The North American Handmade Bike Show today announced it will quit Utah. Last week, Interbike made a similar statement. That means three major outdoors shows will not consider Utah as a venue.
“Aligning with the recent actions taken by other brands that exhibit at Outdoor Retailer as well as the conversations regarding the future of Interbike in the State of Utah, NAHBS will not be calling Utah home to the show in the future,” said NAHBS in a statement.
NAHBS stands for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. It’s an annual event that attracts some of the top builders, buyers, and media in the bike world.
The forthcoming NAHBS show will take place in Salt Lake City on March 10-12. “Unfortunately moving the show this year is not an option,” the press release states.
“If not for signed contracts, booked airfares, hotels and the builders depending on the show taking place, we too would be relocating,” said Don Walker, founder of NAHBS.
The show travels to different venues year after year. It showcases frame-builders and custom bikes from brands big and small.
Trade Shows Leaving Utah
The announcement today by NAHBS follows news last week that the Outdoor Retailer convention will leave Salt Lake City as soon as possible.
It’s all in protest to Utah Gov. Gary Herbert’s attempts to undo federal protections of Bears Ears National Monument, among other environmental stances. Herbert signed a resolution two weeks ago urging the Trump administration to rescind the National Monument status. (See our article on Bears Ears.)
Many outdoors brands, led by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, expressed outrage over the Gov. Herbert’s actions. Dozens signed a letter to the Herbert threatening to pull out of the Outdoor Retailer show if he refused to reconsider the resolution.
After meeting with him last week, Outdoor Retailer announced it would leave Utah.
Now, the NAHBS and Interbike have added their names to the growing list of events boycotting Utah. Outdoor Retailer alone is estimated to bring $45 million in spending to Salt Lake City each year.
So far, no major consumer boycotts have directly threatened the state. However, Patagonia launched a site to flood Herbert with calls and emails opposing his actions.
Tourists and travelers spent $7.5 billion in Utah in 2013. That year, if tourism were an export, it would have been the state’s second-largest behind primary metals. In 2015, travelers spent $8.17 billion in Utah.
