Time for Plan B

I know there's many shooters that feel Sparta will reopen and things will get better but reality points to a different result. The shooters around me have no plans to renew their campsites and a couple have already made plans to attend other shoots in 2016. While the Grand is a question mark shooters have started to look at other options. The reality - once people move on to something different, many never return. The drama around Sparta has already created considerable damage to a shoot that was already in decline. I wouldn't even venture a guess as to where things go from here. Did hear Tucson is building vendor buildings, so things are positive at the CC and Tucson and I'm sure others are moving forward also.

 

The State of Illinois is in a much bigger hole than they present to the public, turns out the budget deficit of 4.7 Billion is more like 12 .5 Billion per a video I was sent and watched earlier today ... I would post it but cannot figure out how to ... If the ATA had not started looking months ago when all of the rumbling started they might be in trouble any way ... The clubs that can handle the shoot should stand firm and write their own ticket, the days of the ATA having any bargaining power are long past ...


"The reality - once people move on to something different, many never return. The drama around Sparta has already created considerable damage to a shoot that was already in decline. I wouldn't even venture a guess as to where things go from here. Did hear Tucson is building vendor buildings, so things are positive at the CC and Tucson and I'm sure others are moving forward also." Quoted Seitz 9010 from above posting ...

This might be the best thing that has ever happened to preserve the sport of trapshooting and revitalize the Grand American ... Hope it gets done right this time ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

10-01-15 Posted on Shoot ATA .com


World Shooting & Recreational Complex Update October 1, 2015 The Event Center is still open, hosting weddings, receptions and other events and will remain OPEN INDEFINITELY.


JT Caliber’s Restaurant in the Event Center is still open and will remain OPEN INDEFINITELY. The year-round vendors in the vendor buildings and Event Center are still open and will remain OPEN INDEFINITELY.



The Campground was closed for the season October 1. Shooting activities and ONLY SHOOTING ACTIVITIES were SUSPENDED on October 1. The park was NOT CLOSED. The State of Illinois has NO PLANS TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE THE WSRC.


Allocations were made in both the legislature’s budget and the Governor’s budget for the WSRC, however neither budget has been approved.



The Illinois Senator & Representative from the area and IDNR officials in Springfield have assured the ATA on numerous occasions that once the budget is finalized, the WSRC WILL BECOME A FOCUS OF INCREASED MARKETING AND PROMOTION.



They are aware of the ECONOMIC IMPACT the WSRC has on the area and realize that there is potential for MORE. An Executive Director for the Complex, from the shooting sports industry, will be named as soon as the budget is finalized.



We remain extremely confident that the 2016 GRAND AMERICAN AND SCTP CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL BE AT THE WSRC IN SPARTA.


Lynn Gipson – ATA Executive Director

 

As I said before, much if the damage has already been done. While I don't know what all shooters are going to do I do know the ones I talk with are looking at their options. Many are not renewing their campsites because they know they can always get a spot in the future if they ever need one and the raise in prices isn't helping matters. What's happening now is larger interest in the satellite grands and state shoots. So it appears that many shoots around the country will benefit from the woes of Illinois and Sparta. Registered shooting will also get hit as local clubs and games become more attractive to shooters. This is a bad situation that gets worse with time and it will leave things in worse shape for sure. Even if an agreement is reached and operations restart you can bet there will be more financial increases to appease the politicians and the ATA.

 

I was told they raised the camping to $2750.00 for 5 years, but that includes only the grand parking and no other shoots like the 10 years leases included 3 shoots per year ... Pay more get less and see how that works for ya ... Once or if they do establish a budget you can bet the prices are going to go up big time ... My brothers taxes just went up by 40% on his last tax bill while the evaluation on the property went down ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

As has been stated previously once closed it leaves many doubts in al lot of shooters minds. Some will still shoot ATA but will make alternate plans to spend their recreational dollar, if the Grand is at the WSRC in 2016 I believe based on what has happened ( the cancellation of shooting at the WSRC) and the uncertainty of the present situation the 2016 Grand will be a great deal smaller than we have seen in the past few years. If this happens will the State continue to fund the Grand at the WSRC.

 

Wow, so now the ATA says we plan on staying at Sparta but seeing we have no commitment for 2016 we are going to work on a backup plan. OK, I understand but if I'm one of the contenders for the number two slot I'm sure not too excited. I mean you're the place we want unless our other choice comes through. Yeah, I guess I don't get too excited about putting together a bunch of planning, possibly some construction and perhaps a financial investment just to to sit on my ass and wait to see if I get the nod. Hopefully, someone in the ATA is looking at plans for a real future and a real commitment that will pass the test of time. Understandably, that's hard but that's what needed. Sparta will never be that place. Nice facility but no trustworthy guarantees. The ATA needs a trustworthy partner in for the long haul and they need to be practical and honest in their projections for the future with the new partner. I don't know where this place is but it sure as hell isn't Sparta or Illinois. Just an added bit, Illinois currently has a state politician saying Sparta will never be a gun haven in the future, it will be something for all the state residents to enjoy or it won't be at all. That's the kind of politician our sport doesn't need anywhere near us.

 

Just an added bit, Illinois currently has a state politician saying Sparta will never be a gun haven in the future, it will be something for all the state residents to enjoy or it won't be at all. That's the kind of politician our sport doesn't need anywhere near us. (Quoted from Seitz 9010) ...

I would imagine some of the States Politicians are looking for an escape route by now after seeing what kind of lack luster performer the WSRC has proven to be over the last 11 years in operation ... It not being considered a "Gun Haven" would be a good reason and way to get less support and more backing from their counter parts to keep the place closed and not operational ... The State is still making claims that accumulated losses are much less than what they claimed ($22,000,000 +) in the first place but still amount to a very large (HUGE) deficit over the past 10/11 years (Eleventh year not included in the $22 million) so its considerably more than that now ... If the ATA does not walk (RUN ) away from this situation in Sparta, Ill they deserve what they get, the problem is the members will be the ones who pay in the long run ... I can't believe a Majority of the BOD do not make a stand against the EC and force the issues to be dealt with in a reasonable and logical manner, but with Integrity for the betterment of the Association and for the members ... Its almost like another Obama thing all over again, but on a smaller scale ... The ATA needs to do something to garner support from the members and make moves in a positive direction as opposed to the "Fantastic Direction " they were anticipating and talking about ... It will not be easy, but it can be done ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Time to get the crayons out and start drawing pictures.

Where would a "year-round vendor" live ???? Where are their businesses located ???? What happens when the NON-Shooting Complex loses the Grand ????

Put yourself in the shoes of the person living and doing "year-round" business in BFE. Would you work hard for the shooters paying you ????? or fight to not be stranded in BFE with businesses that will have no value.

If the person torn in that mess does not have a conflict of interest, no one does.

Plan B is a death-blow to the person that should have been looking for it.

 

Delusional is the word to describe the EC. Fantastic direction indeed. This is the bunch intrusted with the future of the ATA. I've asked it before and I'll ask again "has anything the EC's of the past 10 years said came true?" I've been waiting on all those trap shooting geniuses like Paladin, Green Titian, Hunter44, Barry, and there buddies to weigh in with just ONE tinny weenie fact. Just one to prove anything they've said over the past few years to be anything but just plain BS.

The ATA can't blame Illinois and Illinois can't blame the EC, you get in bed with pigs and everyone comes out stinking. The people who really got hurt were the Illinois tax payers who funded the dream, and the ATA trap shooters stuck with living it. It cost one group money and the other there history. Job well done all the way around. Job well done. Brad