Exhibitor Waiting List Grows as Dallas Safari Club Builds Event Quality
OutdoorHub 10.18.11
Dallas, TX Oct. 18, 2011–A record 800 exhibitors are confirmed–with a record 400 more remaining on a waiting list–as Dallas Safari Club (DSC) enters the homestretch of preparation for its 2012 convention and expo.
The event, always the first major hunting show of the year in the U.S., will be held Jan. 5-8, 2012, at the Dallas Convention Center.
The public is welcome to attend and a crowd of some 32,000 is expected.
Attendees will find a 425,000-square foot exhibit hall that emphasizes quality, variety and hospitality over sheer bulk, according to Ben Carter, DSC executive director.
“Our goal is to host the best show of its kind, not necessarily the biggest,” said Carter. “Managing the size metrics of the event. Creating a more welcoming environment. Offering ample choices of good outdoor products and services from around the world. All of this allows more attendees to find hunting adventures, guns, gear and accessories that are perfect for them. And this buying atmosphere, in turn, allows more exhibitors to do well and have a great show.”
The overarching goal, of course, is nurturing the event for long-haul success and support for DSC conservation, education and hunter advocacy initiatives.
Since relocating from Dallas Market Hall to the more spacious Dallas Convention Center in 2010, DSC has carefully paced its growth with show exhibitors and total exhibit space while enjoying significant gains in attendees and overall fundraising.
In 2011, DSC spent a record $784,000 on mission-related programs, an increase of more than $100,000 from the previous year. Over the past five years, DSC has granted more than $2.8 million for habitat protection and management, wildlife restoration and research, youth learning programs, and promoting hunter interests and benefits to conservation worldwide.
Carter said, “It’s gratifying to see DSC become a global force for wildlife and wild places, and I believe that’s a growing source of pride for everyone who attends or exhibits at our show.”
Exhibitors at the 2012 event will include outfitters and professional hunters from around the world. Gun makers, optics and gear companies, artists, jewelers, clothiers, furriers and many others from across the outdoor industry also will be there. Daily agendas include seminars on various hunting topics by authorities considered best in their field. Additionally, the many wildlife taxidermy displays throughout the expo hall are always a hit.
A highly anticipated new attraction for 2012 is an expo section called “Upland Country” sponsored by Quail Coalition, a Texas-based organization focused on upland bird conservation.
Planned highlights include exhibits, dog-training demonstrations, seminars by Dr. Dale Rollins, even special appearances by noted quail enthusiast and 2011 National Hunting and Fishing Day honorary chairman T. Boone Pickens.
In 2013, the American Custom Gunmakers Guild will relocate its annual exhibition to be held in conjunction with the DSC convention and expo.
Daily admission is $20 per person. Multi-day discount packages are available.
In the evenings, convention registrants can enjoy gala banquets featuring celebrity speakers, awards, entertainment and auctions for world-class hunts, firearms and more. Most evening events will be held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Dallas, near the convention center. For registration information, visit www.biggame.org.
About Dallas Safari Club (DSC)
Desert bighorns on an unbroken landscape, stalking Cape buffalo in heavy brush, students discovering conservation. DSC works to guarantee a future for all these and much more. An independent organization since 1982, DSC has become an international leader in conserving wildlife and wilderness lands, educating youth and the general public, and promoting and protecting the rights and interests of hunters worldwide. Get involved at www.biggame.org.
