Ft. Myers Fishing Show Info

[Hotel Info] [Event Directions] [Move-in Instructions] [Important Phone Numbers]
[Electric & Phone Orders] [Press Release]

GENERAL SHOW INFO - click here for the press release

When: Sat. and Sun., February 2-3, 2008
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat., 10. a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun.

Where: Lee Civic Center
11831 Bayshore Rd, North Ft. Myers
3 miles east of I-75, exit 26

Admission: $7 adults, children 12 and under with parent free. Look for discount coupons in Florida Sportsman magazine or on the web at www.floridasportsman.com/shows/coupon

Contact Info:

Robin Smillie
Florida Sportsman Magazine
1-813-839-7696

fsrobin@aol.com

Hotel Info

We have blocked 25 rooms at the Best Western Waterfront in North Ft. Myers for Florida Sportsman staff and Show exhibitors. The hotel is easy to get to--albeit a 20-minute drive--and a generous exhibitor discount price of $89.95 has been arranged, so call early and book your room. (Early Feb is their highest season so Ft. Myers hotels are booked solid at high prices.) Be sure to mention you are an exhibitor with the Florida Sportsman Fishing Show to get the discount price. This hotel was just renovated in late 2006, including new furniture, carpeting, mattresses and two new elevators, so it should be better than the pitiful Howard Johnson that we stayed at last year just across the street. This hotel does not offer breakfast but there is a IHOP restaurant adjoining the parking lot.

Best Western Waterfront
13021 N Cleveland Ave.
N. Ft. Myers, FL 33903
ph 239-997-5511

Directions to the Best Western Waterfront

From the Lee Civic center, go west on Bayshore Drive (the main drag in front of the Civic Center) to Old US 41. (Don’t turn at the first 41 which is Business 41.) Turn left on Old 41 and go until you see the bridge in front of you--the Best Western is on your right and is the last exit from the road before you go over the bridge.

Directions to Lee Civic Center:

3 miles east of I-75, exit 143, State Rd. 78.

Civic Center mailing address:

Lee Civic Center
11831 Bayshore Rd.
N. Ft. Myers, FL 33917

Important phone numbers

Robin’s phone # at the Lee Civic Center: 239-543-2112 (Thurs-Mon)

Robin’s cell phone: 813-240-1036

Move-In instructions

Inside Boat move-in Thursday, noon to 6 p.m.
Booth move-in Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Outside Boat move-in Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Upon arrival, stop at the registration desk to find your booth and pick up your badges--they have your business name on them.

Because of the unique floor plan which allows for booths mixed with boats , this schedule is critical to an orderly move-in, set-up and break-down. Unscheduled boat move-ins create especially difficult/impossible situations because of the location of the rows of booths. The following guidelines must be adhered to:

1. On Thursday inside boats should begin move-in at noon and continue until 5 p.m. It is critical that all inside boats be moved in on Thursday so that booths can be set up around them and booth exhibitors can begin their move-in Friday. Boats can be staged outside Thursday morning beginning at 8 a.m. (The decorator comes at 10 a.m. and needs time to mark the floor, hence the noon move-in.)

2. Booth Exhibitorsand Outside Boats On Friday at 8 a.m., all booth exhibitors and outside boats should begin their move-in. The exhibition hall will remain open until 8 p.m. Friday night.

3. Move-ins are not allowed Saturday morning or during the show.

For exhibitors, the Lee Civic Center will open at 8 a. m. each morning of the show, but do not attempt to start or complete your move-in Saturday morning--vehicles will not be allowed in the exhibition hall. ALL EXHIBITORS MUST BE SET UP AND READY WHEN THE SHOW OPENS AT 10 a. m. SATURDAY.

4. Move-out can begin no earlier that 5 p. m. on Sunday when the show closes.

5. The Civic Center will be secured Friday and Saturday night, however; we cannot guarantee the security of your goods and it is advised that proper security considerations be taken by each exhibitor to further safeguard their property.

Electric/Phone

If you want electric but your invoice does not include the $45 due, just include an extra $45 with your final payment in the enclosed envelope and we will understand what it is for. You will soon receive a packet from Chene Expositions, Ltd., the decorator subcontractor for the show.

Decorator Info

Your booth (booths only--not boat spaces) includes one draped 2’ x 8’ table per booth and two chairs; anything else needed can be ordered from Chene--they will have an office open during move-in, their phone is 727-577-1168. The show is not carpeted so you are not expected to carpet your space. Your booth includes a listing in the Show program and a cardboard sign.

Exhibitor Badges

Florida Sportsman will have a show office open during the move-in and throughout the event to assist you and make sure things go as smoothly as possible. Please check in at the show office upon arrival to receive your company name exhibitor badges. We allow two badges per booth with additional badges printed on site on special request--see Denise on check-in. Boat dealers and manufacturers are allowed six badges with additional badges printed on site on special request. If you just want to get family and friends into the show, free passes are for sale at $3 each.