“An Agriculture Department spokeswoman tells the Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era that officials hope to hold a show of similar size in February 2014. Dauphin County commissioners have allocated a tourism grant to try to make that happen.”
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from link in the article concerning financing the show:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/02/eastern_sports_and_outdoor_sho_7.html
The cancellation of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show cost the Harrisburg region an estimated $80 million.
That won’t happen again next year.
The Dauphin County Commissioners allocated a $58,000 tourism grant Wednesday to book the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in 2014 for the 10 days traditionally associated with the outdoor show.
Commissioner Jeff Haste said they have been meeting with the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau to develop plans for a sports and outdoor show next month.
Haste said they hope to make an announcement within a month.
Reed Exhibitions indefinitely postponed the show — which is billed as the largest of its kind in North America — after hundreds of vendors threatened to boycott because Reed banned the sale and display of assault weapons at this year’s event.
The show, which was to run from Feb. 2 to 10, brought thousands of visitors to the region each day. It filled hotels, kept restaurants busy and helped businesses make it through what is traditionally a lean time on the calendar.
If Reed does not want to continue the show, Haste said, another organization could be brought in. If need be, the show could be renamed, Haste said.
“The key is there will be a show,” Haste said.
The $58,000 — part of $1.4 million in tourism grants the Commissioners awarded Wednesday — was going to be used to pay for shuttle service for show attendees this year, Haste said. The tourism grants are funded with the county’s hotel tax.
Cool...looking forward to the 'First Annual Eastern Sports, Outdoor, and Assault Weapons Extravaganza!' That should send the left into a tizzy of epic proportions...
. Dauphin County commissioners have allocated a tourism grant to try to make that happen....How dey do dat? Dauphin County don’t have no money, Harrisburg is worse off and the state will shit bricks trying to come up with this “stimulus” money.