TUCSON, Ariz. — In every possible way, the 2007 SCI Hunters’ Convention was a total success. As the convention staff calculate final figures for attendance, money raised and press received, participants can be sure they were part of a record-breaking event.
Over 21,000 attendees from 47 countries came to Reno, Nevada for the four-day event, making the SCI Convention the biggest event that city hosts all year and ranking it in the top 200 conventions in the entire nation.
Evening events held at the Grand Sierra Resort were sold out with entertainers like Jim Belushi, Collin Raye and Sean Hannity performing or speaking to crowds of over 2,000.
“It’s the busiest I’ve ever seen,” said Dennis Anderson, SCI’s Convention Chairman and President-Elect. “Exhibitors had very little time for socializing and called the 2007 Convention ‘the best ever.’ Our attendance numbers raised the bar and revenues from record auction sales add additional resources to support SCI’s mission.”
The record-breaking $4.3 million in revenues brought in by the day and evening auctions contributed to the $12.5 million total that will go to help SCI continue their fight for hunting freedoms, education and wildlife conservation around the world.
A John Banovich original artwork “Black Gold” sold for 200 percent over fair market value. Prints of this piece will be given to SCI Chapters to support building an interactive database of conservation projects done at the local and regional levels. As a first-time exhibitor, master firearm maker Tullio Fabbri built a titanium boxlock shotgun that sold for record-setting price of $180,000.
A total of 1,100 exhibitors covered the convention floor offering one-of-a-kind hunts, guns, art, mounts, jewelry and clothing to the visitors making this the event every hunter wants to attend. Almost 3,000 people used the opportunity to make the commitment to SCI and SCI’s mission over the weekend by becoming members.
With the growth of this event over the years, Convention organizers added a structure to the existing space offered by the Reno Sparks Convention Center. Increased space, additional entrances and an improved registration system made the event more enjoyable for attendees and exhibitors alike.
“The success of the 2007 Convention has to be credited to the SCI staff, the Reno/Sparks Convention Center and all the attendees,” said Anderson. “I really want to thank everyone involved for their tireless efforts, and we are very excited about the preparations for 2008 that are already underway.”
Guaranteed to be in Reno until 2010, the SCI Annual Hunters’ Convention continues to grow and evolve into the premier event for members of the hunting community and the organization looks forward to making it even bigger and better in the coming years.
