All things considered, The Rally, Affinity Group Inc.’s 11th annual consumer gathering July 22-25 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, couldn’t have gone better, reported Terry Thompson, vice president of sales for Affinity Media/RV and a key organizer of The Rally.
“All in all, we exceeded expectations,” said Thompson, who handled the commercial exhibits. “These guys (exhibitors) came to Louisville hoping to have a good show. Not only did they have a good show, they had a great show.”
And from all appearances, an estimated 10,000 attendees — including those in 2,867 RVs plus 5,000 day pass visitors — also had a good time at the seminars, dog shows and talent competitions that took place at The Rally, hosted by Trailer Life, MotorHome, and Camping Life magazines, along with the Good Sam Club, Coast to Coast Resorts, Camp Club USA, the Camping World President’s Club and Woodall’s publications.
While performances by comic actor Bob Newhart and legendary country-music artist Tanya Tucker were well received, another key player in the whole sequence of events was the facility’s air conditioning — because The Rally was held during a sweltering Midwest heat wave. The fact that everything was held inside, from seminars to exhibits and publications day events for readers of AGI’s Trailer Life, MotorHome, Camping Life and Highways magazines, tended to drive people inside and spur exhibitor sales at a wide array of supplier and exhibitor booths, said Thompson.
There was a total of 350 booths in the supplier area, while 42 manufacturers and dealers showed products nearby in the complex, the same facility in which RVIA’s annual National RV Trade Show is held.
One other positive indicator?
Progressive Insurance handed out more corn on the cob than at any event in which it has ever participated, said Thompson.
