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 |
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.
Atlanta’s hall is too small. We love Orlando–great hall, great partners–but right now the vast majority of our customers prefer Las Vegas.
How about Nashville TN in the middle of everywhere!!!!!.
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.
I agree with the Tennessee idea!
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.
Get it to Stockholm, Sweden 😀
How about Chicago? Ooops! Cancel that and bite my tongue. How about ANYPLACE BUT Chicago?
How about DC!!
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.
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.