A modest proposal
Possibly a fourth candidate for February's toy fair?
By Maria Weiskott, Editor-in-chief -- Playthings, 5/1/2005
It's not too late!
There is still time to consider another venue for February's American International Toy Fair: Bentonville, Ark.
Frankly, I don't know why we didn't think of it sooner.
Sure, New York offers the glam, the press, the food, the diversity and the “legitimate” stage (as opposed to all those knockoff theatrical venues). Not to mention, it's been home to Toy Fair for over a century now.
And sure, Orlando has an incredible convention center with a roof that doesn't leak, plenty of off-hours recreation and good golfing, Oh yeah...and a reliable climate, hurricanes notwithstanding. Not to mention, Mickey, Minnie, Donald (albeit not “the” Donald) and princesses galore.
And who could argue with a place like Atlanta? The hotels are almost all within walking distance of the Georgia World Congress Center—which, by the way, has a roof that doesn't leak, either.
The city offers great shopping, outstanding food and, well, it's sure hard to match the hospitality. Not to mention CNN and Coca-Cola and a thousand streets named Peachtree.
Indeed, Atlanta would roll out the red carpet for us, in much the same way Nuremberg does.
But let's face it. A huge part of the industry does a mighty share of schlepping back and forth to Bentonville anyway; so why not save everyone a few bucks and kill two birds with one stone—so to speak.
Wal-Mart aside, Bentonville—like New York, Atlanta and Orlando—does have its own definitive character and...well...charm.
For one, Benton County is home to the All-Star BBQ Showdown. Fine dining? No problem.
Additionally, it is a hub location. No less than eight highways lead to Bentonville, including routes 62, 72, 102, 279, 12, 112, 718 and Interstate 540.
Not to mention, the U.S. House of Representatives in March approved a federal highway bill that includes $37 million for widening and extending the Bentonville street that provides main access to the headquarters of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (Okay, so the Senate still has to vote on it. But it's likely a done deal.)
Don't want to drive? Not to worry.
There's an airport in Bentonville, too. Just ask anyone in the business (any business).
Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport—which opened in 1998—offers non-stop flights to several major U.S. cities—“some of which aren't even offered at Little Rock's airport,” according to published reports.
And while it may be true that Bentonville's hotels are almost always 90 percent full, five new ones are being built this very year.
And the weather?
Not to worry there, either. What's a few tornado warnings when there is nary a snowflake in sight?
We're not in Kansas anyway, Toto, we are in Arkansas.
Anyway, a good part of our industry lives in California, where earthquakes and mudslides abound. It's only a tornado warning.
Nightlife? Branson and a bevvy of Ozark dinner theaters are only a hop, skip and a jump away.
Oh, and then there's off-hours recreation and relaxation. Laptop, DVD player, BlackBerry, iPod, fishing poles and a good book.
What more could a person want?
