Thursday, July 30, 2009
Bill Cochran's Outdoors: Roanoke outdoor show has new name, new venue, new hope
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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Sponsor Hounds, a Roanoke-based promoter, is bringing the third edition of its outdoor show to the Roanoke Valley beginning July 31. It is called the Outdoor Classic and will feature vendors, seminars, entertainment and equipment sales at the Roanoke Civic Center Friday through Sunday.
Here’s how Elliot Broyles, the event manager, answered my questions:
Q. Aren’t you taking a risk to sponsor an outdoor show during a poor economy?
A. A poor economy is a perfect time to hold an outdoor show. It’s a chance for people to find hunting products at low prices. Recently we’ve lost Sportsman’s Warehouse and that leaves a select few places that people can find what they are looking for before the hunting season. A bad economy doesn’t mean people stop buying products, it means people are looking for deals and we’ve got them.
Q. Your first show was in Roanoke, then you moved to Salem and now it is back to Roanoke. What’s behind the musical chairs?
A. We moved the show back to the Roanoke Civic Center because it is in a central location for almost every hunter in Southwest Virginia. It’s just easier to get to.
Q. Why did you change the name of the show to the Outdoor Classic?
A. We changed the name because the old name, “The Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen’s Classic” was long-winded. We also needed an updated logo and felt it was a good time to make the name change. We’ve been thinking about it since after the first show and we just decided a shortened name would fit better in advertising.
Q. I had several people tell me last year they thought ticket prices were too high. Have you addressed that issue?
A. Absolutely. Tickets are just $8 after getting a $2 discount coupon from Hardees. We came up with the idea of using wrist bands to let people return to the show as many times as they want, considering all the attractions there are to see. We tried the idea earlier at the Blue Ridge Bike Fest and received rave reviews. Also, new this year, kids under 12 get in free.
Q. What are some features in this year’s show that have you excited?
A. We’ve brought in Brody the Bear who has been featured in movies, on TV and in print. Brody is a real, live, 1,400-pound gizzly bear and his trainer will be doing demonstrations with him all weekend. We’ve also got Frank Addington Jr. who is known as the “Aspirin Buster” and can hit a baby aspirin with an arrow shot from a long bow behind his back. He’s amazing and is certainly a crowd leaser. We’ve got more guns and ammo than before.
Q. The gun, ammo and knife selection is something you have been highlighting, calling it “new” and “huge.” What do you have going there?
A. People are worried right now about the state of gun control in the country. There is increased demand right now among outdoorsmen for guns and ammo. We wanted to make sure we had what people need.
Q. What are you doing for kids?
A. First of all, Brody the Bear is a huge attraction for kids. What child wouldn’t want to see a grizzly bear in person? This is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal. Whether Brody is playing with his toys, interacting with trainer Jeff Watson or simply taking one of his afternoon naps, seeing such an amazing, beautiful, intelligent and huge animal is an experience you won’t soon forget. Jeff shares his dear friend, Brody, with over a million people every year.
Q. It appears that Brody is more than just entertainment, but also comes with a message.
A. Jeff Watson believes that educating the public about bears and safety in bear country is the most important aspect of his business. He will be covering topics that include safety in bear country and what you can do if you encounter a bear.
Q. What is the procedure for entering a deer in your contest?
A. There is information and an entry form. The entry fee is $5 and we will be offering a bunch of prizes.
Q. I see you have made some changes to the show hours?
A. We changed Friday hours to reflect what a lot of shows are doing around the country. Not many people are off of work before 5 p.m. Friday, so we moved the opening time from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. We also extended the night time hours Friday to 9 p.m. so people can enjoy dinner before the come to the show Friday night.
Q. Do you have a Web site where people can obtain detailed information on your show?
