New outdoor trade show tries to fill the gap left by Outdoor Retailer

At the base of Deer Valley Resort, hundreds of colorful tents are arranged around a huge, red, pyramid-shaped tent, reminiscent of a circus big top. People mill about between the tents, chatting, inspecting merchandise, checking out the slackline and the mini bouldering wall.

This festive scene is the inaugural year for The Big Gear Show, a outdoor industry trade show that aims to connect outdoor products with buyers of outdoor gear.

If The Big Gear Show sounds familiar, it’s because Utah used to be home to a similar event — Outdoor Retailer, the largest conference of its kind in North America.

The Outdoor Retailer Summer and Winter Markets had a combined economic impact of over $40 million per year when they were stationed at the Salt Palace, drawing visitors to the hotels and restaurants of downtown Salt Lake.

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