[meteorite-list] "The Tucson Show" isn't going anywhere
From: Adam Hupe <raremeteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 09:24:04 -0700 (PDT) Message-ID: <803283.36161.qm_at_web30703.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi Richard and List, I hope you are right about the Tucson show staying but in this economy anything can happen. By the way, the AGTA who is more than likely leaving brings in 2,000 dealers not 200. Like any mall that loses their anchor stores, it is just a matter of time before others follow. It is not just this group who has been complaining for years about the lack of infrastructure in Tucson. I hope this serves as a wake up call and Tucson makes the show more tourist and dealer friendly. It would be nice if new hotels replaced the flee-bag places and the gouging stopped. I am pleased to hear that the freeway is finally approaching completion. I do know that Nevada is campaigning hard to bring business to the state spending millions on TV commercials in other states. They are advertising the business friendly environment and favorable tax laws. A $100 million annual influx would be very attractive and I know how aggressive Las Vegas is when they want something. This would not be the first time a major event has been moved to Vegas. Just look at NASCAR and Shelby for example. Not one, but two major races a year! Most cities couldn't handle just one. Let's hope that the Tucson ctiy council learns a lesson from all of this and stops taking the show and attendees for granted. Best Regards, Adam ----- Original Message ---- From: Richard Kowalski <damoclid at yahoo.com> To: Eric Wichman <eric at meteoritesusa.com>; Adam Hupe <raremeteorites at yahoo.com>; Meteorite List <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>; Michael Blood <mlblood at cox.net> Sent: Fri, October 9, 2009 8:55:17 AM Subject: "The Tucson Show" isn't going anywhere As Michael discusses, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) is but one of the 42 or more shows that takes place during the wonderful two week period that is known as "The Show" They represent about 200 dealers that attended during a 5 day period in the middle of "The Show". Apparently they aren't as unhappy with the facilities and hotels as is claimed, but it is sounding to me that they are unhappy with all the other competition. Why would buyers spend retail prices when there are literally hundreds of other dealers selling the same items for under wholesale nearby? Being by themselves in Vegas, they can have the place to themselves and charge what they like. Surely we in Tucson don't want to lose any business, but overall I doubt that they would be much missed. As has been pointed out, their moving to Vegas would free up badly needed room for other dealers. I think over the long term it may actually prove to be more expensive for the AGTA members as it'll be realized that the "Vegas show" isn't the place to be instead of Tucson, but yet another show they need to attend in addition to Tucson... And by then they'll have to find a new location to operate as the old space will probably be taken up by a new show. The mineral, fossil, beads, African art, etc, etc dealers... Oh yeah, and meteorite dealers too, don't sound like they have any plans to go anywhere else instead. Finally to answer Michael's comments about the road construction. I-10 is now finished several months ahead of schedule. It wasn't just exit upgrades, but the addition of an additional travel lane in each direction. I highly doubt they add miles of new lanes, including brand new bridges, in LA in a few months, but I agree that two years is too long. I traveled on it cross-town a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised how nice the resulting work has been. I was even happier to see that the speed limit through the entire section that was upgraded was increased to 65mph from 55mph. -- Richard Kowalski http://fullmoonphotography.net IMCA #1081 --- On Fri, 10/9/09, Michael Blood <mlblood at cox.net> wrote: > From: Michael Blood <mlblood at cox.net> > Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Tucson Gem/Mineral Show Relocating to Vegas? > To: "Eric Wichman" <eric at meteoritesusa.com>, "Adam Hupe" <raremeteorites at yahoo.com>, "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> > Date: Friday, October 9, 2009, 5:05 AM > I could be wrong, > But I believe this one promoter > leaving would not > Spell the end of the Tucson Show at all( AND he would > Likely end up returning. > I believe this part of the show > deals in fine gems, > Not minerals, fossils and certainly not meteorites. I > don't > Believe ANY of the fossil, mineral or meteorite dealers > Would "follow" him - of course, if Marty Zinn is behind > This it could possibly involve many financial and business > Pressures on these dealers..... > Regardless, I would not count > on this spelling the end of the > Tucson Show and his threat may be just that - a threat. > Certainly Tucson needs to get their stinking act together! > I can't remember when all the exits were operating. That > Crap has gone on for years and is a giant pain in the ass! > In San Diego or LA such improvements would be completed > In a few weeks with ALL the construction taking place in > the > Middle of the night under halogen lighting and allowing > free > Traffic in the day. In Tucson, it is done in the day and, > like > Penelope's weaving seams to be undone at night, as it > staggers > The imagination that the freeway and exit work could take > YEARS! > > > On 10/8/09 2:16 PM, "Eric Wichman" <eric at meteoritesusa.com> > wrote: > > > Hi Adam, List, > > > > That's not good... It may be good for Las Vegas, but > for show > > vendors/exhibitors this will mean increased costs for > spaces/displays. > > Vegas ain't cheap! > > > > Tucson should do something to resolve this, if it > truly is an issue of > > more accommodation and better facilities for the > show. > > > > For the show to be scattered across the city > throughout hotels and large > > lots is part of the Tucson Show experience, and makes > it unique and > > something I will never forget. I love the show the way > it is, though it > > could use a little improvement on infrastructure and > logistics it's all > > part of the Tucson Show... > > > > Expand, build and accommodate! The show will always > continue to expand > > so plan for it... Tucson is the heart of the mineral > world for a reason, > > why the hell move it because a show promoter is > inconvenienced? Let them > > leave if they want... This means more room for others > who couldn't > > display in previous years. I know dealers and vendors > who would kill for > > a new spot! The waiting list is long... > > > > It would also no longer be the "Tucson Show!" and what > a travesty that > > would be... > > > > Regards, > > Eric > > > > > > > > > > Adam Hupe wrote: > >> Dear List Members, > >> > >> Wow, I could not believe what I read the > Mohave Valley Daily News and the > >> local papers today. > >> > >> It states that the American Gem Trade Association > is likely to accept an > >> offer from Las Vegas to relocate the entire Gem > and Mineral show here in > >> Nevada after a run since 1955 in Tucson. The Chief > executive, Doug Hucker > >> told the Tucson City council, "if we do not see > progress on a hotel and > >> upgrading of the convention center, we will > leave." > >> > >> Vendors have been complaining for years about the > lack of infrastructure to > >> support such a show in Tucson and state, it is > time to move to a venue that > >> can adequately host such an event such as Las > Vegas which is at the top of > >> the list. It looks like Las Vegas will bend > over backwards to get the > >> estimated $100 million this show pumps into the > local economy every year. > >> Las Vegas could easily accommodate this event > since it is the number one > >> tourist and convention destination in the world. > >> > >> Best Regards, > >> > >> Adam > >> ______________________________________________ > >> http://www.meteoritecentral.com > >> Meteorite-list mailing list > >> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com > >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > >> > >> > > > > ______________________________________________ > > http://www.meteoritecentral.com > > Meteorite-list mailing list > > Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > > > ______________________________________________ > http://www.meteoritecentral.com > Meteorite-list mailing list > Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >Received on Fri 09 Oct 2009 12:24:04 PM PDT |
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