The Largest Knife Event in the World Drew Thousands in 2024
BLADE Show, the largest knife event in the world, held another successful show at the Cobb Galleria Centre June 7-9 with thousands of guests attending from all over the world.
The BLADE Show’s large attendance combined with approximately 3,800 hotel room nights that were filled with attendees and exhibitors, providing an economic impact of $11.3 million on Cobb County and the state of Georgia, according to Cobb Travel & Tourism.
“BLADE Show generates the highest attendance of any show held at Cobb Galleria Centre, and while visiting our community, the exhibitors and attendees contribute new dollars to the local economy,” said Michele Swann, General Manager & CEO of the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, owner and operator of Cobb Galleria Centre.
Cobb County directly benefits from this economic impact as visitors spend their dollars on local accommodations, transportation, entertainment and recreation, food, and retail, according to Cobb Travel & Tourism.
At BLADE Show, globally recognized exhibitors and legendary makers gather annually under one roof to introduce the largest selection of blades, knives, and outdoor gear and accessories in the world for attendees to purchase. Attendees shop hundreds of exhibitors and the world’s best knives. They also find the newest blades, one-of-a-kind collector knives, antique swords and much more along with browsing the equipment and materials used to make them. BLADE University knife education classes and various demos are also offered.
Originating in 1982 in Kentucky, the show came to the Renaissance Waverly hotel in 1992 and grew into the Cobb Galleria Centre in 1997. The BLADE Show now occupies over 200,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space throughout the convention center.
“The 2024 BLADE Show was the largest show to date and continues to grow year over year,” said Alicia Newton, Group Show Director for Caribou Media, owner of the BLADE Show. “Our attendees/exhibitors travel from all over the U.S. and internationally. The vast majority of our attendees visiting the BLADE Show hail from the southern region; however we have representation from over 45 states as well as Australia, Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom and other countries.”
Next year’s BLADE Show will be held June 6-8, 2025, at Cobb Galleria Centre. For more information, visit bladeshow.com.
About BLADE Show
The BLADE Show was created for knife enthusiasts by knife enthusiasts and is presented by BLADE Magazine – the world’s most trusted authority on knives and knifemakers. Celebrating its 43rd anniversary in Atlanta this year, the BLADE Show also hosts events in Fort Worth, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah annually. The BLADE Show is the world’s largest combined show of handmade, factory, antique knives and EDC Gear. For more information, visit www.bladeshow.com
About Cobb Galleria Centre
The Cobb Galleria Centre is located in the beautifully landscaped 88-acre Galleria complex in prestigious northwest Atlanta. Cobb Galleria Centre is Atlanta’s premier convention facility with 320,000 square feet of event space, four exhibition halls, 20 meeting rooms, four executive boardrooms and a grand ballroom. Cobb Galleria Centre had more than 221,000 visitors to 213 events in 2023, resulting in an overall economic impact of $145 million. For more information, visit cobbgalleria.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CobbGalleria, on Twitter at @CobbGalleria and on Instagram at instagram.com/cobbgalleria/.
