[driftdiver]

In most shows like this the floor space costs about $5000 for each 10 sq feet you want. So a 20 x 10 booth would cost $10,000 just for the space.

Big companies like Cabella’s easily spend $100,000 on shows like this.

[longtermmemmory]

since this is a chain outfit, it may be they offered a refund or partial refund due to the change.

[tanknetter]

Big companies like Cabella’s easily spend $100,000 on shows like this.

Yup, but they'll more than make up for it across the board with increased short-term sales volume and long-term customer loyalty.

The promoter/organizer otoh is probably screwed. Vendor tables are only a portion of the revenues. A substantial one, but there's no way they're going to break even let alone turn a profit without having a good gate. Word's going to get around pretty quickly that places are pulling out and why ... driving both a direct boycott (people not going because of the stupid policy) and an indirect one (people not going because there aren't going to be enough vendors to justify the entry price).

The organizer may just decide to shut the whole thing down. They can claim that it's "too soon" after Newtown as a way of saving face and possibly limit their losses if they have a decent enough cancellation clause in the contract for the space they're renting. Especially if they don't have to give back the money already ponied up by the various vendors (although I'd still expect legal action).