Those that are at Vegas, what do you think of the venue? I think it is more spread out with very large isles and partitioned off extra areas to make it look huge. Doesn't seem to be as many exhibitors but SCI staff says there is more than 200 additional from last year in Reno. I think they could have put us all on one level if they would have made the isles more like Reno and opened up the partitioned off areas...

All this being said, we had a very good first day to the show and people seem to be in the buying mood... Just wondered what others that are here think. See you at booth 1876!!! DAN

It is ten times better than Reno! Newer, nicer, bigger, in one of the nicest casino/hotels in the world, larger isles, clean and upscale bathrooms, more things to see, more places to eat, better weather, etc. etc. The two levels are great as well. And, the showroom is right there for the evening concerts/dinners/auctions. P.S. Did I tell you how I feel?

I'm leaving early. I hate Las Vegas and this travesty has only confirmed that opinion. I have not spoken with one member nor one vendor over the first two days who has anything good to say about this Las Vegas venue.

Too expensive - everything, food, water, transportation, drinks, ets.

The biggest cluster f ever by SCI at the check-in Wednesday morning = 500-1000 people (pre-registered!) trying to get their bags and gain entry.

Two level venue with limited escalators.

Stopped liquor sales 2 hours before closing Wednesday???

Union town, charging for everything - $40 to vacuum a booth, can't bring in chairs, water, drinks, etc. for the booths. Employees don't care and are rude.

Taxis are very expensive - $80 roundtrip to WalMart to buy water ($6 per bottle or $3 for a short bottle at the venue).

Legionares Disease at the Luxor - one death in December and nobody tells SCI until after we start arriving.

L-O-N-G walks to get to the convention venue.

UFC fight at the venue hotel on Saturday night.

Super Bowl weekend.

Crowded restaurants with waiting lines.

500 more vendors, who won't fit into Reno next year!

Good planning SCI! Thanks a lot. Having missed only one show since 1995, I think I have a good comparative base of knowledge. Las Vegas sucks and I'm outta here!

I think Mike summed it up... Well said!

Mike you to have to come to Dallas. Thank you.

Mike

Well I'm in the air on the way to the show - I think I now know what to expect! Cheers

Glad I missed this year. I have 3 friends that went-- 2 thought it was good (their first time), and the other thought the same as LionHunter (his 5th time). There is such thing as too much Vegas. I'm not a fan. If Reno was not so hard to get to///I'll still take Reno over Vegas.

Ed

Whatever you may say SCI is the biggest quality show in the world for hunters.

I guess it all depends on if you are buying, selling or just gawking

From a candid exhibitors point of view:

DSC - was slow this year
The African sporting show in Atlanta and Georgia was very quiet, some said dead, disastrous!
Wild sheep show - was pretty quiet


From a buyers point of view I would say DSC is pretty good show to go to, cheaper to visit than SCI, easy to get to and plenty of time to talk to many of the same exhibitors who will be at SCI, especially where Africa is concerned.

I'm enjoying it myself.

So you have the worlds largest gathering of outfitters providing opportunities to hunt anywhere in the world, and some of the very best firearms manufacturers in the world with their wares on display, and we still bitch about it?

Vegas is easier to get to, but a bit more expensive. A trade off. The show is in a nice facility.

To each his own I guess.

quote:

Too expensive - everything, food, water, transportation, drinks, ets.

It's Vegas, baby!

quote:

The biggest cluster f ever by SCI at the check-in Wednesday morning = 500-1000 people (pre-registered!) trying to get their bags and gain entry.

Would it have been any better in Reno? Or anywhere for that matter? There are 20,000 members at this convention; how many were in Reno last year?

quote:

Two level venue with limited escalators.

Agreed, but with all those exhibitors, two floors would be needed.

quote:

Stopped liquor sales 2 hours before closing Wednesday???

That's a new one. Was this at a bar inside the convention floor?

quote:

Union town, charging for everything - $40 to vacuum a booth, can't bring in chairs, water, drinks, etc. for the booths. Employees don't care and are rude.

Not every casino resort is unionized, but that one is. Find a manager and report the rudeness and apathy.

quote:

Taxis are very expensive - $80 roundtrip to WalMart to buy water ($6 per bottle or $3 for a short bottle at the venue).

Taxis are for the tourists, and they clip you here. I suggest pooling resources and buying a few cases of water at a local supermarket (there is a Smith's 3 mi. away on Tropicana and Jones) on a single trip. They're about $4 for a case of 16.9oz. bottles.

quote:

Legionares Disease at the Luxor - one death in December and nobody tells SCI until after we start arriving.

How do you know SCI wasn't told? Might SCI get an 'accommodation' based on the number of rooms booked under its booking code? Like cash, or free rooms for its executives?

quote:

L-O-N-G walks to get to the convention venue.

Mandalay Bay is a huge venue, so that is to be expected. How many miles of aisles did you walk yesterday? What's another 1/2 mile or so?

quote:

UFC fight at the venue hotel on Saturday night.

The UFC is headquartered here, is immensely popular in Vegas, and generates far more gambling revenue from its attendees than SCI conventions do.

quote:

Super Bowl weekend.

You can legally bet on the game here. 'Nuff said.

quote:

Crowded restaurants with waiting lines.

In addition to the normal patrons, there are three other conventions at MB besides SCI. Long lines are to be expected. NYC and LA have lines at the more popular restaurants, even without conventioneers.

quote:

500 more vendors, who won't fit into Reno next year!

They were able to exhibit only because of the size of the venue.

George

So GeorgeS, WTF is your point??? We should accept all this crap because it's your hometown?

My point is that none of these problems are ever experienced or at least not nearly as severe in Reno, period. By my standards, that makes Reno a better venue. More bang for the same buck in Reno. BTW, how many years have you attended SCI?
If this is someones first SCI show they have nothing to compare. And the fact that you reside in Vegas wouldn't color your comments in the least, yes? Full disclosure, please.

I'll be in Reno for SCI next year, but I won't be coming back to Vegas for 2014, and I won't be alone. You live there, you like it, you can have it.

I have been to at least 3 SCIs in Reno and to the previous one in Las Vegas. I have also been to Dallas twice. This show was sensory overload. by the time I got to the second floor I was just scanning, even so I quit half way through it? in the future you need to allocate two full days to properly see a show of this size. cost? it's Vegas, what do you expect. one positive was between getting from my room in the MGM Grand, the bus stop to the show, through the two floors and back, I no longer wonder if I have the stamina to trail a Buffalo. someone told my wife that walking the two floors was the equivalent of walking 5 miles. don't know if it is true but I can't disagree. plusses were the size of the aisles and the availability of entertainment other than the SCI events. also the number of high end rifle and double gun manufacturers seemed significantly higher? whatever was there in the past, there was more this year.Was it better, if bigger is better than this was great. if you want intimate go to Dallas. I'm curious to see how they shoehorn a show this size into Reno next year. Exhibitors may complain, but clearly there is one show that they can't afford to miss: SCI. if you want to see them all, this is the only place to go.

If you don't like Vegas, you don't like Vegas. Fine. I can accept that. However, I don't think many of the issues raised are any worse than in Reno.

I was in line to get my bag like everyone else. It took me less than 5 minutes which is about what it takes in Reno.

The hotels are FAR superior in Vegas. The restaurants are far superior in Vegas. As for the wait, have you ever heard of reservations?

We are hunters which requires a certain level of fitness. Given the size of exhibit area and miles of walking to see everything, I can't comprehend complaining the walk from the rooms to exhibit area. I lifted weights for an hour and did cardio for an hour before I went to the convention today .

There are affiliated hotels that are much less expensive that can be reached by monorail in minutes.

Reno is difficult to get to and the weather often sucks.

I do see a few negatives including :

1- lesser availability of food in the convention space.

2- Damn, I miss that lemonade.

3- It took me 3.5 hours to walk through the entire thing.

4-I agree about the timing of the convention .

I like it a lot better than Reno.

I should have added that I have spoken to several of my friends that are exhibiting. All are being bombarded. They seeing a lot more activity that has been the case in the last several years.

This was my first time at the SCI show. I was there Wednesday and as far as the wait in the very long line, it moved very quickly, so no problem there. Two days would have been better than one, but one day was enough for me.

Due to all that I have read here in the past and SCI advertisments, I had high expectations. Because of my expectations, I was not overly inpressed. It was a good show, but that would be expected.

I would never have gone to see it in Reno, but took the plunge and went this time. I don't care for Vegas, but I am sure there are various considerations before choosing an event location. I would prefer them to change it up similar to what the NRA does. However, SCI has never listened to my suggestions, so I am sure they will keep doing it the way they have planned (Reno - Vegas).

I did negotiate with several outfitters and will see what the outcome is. I did like the shot gun I saw with the $189,000.00 price tag on it, but I left it for one of you guys. One thing for sure, you don't see those kind of items everyday.

I skipped the expensive eateries at the Madalay Bay Hotel and still needed a basket of cash, just to eat.

The buffet cost plus or minus $30 per person depending on the day. A sandwich and a Pepsi was more than $20 at any of the sit-down restaurants. Breakfast was $20 and up with coffee. I paid $28 at the Chinese place for a plate with a small bowl of vegetables and a small mound of pulled roast duck.

A sandwich and a Pepsi at the food court was a bit over $17, but there weren't enough places to sit, so we found chairs and ate off a table in one of those terribly long hallways.

The trip from the airport on a Showtime shuttle was $7, but no shuttles were running when I left this morning at 6 for the airport. The fare with tip was $20, and hotel is near the airport.

After attending every SCI convention since 1983, I'll take Reno any time.

Bill Quimby

Mike,

My point is that Las Vegas is expensive, the SCI show is enormous when it is here, and that no one forces you to attend, so quit your bitching, or better yet, complain to SCI. They'll probably serve you a nice cup of STFU.


In the interests of 'full disclosure':

• I have not been a member of SCI for ten years now, and never attended the convention in Reno (or Atlanta when they had it there). I did attend the convention in Las Vegas years ago, and loved it.
  
  
• Las Vegas is not my hometown; I moved here last year because I love Vegas and feel Nevada is a much better place to live than NY/NJ, where I used to live.
  
  
• I have no stake in the SCI convention being here.

If Reno is more to your liking, enjoy. It is a lot more convenient for you than it is for most people as Reno is not served by as many direct or non-stop flights as Vegas is.

From what I've heard from SCI members who attended, the Reno conventions are smaller because the venues are smaller; fewer people attend because it's tougher to get to, and there is less to enjoy after the convention.

These factors result in fewer exhibitors, which results in a smaller draw, which results in a smaller venue, and so on.



I don't understand why you would attend the convention in Vegas if you hated the place before you got here.

George

Sounds like it's a big show. I started attending the shows in 1985, this is the first year I have missed. Didn't enjoy it the last time it was in Vegas. Attending DSC this year was a nice substitute. I am looking forward to going back to Reno next year. As a small town guy (until moving to NYC) Reno just feels better.

'Sorry, didn't take the time to read this whole thread but...

I'm not a fan of Vegas either, but, having to fly out of San Antonio, it's a heckuva lot easier to get to than Reno. And, Reno is just sad, I'm sorry.

I know the upper level couldn't have been good for the exhibitors, but as far as the wider isles, I liked them, much easier to get around the left-drifting wanderers and the scooters.

We stayed at the Wynn and took a cab down to Mandalay, so we missed most of the cage-fighting crap. From there I could also walk to the Elk show at the Las Vegas Conv. Ctr.; mucho smaller, but interesting.

Dan, I tried to stop in and check on my stuff coming to you, but you all were tied up with other guys beating their chests!

Having a little experience on the board of an unrelated trade association - if you're big enough to get anywhere in Vegas, you're attendance is always better there. Again, I don't like the place, but
the facts are the facts.

'Going to Dallas DSC next year.

I must admit that after 3 days of the show our numbers are up in regards to new prospects. We have been VERY busy and much more than last year in Reno. Not sure if its Vegas or the fact people are willing to spend more in 2012. I'm excited about the consumer confidence, but I just hope things don't get to good to soon in regards to the economy where the general public thinks the current administration is responsible and re-elects HIM...

From an operators point of view I will take Vegas hands down despite been so darn expensive!.

To me it was a breath of fresh air- hotels were outstanding /resteraunts etc far superior. Lots more people and every operator I have chatted to has sold alot more then we did in Reno. For example we sold every one of our elephant bulls for 2013 already! what impressed me was how cosmopolitan the crowd was- alot more people from out side the Sates. All in a great show!

Never been to Lost Wages for SCI and don't plan on going. Did Reno once and then discovered DSC, nuff said.

Never have been to this show, and don't plan to attend.
Did go to DSC this year, first time and thought it was awesome.

I walked it yesterday and Dan's booth was popping as were many others. Outfitters I know well reported very strong sales. I do not know if that should be attributed to location or not but they believed it to be the case. The second floor seemed far slower to me but I did not get up there until the end of the day. I have been to Reno and Dallas and liked them both. Vegas is just a different venue and rolling with the punches is the price paid for seeing old friends, being surrounded by things and people I enjoy and shouldering works of art I will never own. Cheers

Same as always, a lot of dirt and very little gold.
Left this morning and there was a half dozen hookers waiting for pickup. Somebody didn't spend all their money on the outdoors.

My last Vegas trip I hope.

I agree with Buzz, far better than expected, our best sow yet, look forward to hunting with you all.

mart

I thought the show was great. I arrived Wednesday morning at 8AM on a direct flight from Houston. I checked in the hotel, and went straight to the show. Getting my badge was a bit of a pain. I took about 10 minutes, but I doubt Reno would have been any different.

I loved the big wide isles. There was plenty of room to walk around.

The benches scattered around were nice for taking a load off your feet. There was plenty of seating for those eating lunch. Unlike Dallas, I didn't see anyone sitting on the floor to each lunch.

There were lots of direct flights into Vegas. My airfare Houston/Vegas on Continental was $224.

I waited until very late (less than a week prior to arrival) to book my room at Mandalay Bay. I paid $90 on expedia.com. For the hell of it, I just checked the rates for next Wednesday-Saturday, and the Mandalay Bay rate came back $127. That seems pretty cheap to stay on-site at a convention.

I didn't see any problem with the escalators or the 2 floor set up. Again, I really the space.

Just about every vendor that I talked to liked the venue better than Reno. A lot of the vendors were very busy.

I will probably skip Reno next year, and plan to go back to Vegas in 2014.

By the way, I'm no fan of the casinos. I didn't make a single bet.

It may be more expensive than Reno, but overall Vegas is easier for me to attend.

Vegas was great! Just got home to Calgary an hour ago. I will pass on Reno next year with its shitty weather and cheap casino/hotels, and return to Vegas in 2013. The Luxor was $59 for a suite, its buffet was $32 per day. Wife and I both loved it. Booked a leopard hunt and bought stuff I don't need. Attended 2 seminars. MB was classy venue.
Dave

I've only been to two SCI shows, one in Reno and one in Vegas.

I much preferred Vegas for many reasons. Easier and more affordable to get to (for me anyway), much better hotels, entertainment options and I liked the venue better. Thought it was much easier to get around and get to.

Downside, it was more expensive for food/drink but I'll take that downside with all the other upsides and IMHO Vegas is a much better option.

Just got back last night. I enjoyed the show, lots of vendors and a good layout (In my opinion). The biggest complaint I had was the price of food and drinks (I know..."its Vegas"), but it takes some of the fun out of it when you get bent over every time you buy a beer.....even a hotdog on a bun was $13 bucks!

I think I would rather pay a higher admission fee and drink $3 beers.....easier to swallow I guess!

Overall I think the Vegas show was a success. We broke down, packed up, and loaded the semi in 5 hours after the show. We could not have asked for better leadership and help from the Freeman guys with their fork trucks. It was much easier getting our truck in and out here than in Dallas. Accessing the convention center without driving in down town Dallas was great too.

It is still hard to beat the hospitality of DSC and the overall atmosphere of their show. Me and my Team arrived at least an hour before the opening each day here at SCI and the coffee was already gone for the vendors. In Dallas they bend over backwards for the vendors recognizing we are what really make the show. Here in Vegas it will have cost me double of what the costs were to be in Dallas, but as I said earlier, our business and possible sales should more than make up for that. So in regards to marketing dollars spent, I think it will be well worth it in the end...

Thanks everyone for contributing to this post and sharing your perspectives. And thanks to all our friends, clients, and future clients for visiting us in Vegas. We truly feel blessed to be part of this hunting industry that provides a living and life style for our families... DAN

I just returned from the show, like everything there is some good and some bad. My big gripe was the cost of food and drink. As to convenience the show was easy to get to from the Excaliber either walking or taking the tram. Certainly walking to and around the show help to keep the fitness level up. For the exhibitors it has to be the bottom line profitability. Booking more hunts and meeting more people speaks volumes. How did SCI benefit at this venue? Did the auctions go well and raise more money. How was the attendence at the evening banquets and auctions? I happen to like Reno as for me it is more convenient, living a day's drive away and I like to go skiing at Tahoe. We are all different in our likes and dislikes, kinda like the question as to which rifle cailber is best...

P.S. to Buzz, I enjoyed our brief chat and your new video was great. First thing I did when I got home yesterday was play it. One of these days I must hunt with you.

This was my fourth SCI show since I joined as a Life member. I'm not particularly fond of Vegas but I like Reno even less. That being said I'll take Vegas over Reno every time. Much easier to get to coming from the east coast.

I liked the way the show was laid out. Wider aisles made it easier to get around the gawkers and scooters, it didn't feel like you were getting groped-n-grabbed trying to get through. Having the show split on 2 floors didn't seem to be any problem. I didn't wait any longer to get my badge and bag here than I did in Reno.

Aside from the show there's much more to see and do in Vegas especially for the non-hunting spouse. As for the costs it's been my experience that any place a 'convention" such as this is held the site ownwer automatically goes into the "rape & pillage" mode concerning the cost of amenities provided. That goes equally for the surronding venues as well. When in Rome as they say.....

All in all I liked it much better this year. The wife and I already decided that we'll skip Reno next year and go to Vegas in 2014. I hope they decide to stay there.

Guys - I can't speak from the side of a visitor, but from a vendor's stand point - I hope I NEVER see Reno again!

By far, by far, the best 4-day show I have ever had, or could have ever imagined. JMO.

I was an SCI first timer this year. I had heard the stories about the crowds, etc. I thought the layout, with the wide aisles, breaking it up into two levels, worked fine. Airline flights into and out of Vegas are a breeze because the weather is so darn nice. The convention facilities were great. Best of all was getting to connect with many of the folks on the Forum. All in all, I thought the show was great and whereas I would consider going to Vegas again for the show, there are just too many challenges in getting into and out of Reno to make that appealing to me.

IMO the Vegas venue was much better than the three times I attended Reno.

Food prices were high, but what I saved on airfare paid for most of my food.

Overall a great show.

quote:

Originally posted by Wildlife Gallery:
I think Mike summed it up... Well said!

+1

Looking forward to Reno in '13


Glad your show improved (per your 2nd post)

Move out organization/up to date information was NOT good from my perspective--

Freeman may have handled the Big booths well--

that's where they make there money

For those that self loaded--Poor

As an update, we were told at the Saturday Night Banquet/Concert that SCI broke all records with this Convention. As an example, one hunt that was valued at 50K went at auction Saturday evening for 150K. The banquets were full and the money was moving. The entertainment was also fantastic. People were moving freely from one floor to the other on the escalators. I had to order a number of items from vendors on Saturday that will have to be shipped because the vendors were already completely sold out by Friday or earlier. I spent more money at this convention, because of its positives, than at any of the others that I've attended over the years in Reno. Great show!

Wildlife Gallery writes:

"I just hope things don't get to good to soon in regards to the economy where the general public thinks the current administration is responsible and re-elects HIM."

Dan that's an unpatriotic comment to make. Regardless of which side of the aisle we stand on, we should always root for America to improve and get better.

Just my opinion, the show was good, but Las Vegas leaves much to be desired. I did not care for the consistent practice of trying to fleece every last dime out of you that could be taken. As far as Las Vegas being billed as a "family friendly" city, maybe if your a member of the Soprano crime family, that statement may be appropriate. I will attend the show in Reno next year, but skip any others located in L.V.