01-31-2007, 05:10 PM
Nashville, Tennessee - They come from 50 states and several foreign countries, more than 37,000 sportsmen and women armed with dollars for gas, hotel rooms, food and everything wild turkey.
In only four days last February, attendees of the National Wild Turkey Federation's annual Convention and Sport Show, held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, spent an estimated $5.4 million in the Nashville area.
"The National Wild Turkey Federation has become one of our best customers and partners," said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. "They bring a unique enthusiasm to the Music City, and we continue to look forward to the annual winter arrival - turkey calling is now music to our ears!"
The same crowd will be back in Nashville Feb. 23 through Feb. 25, 2007, for the NWTF's 31st annual Convention and Sport Show, and officials expect an even larger crowd.
The convention-goers flock to Nashville to visit a 3-acre sport show housing more than 500 exhibitors with the latest hunting gear, home decor, ATVs, boots, game calls, artwork and other products. Attendees also gather for meal functions complete with keynote speakers, live entertainment, raffles and auctions hawking everything from turkey calls to a Chevrolet Tahoe and hunts in Africa, Alaska, New Zealand and many other places.
"We always have big crowds when the convention is in Nashville," said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO. "Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts from across North America converge in Nashville for this one-of-a-kind wild turkey experience. The chance to spend time at the storied Opryland Resort is an added bonus."
Although Nashville is known for country music, convention-goers will hear the yelps, putts, clucks, purrs and gobbles of professional and amateur wild turkey callers as well as entertainment from some of the top names in country music during the convention.
"Our event is the culmination of everything wild turkey and is a celebration of our rich hunting heritage. And if you think that sounds like big business, you're right," said Keck. "Studies show the economic impact of spring turkey hunters is enormous. On average, each of the nearly 3 million turkey hunters spend about $800 each year on their sport."
The most current data shows spring turkey hunters spent almost $2 billion on licenses, permits, firearms, hunting gear and travel-related expenses in 2003.
"These are people who show up ready to spend money on the latest hunting gear, home decor, ATVs, boots, turkey calls, artwork and other products," said Dick Rosenlieb, NWTF's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "We bring all of the latest gear under one roof just a few weeks before turkey seasons start throughout the country. People are ready to hunt and this is a great place to get outfitted for the season."
This will be the fifth time in seven years the NWTF hosted its convention in the Music City, and each year the show has grown. The 2008 convention will be held in Atlanta, and then the Federation is bringing the show back to Nashville in 2009 for a seven-year-run at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.
"This year's convention is on track to break last year's attendance," said Keck. "As soon as last year's convention ended, a lot of folks started making plans to attend this year's convention. We've even started getting interest in 2008's Atlanta convention, and that's pretty exciting."
Among the many events scheduled are the Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships as well as taxidermy, art and callmaking competitions.
The meal functions boast entertainment from country music's top artists including Josh Turner, Craig Morgan, Blake Shelton, Rhett Akins, Aaron Tippin, Daryle Singletary, Bryan White, Louise Mandrell as well as comedian T. Bubba Bechtol.
Keynote speakers include: Tom Ridge, first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns; Sandra S. Froman, president of the National Rifle Association of America; and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
The exhibit schedule is:
* Feb. 23: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.<br />
* Feb. 24: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.<br />
* Feb. 25: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Media Contact:<br />
Brian Dowler or Jonathan Harling<br />
(803) 637-3106<br />
bdowler@nwtf.net<br />
jharling@nwtf.net
In only four days last February, attendees of the National Wild Turkey Federation's annual Convention and Sport Show, held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, spent an estimated $5.4 million in the Nashville area.
"The National Wild Turkey Federation has become one of our best customers and partners," said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. "They bring a unique enthusiasm to the Music City, and we continue to look forward to the annual winter arrival - turkey calling is now music to our ears!"
The same crowd will be back in Nashville Feb. 23 through Feb. 25, 2007, for the NWTF's 31st annual Convention and Sport Show, and officials expect an even larger crowd.
The convention-goers flock to Nashville to visit a 3-acre sport show housing more than 500 exhibitors with the latest hunting gear, home decor, ATVs, boots, game calls, artwork and other products. Attendees also gather for meal functions complete with keynote speakers, live entertainment, raffles and auctions hawking everything from turkey calls to a Chevrolet Tahoe and hunts in Africa, Alaska, New Zealand and many other places.
"We always have big crowds when the convention is in Nashville," said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO. "Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts from across North America converge in Nashville for this one-of-a-kind wild turkey experience. The chance to spend time at the storied Opryland Resort is an added bonus."
Although Nashville is known for country music, convention-goers will hear the yelps, putts, clucks, purrs and gobbles of professional and amateur wild turkey callers as well as entertainment from some of the top names in country music during the convention.
"Our event is the culmination of everything wild turkey and is a celebration of our rich hunting heritage. And if you think that sounds like big business, you're right," said Keck. "Studies show the economic impact of spring turkey hunters is enormous. On average, each of the nearly 3 million turkey hunters spend about $800 each year on their sport."
The most current data shows spring turkey hunters spent almost $2 billion on licenses, permits, firearms, hunting gear and travel-related expenses in 2003.
"These are people who show up ready to spend money on the latest hunting gear, home decor, ATVs, boots, turkey calls, artwork and other products," said Dick Rosenlieb, NWTF's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "We bring all of the latest gear under one roof just a few weeks before turkey seasons start throughout the country. People are ready to hunt and this is a great place to get outfitted for the season."
This will be the fifth time in seven years the NWTF hosted its convention in the Music City, and each year the show has grown. The 2008 convention will be held in Atlanta, and then the Federation is bringing the show back to Nashville in 2009 for a seven-year-run at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.
"This year's convention is on track to break last year's attendance," said Keck. "As soon as last year's convention ended, a lot of folks started making plans to attend this year's convention. We've even started getting interest in 2008's Atlanta convention, and that's pretty exciting."
Among the many events scheduled are the Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships as well as taxidermy, art and callmaking competitions.
The meal functions boast entertainment from country music's top artists including Josh Turner, Craig Morgan, Blake Shelton, Rhett Akins, Aaron Tippin, Daryle Singletary, Bryan White, Louise Mandrell as well as comedian T. Bubba Bechtol.
Keynote speakers include: Tom Ridge, first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns; Sandra S. Froman, president of the National Rifle Association of America; and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
The exhibit schedule is:
* Feb. 23: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.<br />
* Feb. 24: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.<br />
* Feb. 25: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Media Contact:<br />
Brian Dowler or Jonathan Harling<br />
(803) 637-3106<br />
bdowler@nwtf.net<br />
jharling@nwtf.net