SHOT Show’s Host Cities: SHOT Show at 35

It’s hard to believe for those that have been there from the beginning, but 2013 will mark the 35th SHOT Show. Throughout the year we’ll be looking back at the show’s history, from its inception in 1978 and its official opening in 1979, up to where it stands today as one of the largest and most vibrant trade shows in the world.

The Elite Eight: SHOT Show’s Host Cities

Only eight cities have served as home to the NSSF-owned Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in its 35-year history. From a modest start in 1979 in St. Louis, the SHOT Show has increased in size and importance, consistently ranking among the largest trade shows in North America.

Year City Attendees  
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
St. Louis
San Francisco
New Orleans
Atlanta
Dallas
Dallas
Atlanta
Houston
New Orleans
Las Vegas
Dallas
Las Vegas
Dallas
New Orleans
Houston
Dallas
Las Vegas
Dallas
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Atlanta
Las Vegas
New Orleans
Las Vegas
Orlando
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Orlando
Las Vegas
Orlando
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
5,600
8,500
17,800
17,850
20,000
22,000
19,200
20,950
19,500
19,800
23,500
23,523
25,525
23,262
25,030
27,800
29,600
28,500
35,102
32,759
25,814
29,607
25,496
31,342
27,494
33,264
37,730
40,892
42,216
58,769
48,907
58,444
57,390
61,017
 

11 thoughts on “SHOT Show’s Host Cities: SHOT Show at 35”

  1. Wish they would consider Orlando or Atlanta again. Vegas is just too far for everyone on the east coast. They seem to have  a monopoly on it now.

    1. The nearest hall that could accomodate the SHOT Show would be Louisville, which has a great hall and super people to work with, as does New Orleans.  For the last several years nearly 80% of our attendees prefer Las Vegas and that’s where we will be through 2015.

  2.  Vegas is really unique in that it can accommodate, feed, and transport a convention of this size.  Orlando was horrible.  The choices of where to eat and stay were far too limited.  I’m don’t know about the other cities. 

  3. How about Chicago?  Ooops! Cancel that and bite my tongue. How about ANYPLACE BUT Chicago?

  4. How about Detroit, we need the firearms more than anybody.  We (southeast Michigan) have the highest hunting and fishing license counts in the nation.  You need to get out of your comfort zone and into the war zone.

  5. Congrats to NSSF on getting it done. A show of this magnitude is mind boggling to pull together. NSSF staff and Reed do an amazing job. Thanks for all you do, for all of us… love seeing the numbers increasing — steady upward path.

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