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SALT LAKE CITY — Outdoor Retailer won't return to Salt Lake City in November, but event organizers stopped short of saying the annual event is canceled — and they have no intention of leaving Utah.
Instead, Outdoor Retailer show director Sean Smith says the winter and summer trade shows will be merged back into one event in June 2025, as the large event showcasing outdoor products returns to its original format.
"Our decision comes after taking in a ton of feedback from exhibitors and attendees along with data on just how important the June sell-in time is for the industry," he explained, in a question-and-answer page about the one-show model. "Having one show will enable Outdoor Retailer to deliver a larger, more comprehensive show and an enhanced experience which will better serve both retailers and brands."
Outdoor Retailer debuted in 1982 as just a summer market, but a separate event for winter sports gear opened in 1990 as the annual show grew. Organizers held the first winter market in Salt Lake City before Utah's capital city became home to both events later in the '90s.
Both remained separate since then, but Outdoor Retailer made a change when it returned to Utah after a few years in Denver. Organizers decided to move its annual Snow Show to be ahead of the winter instead of in the middle of it, which meant Salt Lake City hosted three shows in 2023 because of the change.
The first November Snow Show drew poor attendance though, which Smith said at the time was likely because of budgeting flexibility. He suspected that few companies had the budget to send employees to three shows in one year.
It's unclear if last year's experience factored into the decision to move the Snow Show back into the main event. Smith wrote last week that putting on "one larger, more comprehensive show" has become Outdoor Retailer's answer to what it believes is "best for our business as it serves the outdoor industry."
"The June 2024 (Outdoor Retailer) show was successful and brought some renewed energy and optimism," he added. "We also are committed to increasing our efforts to get new and innovative brands and products to the show because that's what really drives the industry."
Event organizers also made it clear that the decision had nothing to do with Salt Lake City. Outdoor Retailer left Salt Lake City after its 2017 shows amid disputes over the state's position on public land issues. It returned in 2023 after organizers said they didn't find "the change we had hoped for" while in Denver.
The initial deal locked Outdoor Retailer in Utah through at least 2025.
However, Smith wrote that the event is "absolutely" remaining in Utah's capital moving forward, noting that Outdoor Retailer is "happy to be there." Brands and other attendees provided "positive feedback" about the city during the last show, as well.
"Salt Lake City has been such a great partner — from Visit Salt Lake to the Salt Palace Convention Center to all the businesses downtown," Smith wrote. "It's a beautiful city. It's safe, close to the airport, and convenient in terms of brands doing business and getting set up in the convention center.
Outdoor Retailer's next show is slated to be held on June 18-20, 2025, at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Visit Salt Lake officials declined to comment on the show's model change, but they said that they are "working closely with Outdoor Retailer show organizers to ensure that the June show is a massive success," in a statement to KSL.com.
