Bennet, Hickenlooper, Polis Call on Emerald X to Keep the Winter and Summer Outdoor Retailer Shows in Colorado

Press Release

Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D) and John Hickenlooper (D), and Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) called on Emerald X to keep the winter and summer Outdoor Retailer Shows in Colorado.

In a letter to the show's owner, Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Polis highlighted Colorado's growing outdoor recreation community and continued commitment to protecting public lands and addressing climate change to support the state's robust outdoor economy.

"Locating the Outdoor Retailer Show in Colorado has provided an excellent opportunity for the industry to connect to other businesses and potential customers from across the country," wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Polis in a letter to Emerald X. "Denver continues to be an incredible location for the Outdoor Retailer Show with world class amenities including the fifth busiest airport in the United States with 220 non-stop destinations, a modern light rail from the airport into the heart of downtown, and a vibrant downtown with myriad opportunities for visitors to enjoy."

"The leaders of the outdoor industry have spoken with an articulate and strong voice that this cornerstone event belongs in a state that shares its values on public land and recreation. Colorado is the perfect match to continue as the home of the Outdoor Retailer Show. Thank you for your partnership over the years. We look forward to continuing to work together to expand the outdoor recreation industry in Colorado and across the West," they concluded.

The show left Utah in 2017 after state leaders supported former President Trump's decision to shrink Bears Ears National Monument. In February 2017, Bennet, then Governor Hickenlooper, and former U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) sent a letter to the show's owner, Emerald X, to encourage its consideration of Colorado as the new host for the popular recreation conventions.

In July 2017, Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Gardner applauded the Outdoor Retailer's decision to move its Outdoor Retailer trade shows to Denver. Beginning in January 2018, the shows hosted in Denver have included both a winter and summer Outdoor Retailer Show that have drawn industry leaders to Colorado. Both shows have served as a gathering for important efforts to protect Colorado's public lands, including the launch of the CORE Act in January 2019.

The agreement to host the shows in Colorado expires in June of this year. Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Polis are urging Emerald X to renew their contract and keep the shows here as Colorado aligns closely with the values and priorities of the outdoor industry such as the restoration of Bears Ears National Monument.

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