The Vegas Shoot is back to setting record attendance with 3,911 archers registered for the 57th event. Since its inception in 1962 the Vegas Shoot has continued to grow in numbers and build its reputation as the premiere indoor archery event.
“I think this is the annual event, world wide, people will go no matter what. They want to see everybody, the camaraderie, the Vegas environment, all the big money to be won, and the prestige of the Vegas Shoot,” said Bruce Cull, CEO of the Vegas Shoot.
The previous record was set in 2020 with 3812 archers. After a slight dip in 2021, the numbers are back to new highs. The increase in participation is due to many factors, but one of them is that more people are enjoying archery.
“It’s awesome to see the continuance in growth and it makes you wonder what the limit will be. I can see this thing growing to 5,000 people you know in the next 10 years or
so, which should be awesome,” said professional archer and past Vegas Shoot champion, Jesse Broadwater.
Broadwater’s prediction of 5,000 archers attending the Vegas Shoot is right in line with the historic growth of the event.
“The sport of archery is growing, and in the last ten years we’ve doubled the size of the shoot,” said Cull.
One of the fastest growing areas in the sport is the skill level of youth archers. There’s no better example than the two 15-year-old archers that won the compound championship divisions last year against experienced professional archers.
“People are taking this serious enough at a young age. They are getting really good training and it means a lot to them. I think it’s one of the things making archery a break-out sport world wide,” Cull said.
Hundreds of youth archers also shot the Nevada State NASP, USA Archery Indoor Championship, and the S3DA Championship this week at the South Point Hotel and Casino.
Not all of the 3,911 archers will be champions, but archery is a sport of individual improvement. Cull offers this advice to all the attendees, “Whether you’re a young ten-year-old or a seasoned professional archer, have fun.”
You can follow live results on the NFAA web app.