Altoona 19-20 March CANCELLED

[Noah_Zark]

Eagle Shows have posted on their website that the Altoona show scheduled for 19-20 Mar has been cancelled.

FYI,

Noah

[Boondox]

I have my doubts as to this show getting off the ground.
They cancelled the last show also , I think it was January.
I was at the one prior to that , think it was the first for them , it was late 2021.
I know there are other shows on the same weekend , etc , etc
But at the 2021 vendors did not look pleased and I was expecting many to not return.
Mostly because of the lack of attendees and customers spending anything.
They were rather light on their 300 table claim.
Plus I believe Altoona being Altoona , they charge more per table than at Bloomsburg , and Blooms brings folks in and certainly a better show by far.
I'm in Altoona and had no plans to go back to the Jan or March show and I will and have traveled for small shows.
Of course this is just all my opinion and nothing factual.
Highland Arms was there in late 2021 , they probably have more inside info as to facts than me , but that's where I'd put my money.
It's too bad , I was hoping it would work out well , but it is what it is.

[mmi]

that sucks all that tax payer $ and no show

[benny swartz]

was there years ago , and the show was the worst , while it may have had the tables advertised , they were 1/3 off topic stuff . [ my wife even told the bathfitters they were out of place ] . its easy to see , why alot of locals , just stay in their shops for the weekend .

[Boondox]

I think people were counting on it now being an Eagle show it would do better.
But IMO only , they have the wrong venue.
Eagle needs vendors , vendors need customers and while the convention center sounds great , that area is a giant fancy looking waste land.
If I could hold a show anyplace Altoona related , it'd be the Jaffa.
Not saying that is an answer to anyones prayers.
But the Jaffa pulls traffic no matter what they are doing.

[ScotsGuards]

It's a shame that the Blair Co. Convention Center is in such an out-of-the-way location. It's a wonderful venue for gun shows or most anything. C&E and lately Eagle Arms, and the new incarnation, Eagleshows have done a gun show there. There are several reasons for it's lack of success.
1. Lack of advertising. A show there needs to be advertised. HEAVILY advertised. As much and in as many media outlets as possible. EACH and EVERY show. There needs to be LOTS of signage leading attendees to the venue.
2. Make the show readily available to vendors. Both in affordability and scheduling. Have the vendor spaced reasonably priced. Yes we know the promotor needs to make a profit and venues sometimes aren't cheap but at least keep it cost effective for dealers. As for scheduling: DON'T schedule that show against ANYTHING else. Including other shows a promotor puts on. I suspect this is why the subject of this thread got cancelled. There were two other shows scheduled for that weekend. One by the same promotor. It's forcing most of the vendors to make a damn near impossible choice. It stretches their recourses way to thin.
3. Dealers; take a chance and give this one a chance if the first three items mentioned are taken care of properly. No, it's not Oaks, Monroeville or Harrisburg. Don't expect it to be. But it can be a decent smaller show. It's easy access to the building and parking is great.
4. Attendees: Be patient. If the other three numbered items fall into place the rewards should eventually pan out in a good show. It's really up to items 1 & 2 on this list being done well.

Let us hope this isn't the last possible show at this venue and we hear more about it.

[Walleye Hunter]

I could go for it if they'd hold it in a hangar at the airport.

[Boondox]

I could go for it if they'd hold it in a hangar at the airport.

I am not sure if you meant that in jest or not.
But , actually that doesn't sound like too bad an idea "compared to the convention center"
I'm guessing Eagle would get the venue cheaper and for certain the folks in that area from all 4 directions do attend events in that area.
Combine that with a chicken BBQ and you may have to beat them away with a stick.
Think of all the horse and buggy folks that would show up , probably not to just attend but to sell also.
I'd go but round here , no one goes to the convention center areas.
We just don't. It's kind of a joke and certainly an embarrassment for some.
Not to mention all the people who live nearby and don't even know that area exists.
I'll bet I could stop the next 20 folks I see and not 19 would even know that movie theater is there.
it IS a really good place if you need a place to teach a beginning driver how to drive , park , etc or something like that
And we get tired of the rape.
Ever hear of the Midas Touch?
Touch something it turns to gold.
Altoona area has the opposite touch.
they can touch gold and turn it to coal , not even good coal , just ashes.
And then charge you top dollar for it and make you beg and plead for them to sell it to you.
It's just how it is.

But the Altoona/Blair Co airport OUT IN MARTINSBURG idea has legit merits I think.

[Walleye Hunter]

I'm serious. I could fly in, check it out, eat at the restaurant if they have one and fly back home.

[Boondox]

Well just so you know.
The last time I was in the airport was maybe a year ago give or take.
They still had a restaurant , I forget the name but it was mexicanish.
I do like tacos but mexican restaurants are not a place I seek out.
I couldn't find anything on the menu I was interested in and the wife said she would be leery of eating any of it and then getting aboard an airplane in case her stomach went bad.
So if that style isn't your thing , maybe pack a lunch.
Or , there is a family style place not far outside of the airport property called Traditions.
I have not personally eaten there in a while but I know folks who do go currently and it's thought well of.
They were at one time if not now , suffering the same problems as others during the covid things.
But that is what i would suggest if you don't do the mexican stuff.