Grassroots Connect brings outdoor community back to Reno beginning in June 2024

(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / June 14, 2023) – Grassroots Connect, the twice-annual retail buying show of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, will move its June gathering to Reno, Nevada, beginning in 2024.

The change for the spring venue was announced during the membership meeting ahead of this week’s Grassroots Connect Show (June 10-14, 2023). The event has been hosted at the Knoxville Convention Center since 2013, and over that time has grown their attendee base from 37 brands and 44 retailers to 212 brands and 143 retailers. 

While Grassroots openly praised the former venue for its friendly and professional support throughout the last decade, the group also cited the need for additional space as the primary reason for the move.

“Reno blew us away with the quality of their convention center space, which has an ideal size and configuration for the needs of Grassroots Connect,” said Gabe Maier, president of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. “We certainly also appreciate the nearby outdoor access and outdoor community that our show attendees will be able to enjoy.”

The selection of Reno brings Grassroots Connect back to a region with historic ties to the outdoor industry, including its role as host for the first-ever Grassroots Connect – which was held in 1998 in Lake Tahoe, Calif. 

The Reno Sparks Convention Center boasts over 600,000 sq ft of space and more than 374,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, as well as a $10 million renovation which was completed in 2019. 

Reno is also a popular outdoor destination with easy access to world-class hiking, bicycling, skiing, snowboarding, camping and paddling. The area provides a contrast of high adrenaline activities as well as areas of remote solitude, including the Truckee River which flows through the city’s downtown.

“Reno-Tahoe is beyond excited to be hosting the outdoor community of Grassroots Connect in our city,” said Shaun Tracy of Visit Reno-Tahoe. “In addition to being a phenomenal background for business, it’s also a remarkable basecamp for outdoor adventures of all kinds in all seasons.” 

The updated calendar for the next two Grassroots Connect shows now includes Kansas City, Mo. (Nov. 6-9, 2023); and Reno, Nev. (June 10-13, 2024).

ABOUT GRASSROOTS OUTDOOR ALLIANCE: Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a retailer-owned active network of 101 independently owned outdoor retailers and 69 vendor partners, working together for the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail. Through data collection and analysis, direct member support, specialty events and deep vendor partnerships, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is creating both a vision and roadmap for the long-term success of independent specialty retail. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is recognized as a catalyst for the success of its retailers and vendor partners; an advocate for specialty independent retail; a promoter of education and community within the specialty channel; and a key influencer of the national outdoor industry.  For more information on Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, please go to www.grassrootsoutdoors.com.

ABOUT GRASSROOTS CONNECT: Grassroots Connect is our twice annual legacy show experience that spans 4 days offering an efficient and structured format for retailers to conduct their pre-season line showings and business conversations. Connect appointments are scheduled well in advance of the show which supports brands that already have established business with our retail attendees. Connect is focused and efficient and allows retailers and brands to conduct business together at the right time in the buying cycle, while also incorporating opportunities to celebrate the outdoor industry and retail community. The next Connect will be held Nov. 6-9, 2023 (Kansas City, Mo.). For more information, please visit https://connect.grassrootsoutdoors.com.