While the freedom-hating local media engaged in much hand-wringing over the 145th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville this past weekend, it was quickly drowned out by the ringing of cash registers. According to the Greater Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau, the 80,450 attendees at this year’s Meetings generated a staggering $53 million in additional revenue.
This is more than 10 times the estimated $4.8 million economic impact the Meetings generated the last time they came to Louisville in 2008. While the 2016 meetings had roughly double the number of exhibitors from the 2008 meetings (over 800, versus the roughly 400 at the 137th Meetings), this wasn’t the primary financial driver—according to the Bureau, most of the revenue went to hotels, restaurants and local attractions.
While the gun-hating “mainstream” media claim they just want what’s best for Louisville, how can they argue with the benefit to local businesses—many of whom may be their advertisers?
