The ECONOMY Hurts the GRAND AMERICAN - Or Does It?

I"ve heard it said many times that poor economic conditions hurt trapshooting by reducing the number of shooters participating practice and the various small and large tournaments. This notion has always sounded very plausible to me so I just assumed that our largest tournament, the Grand American Handicap, would really see a drop-off in attendance.

I was surprised to read about the 1930 Grand American which was held despite the depression which started October 29, 1929 and lasted into the year 1941.

I thought perhaps others might be interested in this short Sportsmen's Review article as well.

Enjoy Our History

 

The real estate and dot-com years were huge money makers also and our sports growth rate was stymied then in addition? Sporting clays were just becoming popular, the skeet org. was about done till their leadership incorporated other shoot venues to survive.

What we've lost is the ability to attract the working class shooters making enough extra money to have expendable hobby income. Trap shooting has always been an expensive sport and getting more so every year. I feel those are the forgotten class of shooters that really grew the ranks of trapshooting for so many years.

All the kids programs today are a blessing but I wonder what the long term growth will be from that venture? When mom&pop quit paying the freight and while Jr. is making his mark in life. Hopefully more than we think will one day return to trap shooting.

Till we figure out why and how we lost the ability to attract the 30 to 50 year old working class again I don't think our real growth will ever be the same. We accomplished changing our sports once held perception we didn't have to be almost perfect to win, place or show to have a small return on our shooting costs. I wish our sport all the best in luck.

HAP

 

I do believe the economy has had a negative impact to a certain degree but is not the defining factor ... I joined the ATA back in 1975, felt like I was truly part of something and because of this I wanted to compete ... I worked more hours, second job, and did what ever I found I had to do to be able to afford shooting and keep things right at home ... I had two kids and a dog that had gotten used to eating and the wife never seemed to have enough money ... I would drive out to the club to shoot 2 rounds if thats all I had extra money for, sometimes even spend my lunch money that I saved on things I wanted like a Life Membership to the ATA, NRA, and some new shells ... I played, I paid, I would expect anyone else to do the same ... I resent paying into an organization that paves the way for the some members (Elected Official) to attend shoots so they can say they represent the shooters, yet they avoid them best they can ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

I always get a laugh when this gets brought up by someone outside PA and OH.

They did not see the long gas lines during the fuel shortage in the seventies. But the grand was booming then.

Then there was the double digit inflation. Grand was booming then.

I remember the big recession under Carter. Grand was booming then.

The big thing the Ohioans and PA felt was the week the steel mills closed across Ohio and PA. Yeppers....the Grand was booming then too.

I was shooting the day I heard about the Black Thursday. That was the day of a big stock market crash. Another good year for the Grand.

And then there was the dotcom crash. Another bump in the road but the Grand continued.

All those bad dates above were the golden age of trapshooting.

Then there was the announcement in 2003. The deal with felon Blagojevich. Then the move to a gun hate state. Nothing was grand after that. What did you expect?

 

If your going out to dinner here in Central Ohio you better go early.

Rest. are jam packed and people are not eating burgers either.

Eating out can get expensive, but so far it isn't deterring many people.

Try to find parking at the new Cabelas.


Regards....Gerald

 

We find the money for the things we value most.