Hopefully that's true. What is needed is a cleaned up fish pond and a spruced up lounge area. The pool tables and accessories are pathetic. Those thousands of kids will be descending on the facilities and adding some video games (vendors can be contacted for deals) will help keep them entertained. Let's make this an enjoyable experience for all!
Splendid Idea Oleolliedawg ! I hope Mr. Fishburn and some of his good folks who are in charge will take these thoughts into consideration.
The pool area had already been repainted and updated, completed about a month ago. The pond has been drained and will be ready this spring.
Damn, who's calling the shots at the Cardinal Center? Ollie? That man seems to be pretty well connected. Good things happening, good for all shooters. Atta boy for the Cardinal Center and its owners and supporters.
Maybe Ollie is creeping around the grounds here. I will be on the lookout. Doc the skeet fields will be combination fields. Luke
I specially drove over from PA last week and toured the grounds with my trusty pen light at 2AM (I checked and you were sleeping). The 'dawg is watching. Now 'bout that shooters lounge? Tell us more about those combination Trap/Skeet fields that are supposedly going in and some are in denial about!
Luke: Thank You, I thought they would be Combination Fields. You heard it from Luke GB...................DLS
Luke are the skeet fields really going to be combo fields? If that is the plan the trap fields and the skeet fields couldn't be used at the same time. My understanding was that at present time there wouldn't be trap fields inside the skeet fields. Just wondering? Dave Berlet
Dave, those combo fields wouldn't be needed unless a major trapshoot was going on. Now if I can convince them to add 3 more yards to the handicap walkways I'll have accomplished plenty!
Dave, we plan to start hosting some NSSA skeet tournaments at the Cardinal. Since we are building the skeet fields, we will have to ability to add in the extra trap fields as needed. We are pretty close to needing those fields as is. As it stands now I would not need the extra trap fields for the Buckeye but we could use them for the State and Cardinal Classic. They will be skeet fields before they ever become trap fields but why not kill two birds with one stone. We are planning for the future. Luke
Luke, Now that is "Forward" thinking ! Thanks for the information on such a wonderful facility ! Dave M.
If the folks at Cardinal Center hosted a shoot on the same dates as the grand , the WSRC and grand attendance would be cut to the bone as in virtually eliminated ... The CC could do it as an unregistered Handicap shoot and they would be over run with shooters ... This almost happened one year at the Spring Grand at the Old Phoenix Trap and Skeet Club after not so cordial discussions with the then President Dave Kaiser about his unwarranted demands and attitude ... I was going to take the money that would of been paid to the ATA for trophy's, programs, and expenses for those who were going to attend from the ATA and use it as option money ... Kaiser figured out I was serious and he backed off big time or I would of eliminated the Spring Grand completely and had our own Spring Handicap shoot on those same dates ... The ATA has it in their head that they are the Supreme Association and if they do not say it happens with their blessing , it won't happen ... They came really close to finding out that year and all the Fat Cats who showed up and gave not so pleasant glances my way were very soft spoken to my face but I assume they had plenty to say to each other based on what I heard after all was said and done ... Thats the year we eliminated all of the freebies, no more adult beverages, food, and place to hide from the people (members) they were supposed to represent ... They were told to go and sit at the bar and put their money up just like everyone else, to say they were not happy is an understatement ... The left the club and went to one of the local bars to avoid the members and spend their expense money ... They were paid to Judge the shoot offs yet not one of them showed up other than to sit and watch , but we got it done ... Cardinal Center could put the ATA out of business if they wanted to, those on the ATA EC, ED , and some of the BOD can thank God they do not want that to happen or it would ... WPT ... (YAC) ... Re posted from another thread for those who missed it ...
WPT: BILL, while I agree with a lot of what you put on here, and the other site I could not think of any good reason why the CC would want to put on a shoot against the WRSC. RON BURDICK
Ron, Strictly to prove a point ... Sometimes things do not become reality until they are seen, then digested , then realized ... The ATA is not the only game in town as they think they have started to think they are ... The actions or lack of by the ATA's EC, ED and some of the BOD for the past several years (15 plus years) have shown how lacking they are toward the very people who are the association (Members) as they continue on a path to destroy it from within ... Read what I posted above, it was going to be my way of making a point and they knew I would do it, so they backed off but quick ... If the CC held a shoot on the same dates (unregistered ) the ATA would lose a lot of money and it would be well deserved, but also confirm what they already know ... WPT ... (YAC) ... How much did you figure its going to cost the members to hold the grand at the WSRC ... $4,000,000 ? I think your right ...
Why would it have to be non-registered? Kingens in Indiana shot during the Grand when Sharon was alive.
I think the CC could have a lot of shooters, shooting a money Handicaps, during the Grand Week, as there a lot of shooters who are not going even if it was open GB...........................DLS
I believe the CC would have a bunch of shooters if they held a large shoot during the two weeks of the Grand. Would it affect the Grand? Very little, if at all. The reason is only a certain percent of shooters go to the Grand to begin with and if a large shoot was held closer to the rest of the shooters they would most likely go to it.
Plus it might pick up the shooters that stopped going to the Grand cause of the move to Sparta. Especially the ones from Ohio and the eastern states. Plenty of motels, plus the drive is not all that long for the majority of the shooters. But the CC could be crapping in their own mess kit as far as the ATA is concerned. As for myself, Id go to the CC, even if it was a registered or non registered. You could be rest assured the shoot would be watched closely by the big mucky mucks of the ATA. Just my 2 cents.
Bill I've heard you same some funny s##t over the years... but this has to be the best!! I won't argue that the CC could and would draw shooters if they threw on the same dates... but it's still not the "GRAND" .. the people who want to shoot the grand will still shoot the grand... It's the only one! To say the the Grand would be eliminated because of it... is simple insane. Won't happen...
FlaLagarto....nothing has been "grand" for a long long time. I figured anyone saying something too good about the Cardinal Center would get you on the forum. Your Cardinal Center hate continues. Feel the love. Comparing the numbers in Sparta (lowest since the Korean War) to the "GRAND" shoots is fatally flawed.
Bro, (Flalagarto) Come on, based on all of the unknowing and speculation that has yet to be settled I would not call it the grand, if it happens ... (if you have noticed ) I do not even use a capital (G) letter when talking about the grand because it has not been a grand for over 15 years other than in name alone (Like a YUGO with a Lincoln name plate) ... If you want proof look at the attendance as it declines each and every year, and will probably be at an all time low this year because of what I said about unknowing and speculation ... I appreciate the fact that you attend and why, for good reason being as its part of your living as a vendor ... The Big Dogs attend because its easy pick in's and they can promote their clinics, so in a way they get paid to be there also ... The "grand" name has been beat to death with a grand something several times a year all over the United States ( think satellite's) , so tell me about it ... There was a time when there was ONE GRAND and that was the one and only, now take your pick ... Cardinal Center generates a lot of money for the ATA, they best be good to them folks or the folk at the CC can hurt them badly ... I hope you do well at the grand if there is one, (I sincerely hope there is) but don't think your going to have to travel to Illinois next year unless its to visit friends or escape the heat in Florida ... We Love Ya Man, no really ... WPT ... (YAC) .... I wonder if I put Bentley name plate on the wife's Azera if it would be a Bentley ..? Nawwww ..
To me, there was only one Grand. When the Grand closed, it reminds me of an old song by Don Mclean, "American Pie". Just need to change a word..."But something touched me deep inside the day Trapshooting died. So bye-bye Miss American Pie"
I am more or less a traditionalist in many ways about many things , the grand being one of them after my attending on several occasions ... Personally, I think the name "The Grand " should of been eliminated and replaced out of respect for the shooters and founding Fathers who attended in the past as well as the shoot it self prior to the move to Illinois ... This certainly is not a big deal and the name was probably retained to try and continue with the tradition of the grand as many of us knew it after it was laid to rest ... The Ceremony's , Last Shot's (Ed Y even got screwed on that one) , belt buckles all seemed right at the time but truth be known is was not a proper "Good Bye" when everyone walked away that last time ... The traditions were supposed to live on, (they didn't), the mystique would be replaced, (it wasn't) The shooter's would get used to it,(they didn't ) , the Legends would be replaced and as of yet they have not been ... If you walked down the midway at Vandalia, you could almost feel the spirits of those from years gone by and visualize their presents ... There are many people who compare the "Grand" to the shoots in Sparta at the WSRC , they have no idea what they are talking about, most having never been to the" GRAND" ... The Cardinal Center appears to be what the shooters enjoy and look forward to with the same anticipation (reasonably close anyway) as they used to when the grand was the Grand ... You have heard people say "those were the days", yes THOSE WERE THE DAYS and now they are gone but never to be forgotten ... Call it anything you want but the grand will Never be in Sparta, Ill other than in name and name alone ... WPT ... (YAC) ....
Presently, that's the only place that you can win the ring that says.. "Grand American Champion".. so your entitled to your opinion., But it is the Grand!
The only hate I see on this site is from you towards anyone with a different opinion then yours... I hope it makes you feel like a big person in your own mind because it sure lowers the opinion that some have of you.
You are right on time FlaLagarto. You would not be anywhere on this site unless someone was talking about the successes of the Cardinal Center. The more success the more rage right? Those additional traps, another clay course and skeet fields really chaps your britches? You can tout the shoot in Sparta but grand it aint. You hate the numbers and facts. Make any opinion about the numbers but they dont lie. The last 5 years have had numbers that haven't been so low since before the Korean War. Dont blame it on a website. The EC and BOD was given the forecast about Sparta. Just a heads up.....there will be more positive threads that you can spew the I hate the CC crap. We need that too. Thanks for your opinion and tell the 4 stooges we said hi.
I can see where flalagarto or anyone in bed with sparta may be threatened by the Cardinal Center. One venue is booming and another venue dying.
Bro, I think we both know and agree (probably) that there are somethings in Life even more Important than a ring no matter what it says or the meaning behind it (compare it to ____ (fill in the blank) ) ... The rings that were given before the move as far as I am concerned are far more valuable and meaningful then those since ... (Just my opinion, probably matters to me and me alone ) Not a biggie ... I hope you win one of them this year , might be your last chance ... Cardinal Center should host a ring shoot, see what happens, you won't get near the place, never be a problem in Sparta ... All the best as always your Buddy ... WPT ... (YAC) ...