Attendance at the GAMA Trade Show grew dramatically this year; there were 1684 registered attendees, a record high that represented a 15% increase over the 1462 attendees reported last year (see “Attendance Up at GAMA Trade Show”). The increase wasn’t a surprise; pre-registrations were up by even more, the organization reported before the show (see “GAMA Trade Show Pre-Regs Up 50%”). 

Retailer attendance also hit a new high, with 784 retailers from 469 unique retail stores at the show. 

Among high points noted by show organizers were rooms over capacity for many of the Premier Presentations; 75 new stores getting to know the GAMA Trade Show at the New Store Orientation; and the addition of a successful new event on Monday night, Monday Night Games.

We noted a very busy exhibit hall right up until the end of the show, a change from past years when things would die down on Thursday.   

The show next year moves from Las Vegas, the site of many years of growth, to Reno, which organizers promise will have lower hotel costs, more space, and “an overall better deal than Vegas” even with higher travel costs.