What are the dates for the Syracuse show?? Haven’t been in quite a few years but getting back into riding this year so wanted to get down there for the show. Hope it isn’t dropped either, always enjoyed going to get the juices for snowmobiling season going

 

Sunday at most of these shows is a bust for vendors. The participation at all shows has kept dropping like snowmobile sales have.

 

Except Haydays.

 

NH Grass Drags will be interesting to see this year. No alcohol and no camping (for spectators). I think they will have a beer garden? So long lines and overpriced Bud Lights and Trulys. Maybe people will tailgate? I can see that getting cracked down on though.

 

Any idea why wire ties are prohibited? Just seems like an unusual item to prohibit from the show. Gotta be an interesting reason for this, right?

 

On the latest Skidoo email they mentioned being at the Haydays show, but the Big East wasn't listed. Are they really skipping that one? This show is the only big one near me.

 

They skipped it last year I believe. They're relying on "local dealers" to do the displays.

I think Poo did the same. I could be wrong.

 

It doesn't even cross my mind anymore, not driving 1 hour and pay $$ for a 10 minute walk around, might as well go to the lake and go for a walk, at least I might see something that catches my eye !!

 

On the one hand I’m over it and it’s not worth going. On the other hand I’m starting to quickly realize many things we loved to do/have we took for granted and starting to rapidly disappear. Really sucks honestly.

 

My local dealer won't spend that much money and time on a booth. Skidoo drastically cut the $$ they were pitching in
Tried to buy advance tickets but kept getting an error, so they can't even make that process work.
I'm sure I'll still go w/ my buddy since it's a tradition, but now we typically just buy raffle tickets and do a quick walk thru.

 

As a person who regularly attended these shows as a vendor in the past, and now as an attendee, I would have welcomed the opportunity to travel home on Sunday.

As a vendor, you had to be there Friday AM latest anyhow to set up your booth to be ready for an afternoon or 5pm opening, so you lost that day to prep. Being able to travel home on Sunday would allow you to rest a little before your next work day, or take Monday to recover/in lieu of working on the weekend.

As an attendee, Friday night or Saturday is plenty of time to see what i need to see.

 

Well, didn’t go last year so we decided to go this year. Had a fun date night with the wife and it was nice to have a night off to look at stuff at the show but other than that.. well, pics speak for themselves. Spent most our timing drooling over the new defender. Peak hours on Friday evening.

 

Wow.. What a ghost town.

 

Been going for like 20 years, minus missing last season. Never seen such little traffic/booths. Kinda sad honestly. I don’t see how vendors recoup cost at all.

 

Wow...😲

I was going to go down tonight but I just was motivated. Apparently I wasn't the only one.

I will say the construction on Rt 81 fixing the "raciest highway" (true story, look it up) did deter me somewhat. I hate fighting construction.

 

Wow...😲

I was going to go down tonight but I just was motivated. Apparently I wasn't the only one.

I will say the construction on Rt 81 fixing the "raciest highway" (true story, look it up) did deter me somewhat. I hate fighting construction.

Contruction wasn’t that bad actually. Maybe a mile in slow traffic was all. What was a problem is the sorta but not re-numbered exits.. wth!

 

One thing I forgot to mention. All Brp stuff was dealer owned units only, Empire Powersports. Brp didn’t show, but Polaris and Cat did.

The weird part, almost all the “inventory” the dealer had on the floor was sold, including the defender! Who would want their sold unit there for all to play with?

 

With this weather I'm not wasting 1 minute in my vehicle !!! Wait ,sorry I need beer .

 

Got that right about the weather! Bad timing for the show. Haven't even thought about the sleds or hunting yet. If it was rainy and cold I might have taken a ride over... instead I'm going swimming in Lake Ontario. Still 65F water temp!

 

Can’t blame attendance on the weather. My wife and I were actually commenting on how every show except one or two over the past 20 years we’ve attended has been the exact same warm and nice weather.

 

I drove up (200 miles each way) and left about a hour and a half later. I figured it would be a good amount better because of the addition of utv atv, but it wasn't. I'm done going unfortunately.

 

They wanted 40K from BRP to set up .That's why no BRP at the Big East Show .

 

It’s not even worth the $13 per person to get it let alone paying 40k to be there lol!

Show runners certainly think highly of themselves and that sucks for us.

 

I went last night. It was ok. Probably a bit better than last year. The sticker guy and the cheap duffle bag guy who used to be in the lobby of the OnCenter were back. Raveling and Up north had decent size booths. I happened to be on my way home from Rochester for work yesterday, so it was practically on the way. Wandered around dreaming of snow for an hour and a half. Watched the globe of death showmotocycle show. All 9 minutes of it, lol. Whatever. I still like going but it ain’t what it used to be. I was there at like 6 pm and there were more people than in doodowns pictures, but nothing like the old days.

 

I think we got there at 7pm, my pics were probably from 730-8. In the oncenter, that time on a Friday was so packed you couldn’t move. So sad honestly.

My wife and I chatted about the sticker guy and the bag people. For the size of the sticker places spot and no one there to buy, I don’t see how they could make back their money let alone a profit.

 

Shows are expensive for vendors. If people don’t show, it prob won’t be around for long. Comes down to marketing budgets and value. I’m sure Doo can do more with $40k in their budget than to go to a show with a poor turn out.

If you live out east, best thing you can do is still show up and go, buy a shirt, support the vendors. Otherwise they will be gone soon and you’ll be crying about not having a show.

 

If it sucks it sucks time to move on, sadly

 

Typical NYS. Use taxpayer $$$ to build an overpriced building that no one can afford to use. 😵‍💫

There use to be a bunch of events at the State Office Building in Watertown. Some genius in Albany decided to jack up the usage fee, everybody left. Other towns and venues were glad to welcome the events.

Maybe it's time for the Big East Show to find a new home.

 

Typical NYS. Use taxpayer $$$ to build an overpriced building that no one can afford to use. 😵‍💫

There use to be a bunch of events at the State Office Building in Watertown. Some genius in Albany decided to jack up the usage fee, everybody left. Other towns and venues were glad to welcome the events.

Maybe it's time for the Big East Show to find a new home.

Same thing happened to Milwaukee snow show, they moved it to Washington county fair grounds. Easier to get in and out of, and can have outdoor events like grass drags and such.

 

Well someone involved in show better do something soon because it’s literally on life support. You would think they are smart enough to see it?

 

Glad I didn’t go, first year I’ve missed the show since I started going around 2004/2005

 

Same here just didn’t seem to be worth the ride from Buffalo
Even though I really enjoy seeing some people and getting the snowmobile, juice flowing

 

The best deal at the show was the $15 helmet bags we got four of them

 

ROI on these shows, and a lot of other industry shows have shrunk to the negative. Time, booth fees, and travel expenses have made it not worth the return anymore. Sad to say but you can find everything on the web, and then return for free if need be and exchange! It is what it is. Think of the cost for a vendor to be in show for 2 -3 nights. Add in those expenses and NYS booth fee. That a big nut to crack for what return. Just sayin. No thanks. Trade shows are dying.

 

The best deal at the show was the $15 helmet bags we got four of them

I know most of the East Coast reps for BRP it was one guy at the show when I was there yesterday and they all said the same thing like I posted here Woody's wasn't even there I'll call Larry Monday

Too bad no Woodys your famous 😂

 

I went on Friday night like we always do. Yes, like everyone else said, very little traffic and less of the vendors that have been coming for years. I don't care about electric Chinese 4 wheelers or some of the other non-snowmobiling stuff. Was very glad to see that Polaris and Arctic Cat showed up.
We thought we were all walking out w/o buying anything but then saw the Ingles(Empire Powersports) booth. They were selling non-current Oxygen helmets for $400. My Arctic Cat and Polaris buddies bought 3 of them. I found a Skidoo jacket in the right color for my daughter for $270 so that made the show a success for me.
But I totally agree w/ the others. they really should look at different locations that have cheaper booth rentals to try to get the vendors back. Either some of the older State Fairgrounds buildings or back at the Oncenter.
I'll keep going as long as there is a show but it's a bigger disappointment every year. I couldn't even buy many raffle tickets, only 2 going on at the whole show.