What Would Be Wrong With The Grand At A Different Location Each Year?

Prior to the 1924 Grand American becoming permanent at Vandalia, the event used to be moved from year to year to different facilities. It would be sort of like the all star game that just took place in Cincinnati. Can you imagine if the Super Bowl or All Star game was held at a same venue each year. If you had a chance to travel to Cincinnati last week, it was amazing! I've been to Great American Ball Park many times, but last week was unbelievable. So clean and everything was about the history, players and being selected to be participate in this game is what baseball is really all about. As long as the location met the requirements set up by the ATA, and also met certain lodging and transportation needs, I think it would bring back the "WOW" factor that has been missing.

 

i have expounded the same concept myself, but it is always met with opposition.

 

Wonder why? Seems like a logical choice providing the hosting club can handle the number of attendees expected.

 

WHAT WOULD BE WRONG WITH A DIFFERENT ANNUAL SITE?

WHAT WOULD BE WRONG?

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

ABSOLUTELY.....






Nothing.

 

The 'biggest' problem I could see is for Vendors. To sell firearms it requires a FFL for that location in a building, nothing mobile, or at least issued in the State of the recognized event. And Industry just servicing firearms, a big attraction for Grand attendance, would be difficult.

From a shooter only point of view it would be OK .... but it is a much different world than "Prior to the 1924 Grand American" to do firearm business/service .... and now even shell purchase in places like Sparta.

 

One local FFL on site (or more, competition!) could book in the guns from all the exhibitors and sell them to the shooters.

 

I imagine anything could be accomplished but it would take a great deal of planning, the location could also be detrimental to attendance as there are no more that a dozen (if that) facilities that could accomodate this event even at the present attendance. Also as noted above the vendors selling firearms could encounter problems. It would require all vendors to work out of tents at most locations. Again it could be done with a lot of effort. It would be quite different than what we have now and are acustomed to. Just my thougths.

 

Oldphart, I understand what a lot of members are talking about has to do with vendors. I know that many shooters go there to spend money or have service done on their guns. But we have to look at the larger picture. You'll have different vendors at all the shoots. The shoot will be better ran or they won't be there next year, and the vendors will follow the circuit. Yes, the professional trapshooter's circuit. Just like professional bass fishing and several other sports. Remember, they are their for us and we should be there for them. But the shooting sports and the vendors have a lot to work on, but what is the future of the Grand if they don't start thinking about change? It's exciting, and difficult at the same time. We don't want to leave anyone behind. We can figure this out!

 

Thanks, Brian.

I was waiting for someone besides me to bring up the need for a professional trapshooters league.

 

Now's the time. What is so different than flying down the lake and going to a weigh in a major bass touramment and having a lot of spectators watching or having a Grand American shoot off televised. The vendors would come out of the woodwork. And have it at different locations around the US. This could lead to bigger things.

 

How many clubs around the country could handle three or four thousand contestants? Not many. But yes, I would like to see it travel. chris.

 

Seems all the smart people are on this forum.

For being so clear and so good for the sport, the Old Guard violently objects to it.

 

Vendors are not a problem. I also can think of 3 Trap Clubs right off with 60,50 and 46 traps. I'm sure there are others.

 

So far, for many years there has not been 3-4 thousand contestants, only 1500-1800. Last year there were only about 1800 that shot the GAH.

 

"Vendors are not a problem." ..... do tell ..... you must know much more than me ..... you have my attention.

If having a 'big shoot' is the ONLY thing people are after .... I will 'side with' the pro-Sparta people. It is a great place to shoot ... but a horrible place to be, with more than "60,50 and 46 traps".

 

1600 would be more accurate.

 

I was looking at the 2015 GA program, gave a figure of 1814 entries for 2014 GAH. More ATA lies?

 

No it's right based on paid entries, the event got rained on and many didn't shoot.

 

YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING!!! Have any of you been to a GRAND??

Lefty

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

What was that number that DID SHOOT event #24?

Flyersarebest

 

If the Grand was anywhere BUT Sparta the attendance would likely exceed the ability of any other facility to manage it. Any of you people ever manage a real trapshoot?

 

Take the number that shot the Ohio State Handicap Championship times that by 2 and add a hundred or so.

 

NOT really a "lie"

Kinda reminds you of good old slick willie huh?

" It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is."

If you were in charge of PR for the ATA which number would would you put in the next years program? LOL

Flyersarebest

 

And you still end up with 1600, people shooting the "grand" American handicap.

In forty years of shooting I never saw anyone compare any STATE shoot to the "grand American handicap"

I don't live in Ohio, so that swipe at that state doesn't mean much to me.

But if you want to compare their state shoot at the CC to the "grand" in sparta go right ahead. I'm sure the shooters that live in Ohio appreciate it.

Flyersarebest

 

I guess I could have asked which STATE shoot EVER had more SHOOTERS, than the GAH.

Or even the same number.

Flyersarebest

 

You knew the number just having some fun with you. Must have meant something to you or you wouldn't keep posting about it. LOL!

 

OK, I guess?

If you think only 1600 people shooting the GAH is funny.

I also knew why you used OHIO as an example. But not ALL the people that refuse to drive 10 hours one way are from Ohio.

Flyersarebest

 

I used Ohio for 2 reasons. One it was also affected by major rain storm and two it would get a rise out of you! It was in no way a comparison so don't try to spin that statement into something it wasn't. I'll be shooting the Western Zone Handicap championship today so you'll have all afternoon to come up with another snarky response.

 

It's a 16 hour drive for me, if I did not stop for fuel, food and restrooms. It's a 20 hour drive for people on the Left Coast. But then we don't count for anything, except the dues we pay.

 

# of 4 star hotels in Sparta=0
# of 3 star hotels in Sparta=0
# of 4 star hotels in San Antonio= 20
# of 3 star hotels in San Antonio=98
total hotels in Sparta=5 and in San Antonio = 454

Drive time to Sparta is 3 days and San Antonio is 1 day. One way.

 

This will happen if the GAH is held at different sites, The men with the money/motorhomes, will look at the sites selected, and how the weather is, the Altitude/easy breaking Targets, and travel there for a better chance at a win.

If the Eastern clubs high were 98s in Hdcp, and only a few 200s in singles Vs The western Hi Altitude Hdcps were 4 100s in Hdcp, and 30 200s in singles. Does the high scores
from the West Take the Championships?

I hope you all see what I mean, Some Clubs will have an advantage, and the Top dogs know where those clubs are and have the money to travel there.

You tell me that is FAIR FOR ALL Shooters?

Clarification Here I was saying GAH being done at same time at different Locations Via Telephonic

Not speaking of just one location. One location is fair for all.

Gary Bryant Dr.longshot

 

I think the TX location was around Amarillo. It was referred to as being located in the pan handle. I would have loved it if in TX, but in August? A central location makes more sense, in the Midwest, IL, IN, MI, IA, MO, WI, KY or even (shutter) OH.

 

Well if it was Amarillo then what has been stated here as the reason for not considering the Texas location was a bold faced lie. Now if they said there was only 17 traps and it was too small then that would have been a valid reason but to say it was flat , well all trap fields are flat and as to trees there are trees running from the first trap house down to I think the 13th trap house.Trees in the background for most of the range so being void of trees is a lie. Lots of shade except for the far end of the field though the background was tree lined..

Now Shooting in Amarillo was no problem when I shot the Texas State Shoot this year. It's weather was no different then what you find in the states you listed. Now if you want great temperatures and low humidity then your answer is AZ in the fall or spring. Can't beat the desert southwest for those times of year.

As far as altitude goes that is simply bogus. Blaming missed targets on altitude is just an excuse to cover up bad shooting.


What it boils down too from what I've seen is that the ATA believes that only those Trap shooters east of the Mississippi River and north of the Kentucky Tennessee border count. So maybe its time for the rest of the Country to form its own association and move forward.

 

Amarillo is high desert, similar to Albuquerque. No sweating.

Who says the event has to be in August?

 

One reason I've heard August was preferred was it's easier to get high school and collage kids to fill traps and score.

 

Young shooters can attend before returning to school as well. Nice that you guys have found the sport, but the time of year for the ATA and preferred Midwest location has been argued for decades and decades and there already is another trap shooting association called PITA, not to be confused with PITA and it was created for pretty much these same arguements.......held for decades and decades. A lot of shooters West of the Rockies belong to both ATA and PITA. PITA shoots just started in Colorado a few years ago, as PITA membership is now moving Eastward

Check out this link: http://shootpita.com

.

 

Forgot to mention, the P.I.T.A. Grand just started yesterday, running all this week.