Sportsman's Show - bummer!

[Trout,myster]

Heads up! Tried to get to the Sportman's Show this morning. At 10:10am, was in line on I5 to get to the off ramp. When I finally got there, police had roadblocks and flares all over and indicated I could turn right...period. Turned right and got turned around and headed back towards the Expo and, again, at the I5 underpass was told I could go right...period! Up to Jantzen Beach to get turned around and back onto I5. Gave up at that point and headed home...80 mile round trip for nothing! Beware, appears the only way to get to the show this year was to take a day off work in the week or get there at 6am! Either fishing sucks, there are great deals there, or everyone in the NW has nothing else to do. Sadly, I'll miss it this year.

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Troutmyster

[TheRogue]

Yup, it's time to run the show a solid week, instead of just the 5 days. Not sure if the exhibitors would go for that, though. Costs a lot of money for people to come in from out of town, stay in a motel, and eat restaurant food for 8-10 days. That's how the Boat show is done, though.

I went on Friday, right at opening. Hit the parking lot at 12:15, parked by the doors. Went and stood in line at 12:30, one of the first ones in the show. The maze you had to walk through....around the new "Theater", through the tents, and back into the buildings, was ridiculous. By the time we left at 3:30, it was to the point that you couldn't just walk and browse...the crowd pushed you along. One of the exhibitors told me that they were turning people away at the doors Thursday evening...worried about violating fire codes. Wow.

T.R.

[Drachir]

Sorry to hear of the troubles getting to the show. I was in The White Water Boaters of Oregon booth, helping out the club, and doing my shift. We got there at 9 AM before the show opened, and the parking lot was already half full, and a line that was very long. I'm not one who likes to wait over an hour for the doors to open. We finished our shift at 1PM, and it took us 20 minutes to get to the West exit by the trout pond, to get to our vehicle to head home. I have worked this shift @ the show for 10 years and have never seen so many people, on a Saturday. It was a very good show, with lots of good bargains on lots of things from rods & reels, to RV's, & Boats. Had a friend buy a Lance Camper and got one hell of a deal, Show Special. It was
a very crowded, but good show!

[Trollin]

When I went on Thursday I noticed Signs just off I-5 stating there was a free shuttle from Delta Park to the show wont do you any good but others looking to go tomorrow might check this out.

[This message has been edited by Trollin (edited 02-10-2001).]

[WaterDog]

Oh yeah it was busy!!! Got to delta park at 10, got in the door to the show at 10:45. When we were done, had to wait 25 min for the shuttle bus to take us back. Way too crowded for me. Never again on the weekend!

Good luck to those heading there tomorrow!

[Trout,myster]

Sorry to hear about others' problems. From the sounds of it, glad I didn't get in! When I made my turnaround at Jantzen Beach and finally got back onto I-5 southbound, traffic was backed up halfway (at least) to the 405 interchange! Turning around again to get to the shuttle would have put me at the door sometime around closing I'm sure.

Last year we went on Saturday and got there around 1030 just to avoid the "door crowd". Parked in the middle of the lot and had no problem getting in. Was that much more crowded this year! Oh well...

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Troutmyster

[Ed]

I was there yesterday. Heading north on I5, the off-ramp was really backed-up. I just kept on going to and turned around in Vancouver. The I5 south ramp was not nearly as crowed. I was parked and in the show within fifteen minutes. This was around 1100.

we went saturday at about4:00 and got in easily.it wasn't too crowded then and wasn't really pushed. we had a great time and got a great deal on an oversized sturgeon pole.
we stayed until closing and would have loved to stay longer