CHICAGO — Just a little over one week since CES 2025 closed, another iconic show is opening its doors in Las Vegas — SHOT Show.
SHOT Show, owned and sponsored by NSSF — The Firearm Industry Trade Association, and produced by ConvExx is taking place at Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum Jan. 21-24, with buyers and exhibitors from more than 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states convening in Las Vegas for the annual show for the $8.9 billion firearms and ammunition industry.
The 2025 edition of the show will be larger than in 2024, with this year’s SHOT Show spanning more than 830,000 net square feet and featuring more than 2,800 exhibitors, also an increase from 2024.
“We expect that attendance will be in the 53,000-55,000 range as it has been post-pandemic, and that’s by design,” said Chris Dolnack, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at NSSF. “We hit an all-time high attendance of 67,000 before we expanded into Caesars Forum, and it was palpably uncomfortable at times on the show floor. Since then, we requalify all attendees every three years to ensure that only those involved in the trade gain access to the show floor. Our exhibitors have expressed their appreciation for the quality of attendee.”
One of the fastest-growing sections on the SHOT Show floor is Law Enforcement, which will span more than 170,000 square feet of the event this year. When the section was introduced more than 20 years ago, it only covered 7,000 square feet.
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“The continued growth of the SHOT Show is proof positive of our industry’s passion, commitment to supporting their trade association, and their desire for an in-person event where they can see new products, network face-to-face and learn about emerging compliance and best business practices through SHOT University sessions,” Dolnack said.
The show’s overall waitlist grew to the point that the team brought back SHOT Show eXtra on Level 5 of the Venetian, which will be open on Wednesday and Thursday of the show’s dates.
“SHOT Show eXtra is a special exhibit area and is turnkey for exhibitors. It includes an 8′ x 6′ exhibit space, a table, two chairs, wastebasket and ID sign, two registrations badges for SHOT Show, eXtra and Supplier Showcase, Lead Retrieval App, electrical, a listing in SHOT Show Buyers’ Guide, Show Planner, and mobile app, and lunch for two booth personnel,” Dolnack said. “We have more than 200 new exhibitors in this space alone.”
SHOT Show’s SHOT After Dark program offers nightlife events for SHOT Show badge holders throughout the event. From After Dark Mixers to nightclub guest list access at a variety of nightclubs, SHOT Show is ensuring everyone has the ability to mingle after the show floor closes each day.
“Our SHOT After Dark program continues to grow in popularity and participation,” Dolnack said. “The partnership with Jampack offers our show attendees special access to some of Las Vegas’ most popular night clubs, along with a number of networking events throughout SHOT Week.”
Dolnack shared he’s looking forward to seeing more than 50,000 industry professionals and media from all over the world come together for the show, creating a powerful energy and excitement in the industry.
World of Concrete Opens in Vegas This Week
World of Concrete, one of Informa Markets’ largest events in the U.S., will take over the Las Vegas Convention Center Jan. 20-23.
Spanning more than 750,000 net square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space, World of Concrete will welcome more than 1,400 exhibitors and thousands of attendees. This year’s show is providing 180-plus educational sessions across different tracks throughout the event.
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