James Nolan Associates Inc.

The recent announcement by the NMMA that they are expanding the 2010 New Orleans Boat Show to include fishing, hunting and other sporting and outdoor industries heralds a new impetus for boat shows that consciously cater to other outdoor activities.  

             The primary reason for this move is clearly that there are too many boat shows with too few boat and accessory exhibitors to support them.   This is especially true of boat dealers.  They provide the core component of a boat show but their rapidly dwindling numbers literally means there are not enough to ensure the success of any particular show. 

Ben Wold, Executive Vice President – Shows, NMMA, points out that the “NMMA has produced 8 shows that include other exhibits/activities in addition to boats and accessories for a number of years.   One of the better known ones is the Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow where some 40 to 50 percent of exhibitors are marine, 20 percent Recreational Vehicle (RV) and the rest fishing, hunting and the like.  The Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show is another good example”.  Wold sees a future where there will be fewer, bigger shows like the New Orleans show that people will be prepared to travel further for because of the multi-sport approach and that the 2^nd and 3^rd tier shows will fade away.

                The move to add other outdoor activities to boat shows makes sense on a number of levels.   Almost 40% of boating participants also go camping and/or biking while some 24% of them golf, 13% go hunting and so on plus the people whose primary sporting activity is one of these other activities will now be introduced to boating.           

                Look for a number of big brands in the outdoor industry that are virtually unknown in the marine industry to make their presence felt.