- Joined
- Jan 19, 1999
- Messages
- 248
Ive just spent the weekend in Dallas checking out the Mesquite Convention Center & Exhibit Hall at Rodeo Arena, and staying in the Hampton Inn Rodeo Arena to do an on-site inspection for the upcoming Spirit of Steel Knife Show to be held September 28, 29, 30, 2000. Im excited about how its shaping up and wanted to post here to let you know whats happening. If we dont answer your question here just call 423-894-8319 and we will try to answer your questions there.
The Show Itself: The Spirit of Steel Knife Show has 378 tables available, each 8 feet long, with wide comfortable aisles, some of the easiest unloading of any show I've ever seen. And who's coming in the very first days of the announcements: Jerry Fisk, Joe Flourony, a large block from the Texas Knifemakers Association, Rhett Stidham of the Randall Knife Society, Jim Taylor and Knife Princess Cindy Taylor, Paul Basch of A. G. Russell Co, Tom Clark of Blue Ridge Knives, Jim Parker of Bulldog Knives, Tony Foster the Case Man, Chris Carlson (and we'll be at his show in Austin), Bill Claussen of Oregon, and a lot more. Amazing response considering we have not mailed an official invitation yet!
We will have live demonstrations of forging and related themes.
What we do not have is manufacturer booths, although manufacturers are invited and welcome to rent tables.
Parking is free and offers acres of space.
Getting there: The show is inside the Mesquite Convention Center/Exhibit Hall, which adjoins the Mesquite Rodeo Arena. It is on the hill on the west side of 635 at
Exit 4. (It's about 30 minutes from DFW airport with NO TURNS!). However,
you will probably need to rent a car to take full advantage of the area's
restaurants and shopping. There is cab service, but it can take 25-30 minutes for a cab to arrive depending on the time of night, as this is 15 minutes from Downtown Dallas
and off normal cab routes.
This is the home of Mesquite Championship Rodeo, as seen on The Nashville Network. Our show date is the last rodeos of the 2000 season. We are talking to the Rodeo Arena staff about special discounts for show guests, and will have more on that later. Let us know if youre interested.
The Hotel: The official show hotel is the less-than-a-year-old Hampton Inn, and is
one of the nicest Hampton Inns in which I have stayed. It only has 160 rooms and is
the only hotel adjoining the show. It is under the same roof as the show. Special show rates are $69.00 for a single and $79 for a double. This price includes the free continental breakfast.
It is VITAL that you make your reservations as soon as possible because the weekend of our show is one of the final weekends of the Rodeo season and a large
number of the rooms might be taken up by rodeo fans. You can call the 800 number 1-800-HAMPTON, but be sure to give the code jbrucevoyles to get your special room rate.
The hotel has a spacious lobby and will have a cash bar from 5 p.m. to midnight during show nights. It is a great place for visiting with friends and knife talk following the show.
Displays are free and awards are $2,000 cash! As an incentive to get some great collections out for this show, the tables are free on a limited basis, and all collections exhibited are eligible for a total of $2,000 in cash prizes. That's right 2 grand in all!
If you would like to exhibit you can download a reservation application at http://www.jbrucevoyles.com/dallas.htm. Reserve your tables and be a part of this new show. I believe the kind of show were planning is one a lot of people have been waiting for and will want to be a part of. Dont miss it.
A note on table rates: We have a rate of $150.00 per table. This is cheap for handmade tables, and high for folks used to going to pocketknife shows and gun shows. I feel that one of the reasons shows in some venues have declined is because the show promoters are not charging enough to allow them to adequately promote a show. We do not want to make that mistake here. We will be doing extensive advertising in a variety of media.
The Surrounding Area of the Show: Being located 15 miles from downtown Dallas there is the advantage of much less traffic but still close enough for everyone in the Metroplex that has an interest in knives can attend easily. Within sight of the hotel is a Traildust Steak House (mesquite smoked steaks but usually a long wait to get inside), plus a variety of fast food ranging from a Taco Bell to a Pizza Hut. A Waffle House and an IHOP are both in sight of the hotel, but it is a good walk to all of the above.
There are no restaurants within the Hampton Inn, so dining at the show site is limited to the continental breakfast if you stay at the hotel, the snack bar at the show itself for lunch, and the BBQ at the Rodeo Arena at night.
Town East Mall and over 40 major restaurants are only two exits up the road.
This all adds up to being a show youll enjoy attending! Make your plans to attend now!
Bruce Voyles
The Show Itself: The Spirit of Steel Knife Show has 378 tables available, each 8 feet long, with wide comfortable aisles, some of the easiest unloading of any show I've ever seen. And who's coming in the very first days of the announcements: Jerry Fisk, Joe Flourony, a large block from the Texas Knifemakers Association, Rhett Stidham of the Randall Knife Society, Jim Taylor and Knife Princess Cindy Taylor, Paul Basch of A. G. Russell Co, Tom Clark of Blue Ridge Knives, Jim Parker of Bulldog Knives, Tony Foster the Case Man, Chris Carlson (and we'll be at his show in Austin), Bill Claussen of Oregon, and a lot more. Amazing response considering we have not mailed an official invitation yet!
We will have live demonstrations of forging and related themes.
What we do not have is manufacturer booths, although manufacturers are invited and welcome to rent tables.
Parking is free and offers acres of space.
Getting there: The show is inside the Mesquite Convention Center/Exhibit Hall, which adjoins the Mesquite Rodeo Arena. It is on the hill on the west side of 635 at
Exit 4. (It's about 30 minutes from DFW airport with NO TURNS!). However,
you will probably need to rent a car to take full advantage of the area's
restaurants and shopping. There is cab service, but it can take 25-30 minutes for a cab to arrive depending on the time of night, as this is 15 minutes from Downtown Dallas
and off normal cab routes.
This is the home of Mesquite Championship Rodeo, as seen on The Nashville Network. Our show date is the last rodeos of the 2000 season. We are talking to the Rodeo Arena staff about special discounts for show guests, and will have more on that later. Let us know if youre interested.
The Hotel: The official show hotel is the less-than-a-year-old Hampton Inn, and is
one of the nicest Hampton Inns in which I have stayed. It only has 160 rooms and is
the only hotel adjoining the show. It is under the same roof as the show. Special show rates are $69.00 for a single and $79 for a double. This price includes the free continental breakfast.
It is VITAL that you make your reservations as soon as possible because the weekend of our show is one of the final weekends of the Rodeo season and a large
number of the rooms might be taken up by rodeo fans. You can call the 800 number 1-800-HAMPTON, but be sure to give the code jbrucevoyles to get your special room rate.
The hotel has a spacious lobby and will have a cash bar from 5 p.m. to midnight during show nights. It is a great place for visiting with friends and knife talk following the show.
Displays are free and awards are $2,000 cash! As an incentive to get some great collections out for this show, the tables are free on a limited basis, and all collections exhibited are eligible for a total of $2,000 in cash prizes. That's right 2 grand in all!
If you would like to exhibit you can download a reservation application at http://www.jbrucevoyles.com/dallas.htm. Reserve your tables and be a part of this new show. I believe the kind of show were planning is one a lot of people have been waiting for and will want to be a part of. Dont miss it.
A note on table rates: We have a rate of $150.00 per table. This is cheap for handmade tables, and high for folks used to going to pocketknife shows and gun shows. I feel that one of the reasons shows in some venues have declined is because the show promoters are not charging enough to allow them to adequately promote a show. We do not want to make that mistake here. We will be doing extensive advertising in a variety of media.
The Surrounding Area of the Show: Being located 15 miles from downtown Dallas there is the advantage of much less traffic but still close enough for everyone in the Metroplex that has an interest in knives can attend easily. Within sight of the hotel is a Traildust Steak House (mesquite smoked steaks but usually a long wait to get inside), plus a variety of fast food ranging from a Taco Bell to a Pizza Hut. A Waffle House and an IHOP are both in sight of the hotel, but it is a good walk to all of the above.
There are no restaurants within the Hampton Inn, so dining at the show site is limited to the continental breakfast if you stay at the hotel, the snack bar at the show itself for lunch, and the BBQ at the Rodeo Arena at night.
Town East Mall and over 40 major restaurants are only two exits up the road.
This all adds up to being a show youll enjoy attending! Make your plans to attend now!
Bruce Voyles
And get Mom's Home Cooking too.
