SHOT Show Will Remain at Sands Expo Through 2027
Bad news folks — SHOT Show will continue at the Sands Expo through the year 2027. That means nine (9) more years at this “dog” of a facility infamous for its inadequate parking, confusing floor plans, and nightmarish ingress/egress through the Venetian hotel. Oh and it’s hard not to think about the thousands of people who get sick every year attending SHOT Show at the Sands. If you have been there, you know what we’re talking about. So SHOT Show fans, steel yourselves for nine more years of the same sad situation.
Previously, NSSF, the show’s organizer, had agreed to keep SHOT Show at the Sands through 2025. Now they’ve contracted for two more years at this disappointing venue. That makes for NINE additional years of headaches, confusion, disorientation, and general discontent. Oh well…
“The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) and Sands Expo have announced a two-year extension of their current agreement, which will keep the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show at the Sands Expo through 2027. With this two-year extension, we look forward to bringing SHOT Show — the city’s fifth largest trade show — back to these venues for years to come…” said Chris Dolnack, Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer of NSSF, owner of the show.
Meanwhile the even bigger SEMA car show continues at the completely renovated, much easier-to-navigate Las Vegas Convention Center, where SHOT Show should be, in our opinion. There’s a reason SEMA is not at the Sands — those car guys are just not that dumb.
SHOT Show IMPACT $127 Million
SHOT Show is the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas and the largest trade show of its kind in the world. In 2018, over 2000 companies exhibited at SHOT Show attracting over 60,000 attendees. The show is open to trade professionals only and not to the general public. The new agreement caps a big year for SHOT Show, which marked its 40th anniversary overall, 20th year in Las Vegas and ninth straight year at the Sands Expo.According to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the overall economic impact of the 2018 SHOT Show to Las Vegas was $127.2 million, bringing the cumulative economic impact of the show to the city to $1.1 billion.
Last time I attended SHOT was the first year it was at the Sands and I swore I wouldn’t return until they changed venues. Guess I won’t be heading back until at least 2028. Ridiculous considering the move to the Sands was only supposed to be for 2 years while waiting for the new Las Vegas Convention Center to be completed after major construction delays.
The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) has a substantial “outside” presence – in what use to be a very large parking lot in front of the Convention Center. IMO, many of the companies that use that outdoor space now would love to have that same outdoor space available for the ton of “O” (Outdoor) equipment that the SHOT Show has no place to accommodate. SHOT is missing a HUGE opportunity.
The main thing on the downside at the LVCC is, IMO, that there are basically no large, good quality hotels within walking distance. When the Hilton left, years ago, that was the last. The Riviera (a second rate hotel at best) was demolished and replaced by a huge, street-level-only parking lot – to service, of course, the LVCC. And all of that parking lot space is actually used for parking.
A tip to anyone considering attending a future SHOT, if you can, skip Tuesday (first day of the show), an absolute nightmare getting to the show and back to your hotel.
Used to hate when SHOT was in Vegas because I was young and foolish. Work a booth all day long, then hit the tables until the cows came home. Was actually more productive in the latter part of the show when it was in Dallas, Houston, New Orleans or Atlanta :^)
When it comes to accommodation, lots of interesting old places up near Fremont Street. Or, there is always the Motel 6,(or similar) and the bus…..
Maybe people make too big a deal about the sands. After a couple years you learn where everything is, most of the layout doesnt change much. If you want to go the glock booth it’s in the same spot. You wanna go to the ptg booth, same spot. Get the app if you want to see something you dont know where it is. I went to the last one in Orlando and the show was fine, theres just so much more to do in walking distance in Vegas. In Orlando it was just go back to the room.