So it looks like the Sheffield Triples Show has gone the way of Northern Militaire and is no more.
Posted on the Sheffield Wargames Club site;
TRIPLES 2017 - CANCELLED
Sheffield Wargames Society wishes to announce that sadly, the 2017 Triples wargames show will not take place. This decision was taken reluctantly but is the result of waning interest and increasing costs.
All deposits taken to date will be returned and the club secretary will be contacting competition organizers individually.
Sheffield Wargames Society would like to thank everyone; traders, competitors and the general public, who have supported and enjoyed the event over the past 35 years.
I am sad for the loss of this show, which after Northern Militaire went the journey, became the show that John and I HAD to attend, and it became a yearly event to look forward to.
I must admit I never liked the new venue, which for me lacked the character of the Sheffield University building. I know this is a daft view because the later shows were easier to find and definitely easier to park at. Maybe it was the perverse enjoyment of driving around the crazy road system of Sheffield looking for the venue that added to my excitement.
To be honest I can remember the original venue for the Triples,which if my memory serves me correctly was somewhere near the railway and I thought that was a good place as well. It just shows you how excitement gets the better of sensible thought.
I never attended this year's show, and instead had saved my pennies for Salute and a weekend at the Wargames Holiday Centre, times change.
So will this be the precursor for other wargames shows to go the distance and pass into the wargames Valhalla? I would like to think it wont be, but who knows for certain. I still think the trend will be for less shows, but bigger affairs that dont compete with each other, I hope I am wrong because there is also a need for small intimate wargames events that offer the paying public more than just a glorified trade show.
Anyway, a big thank you to all the people who over the years devoted their time to running the Triples Show.
Robbie,
ReplyDeleteI always loved the Triples but organisers have to move with the times and unfortunately the Sheffiled chaps didn't. Cries for a one day show were ignored on the basis of the competitions which had been poorly attended for years. They still sent out the same booking confirmation for years - no e.mails because the particular person didn't have a PC. Updates, correspondence were almost nil. They got lazy and thought they could just turn out and the show would run itself sadly no.
I'm sad it's gone because it didn't have to
Maybe they should have taken a leaf from the Games Expo Birmingham. The show is exploding and provides a phenomenal 4 days of gaming (if you can take the time off work). New features are constantly being added and diversity now rivals Telford IPMS - the largest model show in the world! However I am not surprised. Wargamers (historical ones) tend to stick with their comfort zone - and that is not where innovation lies. I love a grand battle as much as the next person but there is so much more out there.
DeleteYou're right Graham,
ReplyDeletethey definitely took their eye off the ball.
Agree with Graham and yourself Robbie, the loss of this once great show has been on the cards for a few years.
ReplyDelete1) Appalling advertising for the event
2) No interaction from the organisers on social media
3) New venue has no soul
4) Reluctance to drop to a one day show.
York is now the show of the North, amazing how that show has grown from the tiny event I first attended in the Merchant Hall in York. Same year I would have gone to a packed out Octagon for Triples.
I think with the right people at the right venue Triples could have been saved, sadly the current organisers didn't listen to the feedback from their visitors and have been left with no visitors.
Real Shame.
You're right Ken,
Deleteit is a great shame though. Mind I do really look forward to the York show which has become a brilliant affair.
You're right Ken,
Deleteit is a great shame though. Mind I do really look forward to the York show which has become a brilliant affair.
Robbie,
ReplyDeleteAs you say mate, Triples was a must do show, along with York and the two Partizans. Since moving from the Octagon it's gone down hill rapidly, what stopped me going was the ignorant bloke on the door grabbing my cash and scowling when asked for a programme- the face of our hobby?- I hope not.