Syracuse.com - CNY outdoors expos expected to double in 2013 during month of January

[HuntingNY-News]

This past week it was announced that Coral Productions, promoters of the Rochester Sportsmen’s Expo for the past three years, will be working jointly with Wight Ox Enterprises (owned by Norm Wightman and John Lenox) to hold an outdoors show at the state fairgrounds next month. It will be called the New York Sportsman’s Expo.

We’ve progressed recently from no winter outdoors show this January in the greater Syracuse area, to next year possibly having two at about the same time.

In fact, one of the new ones is scheduled to kick off next month to replace the one that was recently canceled.

It all started last month when Cindy Hengst, whose Hamilton-based company, CKH Productions, which ran the Northeastern Sport Show at the state fairgrounds, announced it would be canceled this year. The show, which had been a cure for cabin fever for local anglers, hunters and other outdoors enthusiasts, had been held for 57 straight years.

“This difficult decision was reached following a thorough review of current market conditions and rising costs associated with conducting a quality event,” she said on her website.

That news was followed by an announcement from Tom Tarry, of the Results Group in Syracuse, who said he plans to debut a new and improved New York Sportsmen Show in 2013 to take its place. He told me it’s set for Jan. 25-27 in the new SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College.

“I’ve had my eyes on this for a few years, “said Tarry, who took over the Madison-Bouckville Antiques Show this year, in addition to the Golf Show at the state fairgrounds. He was also behind the now defunct “Fishing for Dollars” Tournament on Onondaga Lake, which ran for several years.

Tarry said he wanted to wait a year and “do things right” with his show. He added he’s had discussions with a “national retailer that’s going to work with me” and that he promises visitors to his show will see “more product.”

Just this week, I was informed that Coral Productions, promoters of the Rochester Sportsmen’s Expo for the past three years, will be working jointly with Wight Ox Enterprises (owned by Norm Wightman and John Lenox) to hold an outdoors show at the state fairgrounds next month. It will be called the New York Sportsman’s Expo.

“It will be on the same dates (as the canceled CKH show),” said Patti Cartwright, owner/show manager of Coral Productions, adding it will be held in the Horticulture Building on Jan. 27-29.

If all goes well, the show will be offered again next year at the fairgrounds at about the same time, she said.

“Absolutely, we plan on it,” Cartwright said. “It’s the weekend between the last playoff game and the Super Bowl. I like that weekend.”

I contacted Tarry for his response to next month’s show, which would undoubtedly be competition for his event next year.

“Mine is definitely happening,” he said. “This show needs a fresh coat of paint, and it’s going to take longer than eight weeks to do that.”

Glenn Dunning, of the Brookfield, Vt.-based Tundra Tour, a travel agency that specializes in North American hunting and fishing adventures, said his company has been represented at the Northeastern Sportsmen’s Show for 20 years. He was disappointed to hear it was canceled but pleased to hear the latest development.

“I’m an exhibitor that needs to reach that market,” he said. “My hope is that it (the new show) will be properly run so we will have a hall of exhibitors and to give the greater sportsmen community a place to go during what’s always the nastiest week (weather-wise) in January.”

Stephen Wowelko, president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, noted, “With Central New York having a very large number of hunters and more fishing licenses per capita than anywhere in the state, it will not take a long time for promoters to realize that CNY is an ideal location for an outdoor sports show/expo.

“A new venue, with different exhibits and activities, may be the spark needed for the revitalization of a sportsman’s show in CNY,” he said. “ If more than one show materializes, there may be competition for getting limited resources, displays, local participation and activities. Competition may be a good thing, where the sportsman comes out ahead in the long run.”

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog