Sports Afield to Cease Publication

Sixgun_Symphony · April 20, 2002, 12:50 AM

Sports Afield to Cease Publication
Wed Apr 17, 8:24 PM ET

LOS ANGELES - Outdoor magazine Sports Afield will cease publication this spring, the victim of one of the worst advertising recessions in years.

The popular hunting and outdoor sports publication will end its 115-year run with its June 2002 issue.

"The two-year-long recession, compounded by the events of last fall, have limited the growth in advertising pages needed to see us through the relaunch process that Sports Afield has been undergoing," said Ken Elliott, chief operating officer.

During its history, Sports Afield was nominated for more national magazine awards than any other outdoor title.

The magazine has a circulation of about 459,000, according to Bacon's Magazine Directory.

Originally owned by Hearst Corp., Sports Afield was bought by publisher Robert Petersen in January 2000.

Petersen, the former publisher of Motor Trend, Hot Rod and Guns & Ammo magazines, relocated Sports Afield to Los Angeles from New York and began refocusing it on its traditional hunting and outdoor sports roots.

The magazine had marked Petersen's return to the publishing world after he sold his firm, Petersen Publishing Co. to Willis Stein & Partners in 1996.

Sports Afield to cease publication

Art Eatman · April 20, 2002, 09:01 AM

Really a shame. I always thought that was indeed one of the better outdoor magazines.

I've read about the decrease in advertising. I guess the various niche magazines (for bass-folks, white tail hunters, etc.) just spread out the dollars too much...

, Art

Bill Junior · April 23, 2002, 02:04 PM

Well Dang, I always enjoyed that magazine.

dZ · April 24, 2002, 04:29 PM

many magazines followed the mantra of increasing advertisements to the detriment of the subscriber base

post 9-11 many advertisers cut the budget for ads

April 20, 2002, 12:50 AM	#1
Sixgun_Symphony Junior member Join Date: April 13, 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 92	Sports Afield to Cease Publication Sports Afield to Cease Publication Wed Apr 17, 8:24 PM ET LOS ANGELES - Outdoor magazine Sports Afield will cease publication this spring, the victim of one of the worst advertising recessions in years. The popular hunting and outdoor sports publication will end its 115-year run with its June 2002 issue. "The two-year-long recession, compounded by the events of last fall, have limited the growth in advertising pages needed to see us through the relaunch process that Sports Afield has been undergoing," said Ken Elliott, chief operating officer. During its history, Sports Afield was nominated for more national magazine awards than any other outdoor title. The magazine has a circulation of about 459,000, according to Bacon's Magazine Directory. Originally owned by Hearst Corp., Sports Afield was bought by publisher Robert Petersen in January 2000. Petersen, the former publisher of Motor Trend, Hot Rod and Guns & Ammo magazines, relocated Sports Afield to Los Angeles from New York and began refocusing it on its traditional hunting and outdoor sports roots. The magazine had marked Petersen's return to the publishing world after he sold his firm, Petersen Publishing Co. to Willis Stein & Partners in 1996. Sports Afield to cease publication

April 24, 2002, 04:29 PM	#4
dZ Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	many magazines followed the mantra of increasing advertisements to the detriment of the subscriber base post 9-11 many advertisers cut the budget for ads __________________ "O tell the Lacedomecians to damn the torpedoes." BOTR, Chapter V: Some Monsters

April 20, 2002, 09:01 AM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Really a shame. I always thought that was indeed one of the better outdoor magazines. I've read about the decrease in advertising. I guess the various niche magazines (for bass-folks, white tail hunters, etc.) just spread out the dollars too much... , Art

April 23, 2002, 02:04 PM	#3
Bill Junior Junior Member Join Date: April 21, 2002 Location: SC Posts: 9	Well Dang, I always enjoyed that magazine.