Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Safari Club convention deal resolved

Less than 24 hours earlier, the meeting between Safari Club International and the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority was a standoff.

The two sides were far apart, particularly on agency liability in case the $105 million expansion and renovation of the Reno-Sparks Convention Center reduced Safari's space or forced it to another city.

Wednesday's limo ride saw a few tweaks and a few concessions that ended with Safari Convention Director Patricia Johnson calling for the champagne.

Safari, whose previous Reno shows have attracted the likes of former President George Bush and retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, says its show has a $40 million impact on the Reno-Sparks economy or roughly $120 million over the three-year lease that runs through 2005 with an option to renew the following year.

The contract calls for the authority to pay Safari a $350,000 signing bonus for executing the lease. It also calls for RSCVA to pay up to $2 million if parts of the convention center are not done when Safari arrives in 2003.

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