DSC 2025 - Atlanta

[lmartin5]

Did anyone attend the Dallas Safari Club show, or know anyone that attended this year's show in Atlanta?

I am on their e-mail list, and received an e-mail from there new CEO.

In reading the e-mail, it appears as if they received some strong feedback that communication needs to improve, but the biggest concern being the concern from convention stakeholders regarding their ability to enjoy the degree of success that they have experienced previously.

Sounds like things didn't go as well as planned regarding the relocation to Atlanta?

[gekko man]

I had planned on attending and had zero clue that it had been moved to Atlanta.

Obviously, I did not go.

[Landrover]

I read that same letter......twice! I did not attend but have received 2 calls from attendees and had two others commenting on what they were told. Does not seem to have gone very well overall. One caller said the floor was slow on traffic but he did okay,........ but his business is not dependent on show traffic. I dont know how long the contract is but I wont be surprised if Dallas is not back on the schedule sooner than later.

[TexasCanesFan]

We went for the entire 4 days as an attendee. For us, it was a great show because it was not crowded. Got to experience some new restaurants, drink some local craft beers and do the tourist thing. The Georgia Aquarium was amazing. Zero effect for me if it in Dallas, Atlanta, Indy, Reno, whatever. I enjoy travelling.

I feel the snow storm had a huge effect on the attendance, but it would have dipped first year anyways. This was always gonna be a down show because of the venue change but the city shutting down for Friday and Saturday made it exponentially worse. So the true attendance effect of moving it to Atlanta was not truly experienced. I was expecting bad, but not snow storm awful.

As a vendor I am sure the attendance is a major negative and made the show a waste for most of them.

I also got the email and read the CEOs message but I have no idea what the solution will be. Kay Bailey isn't an option.

[TexasCanesFan]

I read that same letter......twice! I did not attend but have received 2 calls from attendees and had two others commenting on what they were told. Does not seem to have gone very well overall. One caller said the floor was slow on traffic but he did okay,........ but his business is not dependent on show traffic. I dont know how long the contract is but I wont be surprised if Dallas is not back on the schedule sooner than later.

I thought it was a 5 year contract, but could be wrong. Even if there is a buyout and Atlanta was a 1 shot deal, where do you move it to make people happy.

The tiny SCI/TTHA show being at Kay Bailey does not mean it will hold DSC.

Unrelated, I sent you a PM Landrover.

[Quackerbox]

Well it is Atlanta.....

[S-3 Ranch]

I thought it was a 5 year contract, but could be wrong. Even if there is a buyout and Atlanta was a 1 shot deal, where do you move it to make people happy.

The tiny SCI/TTHA show being at Kay Bailey does not mean it will hold DSC.

Unrelated, I sent you a PM Landrover.

My understanding is DSC doesn’t have the 5-6 million buy out money, it’s 1/2 their operating net worth, but what do we really know

[TexasCanesFan]

My understanding is DSC doesn’t have the 5-6 million buy out money, it’s 1/2 their operating net worth, but what do we really know

You would think if there had been a better option for a huge convention center to begin with, i.e. Houston, Louisville, Nashville, etc, they would have booked that instead of Atlanta when the Kay Bailey mess started.

They were trying to keep the dates so the outfitters are all coming to the US once. They can hit DSC, Sheep Show or HSC and then SCI all in consecutive weekends. Trying to get them all to come back at any point would be a disaster as well.

Again, it's a mess.

[Jon-Paul]

I was at the sheep show this past weekend and most of the outfitters I spoke with as well as attendees had nothing positive to say about the DSC.

[S-3 Ranch]

You would think if there had been a better option for a huge convention center to begin with, i.e. Houston, Louisville, Nashville, etc, they would have booked that instead of Atlanta when the Kay Bailey mess started.

They were trying to keep the dates so the outfitters are all coming to the US once. They can hit DSC, Sheep Show or HSC and then SCI all in consecutive weekends. Trying to get them all to come back at any point would be a disaster as well.

Again, it's a mess.

DSC played their cards, let them stay in Atlanta, TTHA has KBH for five years throw 100% behind them , San Antonio is building up international terminal space right now
That will be done in 3-4 years, TTHA can shift to home base in San Antonio after that
And we will have a grand show here in SA , support the Texas based show
Not Oklahoma, Florida, ect,
Or is that such a bad idea it’s not noteworthy

[Mudslinger]

I was an exhibitor at the DSC show in Atlanta for African Arrow Safaris and I will tell you from my experience, it was a cluster**** in almost every aspect. No one knew anything about where to go, how to get there or anything. Very few signs showing where to go to get checked in and into the haul to set up out booth. Very, very food vendors when the show opened. We were put within 15-20 yards of the back of the haul where there was suppose to be a HUGE food court. Yea right. Chick Fil was there on Thursday, but did not come back, the Nathans hot dog was horrendous and no whee to sit. They had about 50 such tables in the back at the HUGE food court! I talked to several of the volunteers for DSC, (they also said that to help and volunteer at this show, it was on THEIR dime) most had no idea what was going on and were not happy with how things were being run. Talked to a lot of vendors and most were not happy. Bass Pro/Cabela's double or triple booth was a little farther back than us and they were ******. The initial layout of where everyone's booth would be, they would be close to the main entrance, but when they go there, they were in the back! In my opinion, if they stay there in Atlanta for another 4 years, DSC will loose a lot of members and attendance at this show. The cause of the move from Texas was due to the higher ups wanting their show on almost the same weekend or date as it has been. A little bit of leeway on dates would have kept the show at least in Texas. Lots of rumors going aroud as the show wrapped up and booths began to come dow, this started at 2and the show did not close until 3!

Again this was my opinion.

TexasCanesFan, did you not see our booth since you were there for the full 4 days?

[TexasCanesFan]

TexasCanesFan, did you not see our booth since you were there for the full 4 days?

At the time we weren't even looking at African outfitters or trips. LOL

[trophy8]

My brother works for an African outfitter. They were there. And had nothing good to say. Worst show they’ve ever had.

DSC needs to move back or they may go under.

[lmartin5]

I was an exhibitor at the DSC show in Atlanta for African Arrow Safaris and I will tell you from my experience, it was a cluster**** in almost every aspect. No one knew anything about where to go, how to get there or anything. Very few signs showing where to go to get checked in and into the haul to set up out booth. Very, very food vendors when the show opened. We were put within 15-20 yards of the back of the haul where there was suppose to be a HUGE food court. Yea right. Chick Fil was there on Thursday, but did not come back, the Nathans hot dog was horrendous and no whee to sit. They had about 50 such tables in the back at the HUGE food court! I talked to several of the volunteers for DSC, (they also said that to help and volunteer at this show, it was on THEIR dime) most had no idea what was going on and were not happy with how things were being run. Talked to a lot of vendors and most were not happy. Bass Pro/Cabela's double or triple booth was a little farther back than us and they were ******. The initial layout of where everyone's booth would be, they would be close to the main entrance, but when they go there, they were in the back! In my opinion, if they stay there in Atlanta for another 4 years, DSC will loose a lot of members and attendance at this show. The cause of the move from Texas was due to the higher ups wanting their show on almost the same weekend or date as it has been. A little bit of leeway on dates would have kept the show at least in Texas. Lots of rumors going aroud as the show wrapped up and booths began to come dow, this started at 2and the show did not close until 3!

Again this was my opinion.

TexasCanesFan, did you not see our booth since you were there for the full 4 days?

This is sad to hear...hopefully they can work through the issues.

Would definitely like to see them back in Texas sooner rather than later.

[Landrover]

I thought it was a 5 year contract, but could be wrong. Even if there is a buyout and Atlanta was a 1 shot deal, where do you move it to make people happy.

The tiny SCI/TTHA show being at Kay Bailey does not mean it will hold DSC.

Unrelated, I sent you a PM Landrover.

Oops just seeing your PM, just left you a looooong response......lol!!!

Yes TTHA expected exactly what they got out the Kay Bailey move per attendance. But filling that show void that DSC left was a no lose proposition and also sets TTHA up for more membership growth. Gonna be interesting to see how the chess board falls out over the next 3 years or so.