We heard the requests for a more “centrally-located” EXPO, and we’re excited to present the 2024 ED EXPO at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Dallas, August 25-28. We’re also thankful to receive input from so many industry professionals via our online poll, and we’d still like to hear from YOU, too! See this story for the survey’s web link!
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n the 30 years that the Annual Gentlemen’s Club EXPO has been held, Sin City has played host 25 times. Three other cities — New Orleans, Miami and Reno (most of you probably don’t remember that one!) — greeted this industry’s only convention.
In 2024, we’re excited to add Dallas to that list.
There are several very good reasons that Dallas was chosen. First, in numerous online polls and in-person discussions, the idea of having a more “centrally-located” show was paramount to a great many of our EXPO attendees. And Dallas is smack-dab in the middle of the US with two major airports serving the city (Love Field, which is Southwest’s hub, and the much larger DFW International).
Another reason is the city’s history, especially as it relates to adult nightclubs. Way back in 2000, ED Magazine (then called ED’s Club Bulletin) named Dallas the number-one city in the entire US for adult clubs. Here’s just a bit of the text that accompanied that article:
“Known also as the Dallas ‘Metroplex’ (which includes Dallas, Ft. Worth, Irving and Arlington), this market contains some of the country’s largest and most lavishly decorated multi-million-dollar gentlemen’s clubs, many of which feature fine dining, stunning VIP rooms and other amenities. Included amongst this list include (in no particular order) The Men’s Club, The Lodge, the Penthouse Club, Cabaret Royale, Silver City and more.
“As stunning and successful as many of the Dallas area’s large upscale venues are, they aren’t able to steal the thunder away from the smaller (by comparison) ‘blue collar’ adult nightclubs which pepper the Dallas Metroplex. Venues such as The Clubhouse (a three-time ED’s award winner for Nude Club of the Year/Central), Baby Dolls, Fare, New Orleans Nights, Pandoras, Million Dollar Saloon, Platinum Club, Fantasy Ranch and Frank’s Wildlife, among many others, enjoy a great deal of popularity among both residents and visitors to the Dallas area.
“While Miami-Fort Lauderdale may be considered the birthplace of today’s high-end gentlemen’s clubs, the Dallas-Fort Worth market has kept that spirit alive for more than a decade by consistently offering gentlemen’s clubs in both quantity and quality,” said ED Founder Don Waitt. “It would take you more than a week to visit all of the clubs in DFW and that’s only if you hit a dozen of them a night. From the hootin’ and hollerin’ honky-tonk stripclubs to white collar gentlemen’s clubs, Dallas-Fort Worth offers clubs to satisfy every taste.”
Though a few of those clubs mentioned are no longer operating, that description of the clubs in the Dallas Metroplex — and their diversity — is still accurate. And we certainly hope that our EXPO 2024 guests will take advantage of the opportunity to visit what we feel are some of the nicest and most iconic clubs in the entire US.
“Bucks is overjoyed that the ED Expo 2024 is coming to the great city of Dallas. As many may know Dallas/Fort Worth has some of the biggest and best adult venues in the world, and I am sure they all will be raring and ready for Expo 2024. Guys dust off your boots and ladies get that big Texas hair ready cause ED Expo is coming to Big D.”
– Curtis Wise, Owner, Bucks Clubs
EXPO 2024 will be held August 25-28 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Dallas, which is the location of the iconic Reunion Tower right in the middle of Big D. Travel is convenient from almost anywhere in the US, whether you drive in or fly. The Metroplex is set to bump Chicago and become the third-largest cityscape in the US by the 2030s, and its “Deep Ellum” and “Uptown” areas of downtown are thriving.
Dallas is also home to several national landmarks, certainly not the least of which is Dealey Plaza and the Book Depository (Sixth Floor) Museum, the site of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (which is literally walking distance from the Hyatt). For sports fans, AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is quite a site to behold, as is the new-ish Texas Rangers stadium, Globe Life Field (chances are that both teams may have home games before, during or after EXPO!).
“I’m really excited that we’re moving some place else this year. For me, and for most of the vendors that I talk to, it just seems like it does better for us to get a break from Vegas, so we’re happy. Looking forward to Dallas.”
– Miriam Ramos of Platinum Processing
Two other legendary Dallas locations will play host to EXPO 2024 events. The Cowboys Red River Dance Hall is the true definition of a roadhouse honkey tonk, and will play host to the EXPO’s “First Night Fandango” on Monday, August 26. Ride the mechanical bull, do some line dancing, enjoy the live music or just have yourself some tequila shooters, this year’s Fandango will be unlike any opening night party attendees have ever witnessed!
On Tuesday, we move onto another legendary location as the renowned Gilley’s hosts the ED’s Awards Show on Tuesday, August 27. Within the walls of the historic Schepp’s Grocery Supply warehouse, using many original resources such as the existing brick walls, tin roof tiles and steel fire doors, Gilley’s Dallas, established in 2003, is uniquely Texan and hosts concerts and private events in their seven unique facility spaces, including the South Side Ballroom and Saloon which will be utilized for the ED’s Awards Show & Reception.
And on Wednesday, we’ll close out the 2024 EXPO with our $10,000 “Topless” Bikini Contest at The Men’s Club, one of the most iconic adult clubs in Dallas, which features an outdoor pool and patio.
“We are so thrilled the ED expo will be here in Dallas next year. We can’t wait to showcase our Texas hospitality!”
– Dawn Rizos, owner of The Lodge in Dallas
Of course, there are many more EXPO 2024 details to come, and we appreciate the input we’ve received thus far on our EXPO poll that was sent out via email and posted to our Facebook pages. If you’d like to offer your input, please visit Surveymonkey.com/r/expodallas2024, and stay tuned to our official EXPO website, theEDexpo.com, for all the latest EXPO news and information, including registration specials, guest speaker announcements and more.
To book your room at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Dallas — rooms start at just $139 a night with NO resort fees — visit www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/DFWRD/G-EDPU or call (214) 651-1234 and reference the Gentlemen’s Club EXPO group rate.
For EXPO 2024 sponsorship or tradeshow booth inquiries, or for general questions, please call the ED office at (727) 726-3592. We’ll see y’all in Dallas this coming August!
Poll question: What are your thoughts on Dallas as the host city for EXPO, as opposed to Vegas or another city?
Poll question: Which EXPO 2024 logo is your favorite?
Poll question: What are the deciding factors on whether you’ll attend an ED EXPO?
Poll question: When it comes to a special guest (“Keynote”) speaker, which type are you most interested in?
Poll question: What potential seminar topics are of most interest to you? Please rank them!
