More than 200,000 people flocked to Harrisburg, Pa., in February to the NRA’s annual Great American Outdoor Show. Another 77,246 gathered in April 500 miles away—in Indianapolis, Ind.—for the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits (NRAAM). The figures came at a trying time, when financial institutions are failing, inflation erodes family budgets and COVID-19 mutations make large gatherings a concern for some. The heavy attendance, despite it all, highlights the support for the Second Amendment and outdoor lifestyle alive and well in the United States.
The events also brought welcome financial relief to their respective host sites. Harrisburg’s local economy received a $75 million boost during the Great American Outdoor Show. Officials in Indianapolis estimated an attendance of 70,000 would have an economic impact of $36.4 million. Final figures beat both predictions.
The cash register bonanza comes at an opportune time for the cities. Harrisburg’s unemployment rate is a 3.8 percent, while the U.S. Department of Labor’s numbers indicate the national average in March was lower (3.5 percent to be precise). Indianapolis’ numbers are better, 3.4 percent, but that reflects a 0.3 percent increase from the previous month. Attendees made solid investments in the families of the unemployed or underemployed, as well as struggling businesses, in both locations.
Comments from the public, as well as exhibitors, expert speakers, politicians and celebrities at each event indicate both were an overwhelming success. Countless hours invested by NRA staff members and unpaid volunteers reap those dividends, maintaining the pleasant and memorable experience most have come to expect.
Next year’s NRAAM will be held in Dallas, Texas. When the city last hosted it in 2018, it set an all-time record with more than 87,000 people in attendance. Booths with the industry’s foremost, a packed schedule of educational seminars, special events and celebrity speeches—along with a looming presidential election—make it a wise decision to plan early. Full details are coming soon on the NRAAM website.
The Great American Outdoor Show returns to Harrisburg, Pa., Feb. 3 to 11, 2024.
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