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New venue of Arlington Park a better choice for outdoors show

The Chicago Outdoor Sports Show, normally held in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, is no more.

To me, it clearly was time to say goodbye, especially to those who crave the sizzle as well as the steak regarding past and future outdoor experiences.

It was the trip planning to be done until many of the lodge owners chose other venues to lure customers to sign on the dotted line. It was the bags of bargain lures and maybe some of last year's spinning reels with enticing price tags that did the trick.

I did my "fly-on-the-wall" routine for a long time and tuned in to outdoors show-goers complaints about the long walk to the actual event as well as the high cost of parking.

And speaking of a long walk, it's goodbye to that desert-like trek up and down the countless yards over a terribly busy highway. Or if I trudged across the street to the great hall I'd thank my lucky stars I wore my Arctic coat and gloves to ward off frostbite.

It's goodbye to a village that squeezes dollars from drivers and cars when they wind their way up into high-priced parking slots.

I'm saying farewell to a place where at one time many years ago it housed a massive menagerie of manufacturers, wholesalers, charter boats, tackle stores, as well as a few odds and ends of booths offering shreds of minutiae.

Sad as it may sound, there is a much brighter environment outdoors people will encounter in March 2018.

I know, the crocodile tears will flow with sadness being the driving force for that kind of behavior. I know some exhibitors will pine for the times when a 10-day show was the norm versus the exception.

Impresario Rick Rossalina pulled the trigger this past week and signed a deal with Arlington International Racecourse so he could move his Chicago Outdoor Sports Show from Rosemont to Arlington Park, the jewel of the suburbs.

Show dates will be March 22-25, 2018, and from what I know this exposition will be a true extravaganza.

Without divulging too much closely-held information, I can tell you the buzz from a number of exhibitors at the Milwaukee Outdoor Sports show was something akin to a tidal wave of positive anticipation.

Keep your schedule open next March. This one holds the promise of something in the category of spectacular.

Special event:

By the way, speaking of something pretty hot, bring some cash on March 25 for the Walleyes Unlimited Swap Meet and Sale.

The event will be held in the Fox Lake Legion Hall, 703 N. Route 12, in Fox Lake.

You'll see new and used fishing tackle, boating and marine items, as well as food and drinks available.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.

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