Patagonia, one of the largest and most influential outdoor gear brands in the world, is creating a stir in Utah as they announced the company’s exit from the Outdoor Retailer trade show, held twice a year at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.
In an announcement from Patagonia CEO, Rose Marcario, the company made a statement that their quitting the largest outdoor retail convention in the world is a consequence of Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s resolution to petition the Trump administration to do away with the newly-created Bears Ears National Monument. You can read the full statement below:
“Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed a resolution on Friday urging the Trump administration to rescind the Bears Ears National Monument, making it clear that he and other Utah elected officials do not support public lands conservation nor do they value the economic benefits – $12 billion in consumer spending and 122,000 jobs – that the outdoor recreation industry brings to their state. Because of the hostile environment they have created and their blatant disregard for Bears Ears National Monument and other public lands, the backbone of our business, Patagonia will no longer attend the Outdoor Retailer show in Utah and we are confident other outdoor manufacturers and retailers will join us in moving our investment to a state that values our industry and promotes public lands conservation.”
This bombshell comes after Patagonia founder, Yvon Chouinard called for the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) to relocate the Outdoor Retailer convention in protest of Utah’s attacks on public lands. In an op-ed on Patagonia’s website, he threatens Patagonia’s departure if Herbert does not halt his plans to sue the federal government to transfer public lands to the state.
“If Gov. Herbert doesn’t need us, we can find a more welcoming home,” Chouinard said. “Gov. Herbert should direct his Attorney General to halt their plans to sue and support the historic Bears Ears National Monument. He should stop his efforts to transfer public lands to the state, which would spell disaster for Utah’s economy. He should show the outdoor industry he wants our business – and that he supports thousands of his constituents of all political persuasions who work in jobs supported by recreation on public lands. We love Utah, but Patagonia’s choice to return for future shows will depend on the Governor’s actions. I’m sure other states will happily compete for the show by promoting public lands conservation.”
This all started when former Black Diamond CEO, Peter Metcalf, called on Outdoor Retailer to leave the state because of Utah’s political leadership and their assault on Utah’s public lands. In an opinion piece published in the Salt Lake Tribune, he writes that the outdoor industry must “respond boldly” to Utah’s “destructive” public land agenda.
It looks like Patagonia is taking that bold response to heart and they have released the first salvo. Will other outdoor brands follow suit and withdraw from Outdoor Retailer? Will it be enough to convince the OIA to move the convention to a state that embraces public land and recreation instead of bowing to gas and mineral extraction interests?
Outdoor Retailer in under contract to remain in Salt Lake City through Summer, 2018. In the meantime, it will be very interesting to see how it all plays out.