Outdoor Show

[PhilJ]

Went to the London Excel centre on the weekend, primarily for the Bike Show, but it also included the Boat Show, Outdoor Show and Active Travel Show. What are people's views on orienteering at this type of show to showcase the sport. BO were not there (at least I didn't see a stand), but the show was packed, no idea of numbers attending but the way it was laid out was that you entered the Outdoor show, then into the Active Show, then the Bike show and lasting the Boat show, so there was lots of "passing trade".
Opportunity missed or not the right arena to showcase the sport? Could have had a micro 'O' set up etc for anyone to have a go at, free sticker etc...but maybe the cost is to restrictive what with the funding being cut backs..then again if you don't speculate you don't accumulate.

[NFKleanne]

BO had a stand last year - didn't this year. I helped on One day last year, and we had a steady stream of people trying the O during my slot - shame it wasn't there this year, but guess cost was a deciding factor.

[Clive Coles]

I thought last year we were offered the space at the last moment because the show organisers wanted (needed) to fill the space. Not sure what this cost then but I guess we got the space for our maze at a heavily discounted price.

What is being suggested is we should go in and bid for space as as an exhibitor ~ I would have thought the costs would be high given it's now such a big successful attraction.

We have nothing to sell to raise any revenue to offset the costs ~ I think an expensive idea that we as a sport cannot afford at the present time.

Sorry to be negative ~ I too was there helping last year. But I don't think there has been much pull through to justify making this an annual feature in our timetable.

[Copepod]

I was another volunteer at Outdoors Show last year, and I also got the impression that BO had not paid for the space.
We had a fair range of visitors, in terms of sexes, ages and interests, previous experience of orienteering etc, over the day I was there. But not sure how that has translated to visitors to the Show turning up at races, if at all.