I agree completely with Michael. We love the grounds, yes old motel, cheap cheap cheap, which was nice and help pay for gas. Grounds were perfect for show and dogs walking later. And par ty the best place. Nothing to do with coats. Just not crazy about driving in the new area and loved, loved the outside show in the mild Winter in N.C. Everyone gather around the rings, could not beat it. Potomac nice but we are talking other great shows.
It's my understanding that haveing the show at the old venue was a hardship for the club because it was outside of Raliegh (jump in anyone that knows the rules). Also because of the dates were during the week, club members were having to take more time off work costing them money out of their pockets. Again, I'm not a club member so someone jump in here and clarify a little more.
As for the old venue - yep, the outside space was great but last year and the year before, the other hotel "clientelle" there was a bit scary and made me feel uneasy. Staying in a dumpy motel is onething but feeling unsafe is another.
As for moving the dates to May and it being indoors, there are other specialties indoors and late into the spring and people still show up and have a great time.
Raliegh Durham as gotten smaller and smaller every year and I hope for the sake of the club this move is successful!
I love the Raleigh Durham specialty, try to go every year and even had the honor of being asked to judge there a few years back. While the hotel may have been lacking, the grounds and weather were great, it was a wonderful place to take the youngsters and it was at a great time of year. Not sure why their entries have been declining through the years, partly due to economy? , but almost every club seems to be having this problem. For those that didn't support Raleigh Durham in the past, you missed out on something very special. I wish the club all the best and will miss ending my year with Raleigh Durham.
While change is inevitable in all aspects of life, I, for one, am glad that the Raleigh Durham Specialty is changing locations. The Smithfield site was as lumpy bumpy as a southern cow pasture and the fire ants are usually hungry! At one time the site hotel sold out all rooms. You had to make your reservations a year in advance. Over the past several years it was not even 25% full. If everyone loved the show site so much, why was it not sold out? The owner commented to me last year that he “was losing room rentals because the hotel appeared sold out due to all of our vehicles. We may ask for a 3 night minimum stay to continue to accommodate the show.”
It was fantastic to be able to sit around the ring and yack with everyone, I do not see why we can’t do the same at the new location. We will be the only dog show there and should be as “relaxing” and fun as any other specialty. And what an opportunity for the public to see what Labradors should be.
As far as economics and showing, the hotel rates in the Raleigh-Durham area are MUCH more economical than most Specialty cities and the drive to the new show site is no further than the old site.
Looking forward to exhibiting at the Raleigh Durham Specialty in May 2013!!
