likely make me return for another view.

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Originally Posted by Wahoo

Count me in. I HATE going to Toronto. You can't do an effing thing in that city without having to pay somebody for something.

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X2 !!!

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Originally Posted by yellow dog

X2 !!!

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It will be much better during the March school break and therefore more families can be involved.

I'll let the locals sample it and report back before I make the drive down there, free parking to get fudge and pepperettes isn't exactly enticing, allot more needs to be brought back to the show.

Who would want to:

1) Come to Toronto
2) Drive in Downtown Toronto on the QEW/Gardiner/DVP anytime from 5:30am-11pm
3) Pay $14 for parking
4) Pay $20 per person to get in to find out the exhibitors don't have any good deals on and you could have saved $20 by visiting their store
5) Try to drive out of Toronto on the QEQ/Gardiner/DVP anytime from 5:30am-11pm

They might have a better chance now.

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Originally Posted by x_xeon_x

Who would want to:

1) Come to Toronto

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stop stop stop...that's as far as that list has to go....LOL.

everything I could ever hope for is available on-line to my mail box....

everything that is new is available to see on a youtube video from the comfort of my chair...

So a show has to be special, something with some "wow" to get me inside. Hopefully they are starting to see that.

Well it's about time.....now if they can get rid of the flea market atmosphere and bring it back to a "Sportsman" show then i might start going again as the venue is about 10 minutes from me!

Excellent. Had given up on it and will happily try again.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

stop stop stop...that's as far as that list has to go....LOL.

everything I could ever hope for is available on-line to my mail box....

everything that is new is available to see on a youtube video from the comfort of my chair...

So a show has to be special, something with some "wow" to get me inside. Hopefully they are starting to see that.

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Mike is right on this....

All shows are suffering in attendance and this internet is a good reason why. Deals, unless a dealer has inventory that has become obsolete it will not occur. The big box stores with buying power will have deals and you will not see them at a show of this nature. The internet will have deals, the big stores have the deals, the small ma and pops have service. Chances are you have already shopped on line, know a cost and when the time is right will buy. We are far more educated consumers now. do to the internet.

The advantage of a show is the ability to see an item, put your hands on it, ask questions, and if the price is reasonable you purchase it. The vendors at show have the same issue, booth space, set up and take down time, extra staff to man booth cost them money. The best they can hope for is exposure, create a name for the costumer and pray the exposure will lure the customer back.

To enhance the show, they need seminars, attractions for FAMILIES to see. We want to get the best bang for our admission, travel expenses to the show.

Many years ago there was fashion shows, casting competitions, working dog demonstrations, the Golden Whistle, the MNR had a huge display of wildlife. Break a way shows such as the fishing show, the hunting show, the cottage show and the boating show have impacted on the Sportsman Show that was once 10 days.

The move may be a positive for the show, but I believe they are still going to need to put on presentations, and attractions for entertainment that can not be found on the internet. They need to out do taking your family to Bass Pro or Cabela's for a day.

I was told that the cancellation of the golden whistle was do to the costs of setting up the arena (pegged at $25000.00), and the lack of audience in the stands to watch. When they cancelled that , I told them there was little need for dog clubs to attend, and that hunting and dogs went together. If you want a hunting hall then you need hunting dogs to complete your show.

I wonder what the lease is now with the Fishing Show and Andy. I wish both Walter and Andy luck in the future.

Shows were once a great place to take the family for a day.

Dick

Years ago when we supported the Atv clubs the wife and I used to help run the booth over the entire weekend. I completely hated the set up in Toronto convention center and felt horrible for the dogs that had to use escalators to go take a leek. I haven't bothered with it for the last 3 years but maybe since it's moving, I might go for a look see. Savage308

Def a step in the right direction but like it has been said they need to overhaul a lot more to get it back to what it was. I'll see what the reviews are next year and if enough positive comes out of it I will start to attend again. As of right now I have completely gave up on any of these types of shows (flee markets).

Any time that an event/show like this moves out of the downtown Toronto area is a smart move. The International Center is in Peel Region that certainly doesn't have the very negative connotation with shooting sports and hunting and fishing that the City of Toronto has from many years of over-regulation and downright hostility. Next years show should be excellent with much larger display areas and convenient family-friendly atmosphere. This is Toronto's loss and it's what they amply deserve.

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Originally Posted by Bucksnort

Totally agree. Most sportsman attendees drive vehicles anyway, and free parking and better access to highways makes perfect sense. Another reason I boycott the auto show as I preferred the days it was at the International Centre.

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How many years ago was that? I always remember it being at Skydome/Convention Centre. Apparently its only at the convention centre these days?

I think I will check out the sportsman show next year though. haven't been for a few years. middle of march works better for me.

As an exhibtor for the first time last year, i welcome the move out of downtown. Tough to get to, expensive to park and for all the reasons posted already above. We were sitting on the fence about which shows to go to this upcoming year and we will now attend Toronto as i think it is the first step in returning this show to the way we all remember it. I certainly wish the organizers good luck at the new venue!

JJL I am thinking that the auto show was about 20 years ago at the International Centre. Having lived in Mississauga back then I believe it moved to Toronto in the mid 90's. Maybe another member has a better recollection than mine. I remember talking to Faye Dance who was modelling there and she was the Wintario Lotto lady on TV at the International Centre but don't tell my wife...

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Originally Posted by Bucksnort

JJL I am thinking that the auto show was about 20 years ago at the International Centre. Having lived in Mississauga back then I believe it moved to Toronto in the mid 90's. Maybe another member has a better recollection than mine. I remember talking to Faye Dance who was modelling there and she was the Wintario Lotto lady on TV at the International Centre but don't tell my wife...

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It's earlier than that. I remember going at Skydome Convention Center in the late 80's.

Skydome/Rogers Centre opened in '89? maybe the show moved there once it opened and was at international centre before that?

To us up here in the sticks there isnt much difference between Missisauga and Toronto lol. Its all "the city"

This is a great start to revitalizing this sorely abused and neglected show to a huge revenue generating demographic in Ontario.
What I'd like to see is more vendors not only selling product but demonstrating the innovation of their new products both hunting and fishing persuits. The show needs more "organic" vendors that want to take the next steps in their business, so I would expect more cost effective booth pricing.

I'd also like to see the dog breeders there, horses/farm animals (good for the kids) more cottage related vendors, and other creative attractions to bring this show back to the prominemce it once had.

Count me in.