The Outdoor Retailer Summer show continues downtown Denver’s recovery Tuesday through Thursday  as the second big event in as many months to occupy the Colorado Convention Center.

There hasn’t been an Outdoor Retailer Show in Denver since January 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered all large in-person gatherings for more than a year. The convention pulls together thousands of retailers in the nation’s growing outdoor industry. The Outdoor Industry Association estimates there are 5.2 million direct jobs nationally. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates the industry accounted for 2.1% ($459.8 billion) of current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) for the nation in 2019.

“We recognize how difficult it’s been downtown without any shows, so we’re excited to come back and hopefully fill hotels, get people eating at restaurants and contribute to rebuilding the economy,” said Marisa Nicholson, SVP at Emerald Expositions Events Inc. and show director. California-based Emerald owns the show.

'An absolute blessing': All-Star Game will mean millions in economic impact for Denver

The MLB All Star Game in July saw more than 100,000 visitors and residents walk through the convention center halls. And while the Outdoor Retailer at its pre-pandemic levels used to have an estimated $57 million impact on Denver’s economy and more than 25,000 registrants, this year’s show is scaled down for several reasons.

“We’ve got the ongoing COVID concerns for health and safety, but also 20% of our retailers are international. There’s travel restrictions in place, and also domestic corporate restrictions on travel in place — a lot of companies are unable to participate this year,” Nicholson said. “But the overall sentiment is excited. … registration is strong and everyone wants to meet in person.”

She said the outdoor industry “boomed” during the pandemic as “access to the outdoors was one of the few things we could do.” That meant it was challenging for some retailers to keep shelves stocked.

“This is a good opportunity to connect brands that immediately have product, and new products or brands they’re bringing into the store,” Nicholson said.

There are currently more than 11,000 registered for the show, and some 4,900 retailers, she said.

Visit Denver couldn’t provide updated economic impact estimates, but obviously welcome the show. The organization helped coordinate between the Convention Center and Outdoor Retailer, which usually does the Summer Show in June to better coordinate with spring and summer selling cycles.

“Our city and state have a long history of supporting outdoor lands and outdoor industries, and that culture runs deep,” said Richard W. Scharf, president and CEO, in an email. “Although the pandemic impacted the June 2020 and the January 2021 shows, we look forward to hosting Outdoor Retailers this summer and both 2022 shows.”

The show came to Denver in 2018 after political fallout, much like MLB moved the All Star Game to Denver after Georgia — the site of the original location in Atlanta — passed a set of voter laws many considered restrictive.

For 22 years, Outdoor Retailer was in Salt Lake City, Utah. But the retailer participants started to push back on the location in 2016 after Utah politicians in the Republican-controlled state supported rescinding the protected status of Utah’s Bear Ears National Monument.

“We’ve grown and changed since leaving Utah,” Nicholson said. “January 2018 was our first show in Denver, and it was the biggest winter show we’ve ever done (once combined with the Snow Show). … We definitely think Denver has been a great home for the show. They were really wonderful to work with, helping find the right space and all the hotels we needed to accommodate the size of the show.”

National Western Stock Show rides back in 2022

Those plans happened in six months, as opposed to the usual 18-month run-up period. Much like Denver officials showed MLB officials it was ready to do the same for the All Star Game, and was ultimately awarded it.

“One of the things that is so unique to this industry, and one of the things we love, is wanting to be part of the community. There’s a willingness to roll up our sleeves and align with a competitor, but fighting for things that are important for the health of the industry and its ability to grow,” Nicholson said.

Emerald officials are already planning for the January 26-28, 2022, Winter Show and next summer’s Outdoor Retailers June 9-11 in Denver.

“This is the right time frame for the market to come together.”