SOLON, Ohio (BRAIN) — Organizers of the PressCamp media events said they will continue to hold events in Utah this year, while exploring options for other venues and encouraging discussion at its events.
Emerald Expositions, owner of the Outdoor Retailer and Interbike trade shows, announced last week that it would not hold its events in Utah due to the dispute over the issue of public land use. Several outdoor and bike industry suppliers, including Patagonia and GU, have said they will not support events in Utah.
"It's clear that there are passions flying around on the topic of protecting public access to public lands in Utah, and by extension the entire country," PressCamp organizers said in a statement Monday. "The clear question is 'should PressCamp also pull up stakes to make a statement to Utah and find a new venue in a more public lands friendly state?"
While noting that it's relatively easy to move PressCamp, the company said it had decided to explore options, use PressCamp as "an amplifier for discussions." Top Utah officials will be invited to address the media attending PressCamp and the organizers said it will "make sure the media we bring are informed and ready to ask meaningful questions of Utah officials who will be present (a tradition begun last year at Outdoor PressCamp)."
"Since ours is a more intimate event, we can ask direct questions, hear direct answers, and help outdoor enthusiasts nationwide know the viewpoints presented from Utah's leadership, as well as from the industry and other national leaders in the growing active outdoors movement.
