Press Release
January 26, 2010
41,036 People
Attend World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour
Breaking Previously Held Record Attendance
On January 23 & 24, 2010 the World’s Greatest Hobby
on Tour returned to the Washington, DC market at the Dulles Expo
Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Total attendance for the weekend
was 41,036 people. This is believed to be the largest
number of people ever to attend a model railroad show in North
America. Despite the
enormous crowd, operationally the show ran almost flawlessly.
The Chantilly show broke the previous attendance record
set by the World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour show in Philadelphia, PA in
January of 2009 which had a record attendance of just over 40,000 people.
Show Chairman Randy Bachmann said “the Chantilly show
did everything it set out to do - successfully introduce thousands of people
to model railroading.”
The World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour has now sponsored
25 shows and has had over 600,000 people attend. For most of these people it
was their first experience with model railroading. These shows broaden the
exposure model railroading receives among the general public.
The World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour is a model railroad
show designed to introduce the general public to the hobby in an exciting,
family-oriented atmosphere. Each show includes all the leading manufacturers,
hobby shops, operating displays, interactive activities, a Thomas the Tank
Engine riding train for kids, workshops and provides an in-person introduction
to the World’s Greatest Hobby: model railroading.
Here are quotations about the January 23 & 24, 2010 Chantilly
World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour:
”I am new to the hobby
and this was the first show I've attended, so I was totally not
prepared for what to expect at this show. I was thinking that
it would be a few old guys and that's about it. But all that
went away when the traffic to get into the complex was backed
up on the highway. But even then, I had figured that maybe all
of the traffic was for the hunting and fishing show in the adjoining
building. Nope. It was for the train show. Holy smokes was that
crowded. Crowded to the point of not being able to see a whole
lot until way late in the day.
”I was also surprised at the makeup of the people. All
ages, all ethnicities. And I was amazed to see how many women were there and
seemed to be enjoying themselves. They did not appear to be dragged there like
man with his wife at Macys. Obviously this show was marketed towards families
with a lot of things for kids to do, but even without that, there were a lot
of people there I didn't expect to see at a train show.
”Many, many great layouts of all gauges. The O gauge
layout from the Trackers was enormous.
”When I finally left, I was shocked that I had managed
to spend 5.5 hours there.
”Based on the attendance I saw today, I don't think we
need to worry about kids not getting into the hobby.”
Posted
online January 23, 2010
by
attendee from Alexandria, VA
“I spent
the day there. Wow, it was packed. Wow, I parked a half mile
away. It was fun. The line outside lasted most of the day.
The hotdog line was at least an hour long. I've been to countless
shows and never saw a crowd like this…
“I enjoyed seeing the manufacturers booths
and as usual they were entertaining and the representatives
there were friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.
“There were so many operating layouts
that I was getting dizzy watching all the trains and accessories.
One layout had the train staying in one position while the
circular platform and track moved clockwise underneath it.
The coolest!
“Money was changing hands and bags were
bulging. Track, transformers, trees, engines, rolling stock,
die cast vehicles, books, accessories, glue, tools, blister
packs of little train layout people, and railroad flatware
were all moving.
“It was a great show that really promoted
the hobby. Hats off to the people who advertise and run it!
Not a bad deal either, $10 for 15 hours of entertainment. I
will go again! Tomorrow, as a matter of fact.”
Posted
online January 23, 2010
by
attendee from Northern Virginia |
