Experiences on the Green Carpet- WKC 2023 (Part 1)
This year was the first year for a new Westminster Kennel Club venue, back in NYC, but rather than the Piers or the Garden, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. We spoke to those in attendance about their experience and how it stacked up to years prior.
- Exhibitor: Wendy Schober
How many times have you attended WKC?
5x
Were you there as an exhibitor or spectator? What day/ breed
In 1993 as an exhibitor Chinese Shar-Pei
2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 as an exhibitor- Manchester Terrier (Standard and Toy)
If you’ve been to other WKC venues, how do you feel this venue compared? What did you like?
1993- The Garden, had great “wow” appeal but too crowded
2020- The Piers- it was okay, but shuttle to get there was not enjoyable.
2021, 2022- Lyndhurst, The Castle, loved it! Fresh air, beautiful grounds, easy to find rings. Easy access.
2023- Arthur Ash Stadium. It was nice, little crowded in some areas. Parking and shuttle bit of a pain.
What did you dislike or feel could be improved about the venue or location?
At all venues they need to ensure they have enough Westminster merchandise, it’s disappointing to be an exhibitor and by time you get to go things are already sold down or out and maybe set up in multiple locations of the grounds so there isn’t so much crowding in one small spot. Between spectators shopping and the lines, it’s hard for exhibitors to be able to purchase when they need to show on the same day. More choice in food.
How likely would you be to attend at this date and venue again?
I would very much attend this date and location again. The club overall did a wonderful job setting up and utilizing the facility.
On a side note– I think there should be something for the exhibitors such as a hospitality bag or something to commemorate their attendance.
Being next to LaGuardia, maybe something could be arranged with those airlines being used at that airport to support the show and exhibitors more as well.
And my last suggestion….entry process needs to be re-evaluated by the club. Advertising boasts this as “The best of the best” at this show. That is not really an accurate thing. When there are only 1-6 entries in a breed, that’s not really the best of that breed and then your breed winner is really the only winner, the Selects are just a given. There was no competition. The club needs to take into account that the top 5 in breed points is not always fair for the auto invite. Lots of top dogs do not live in an area where they can obtain “breed” points. If National Breed winners are given an invite then so should the BOB and BOS winners in each breed from the previous years Westminster. Otherwise, if those previous winners can’t obtain top breed points because there are none in their area then they may not get in via the lottery. Rare and low count breeds should for sure be given ample entry. How is 40 something of one breed and 4 of another really a fair assessment of the best of the best? The best of the best, the top 5 for breed points can’t be just for the people with money to travel the country showing. If you have top dog in your state why should it be penalized because it’s owner can’t afford to travel the country? Or your #6 in breed but don’t get in is the lottery, yet dogs that just became CH’s get in. How is this best of the best?
Maybe other stats should be considered. Just a thought that the club should overhaul their entry system. There was lots of top dogs that didn’t get in this year. It’s not really anything more than the luck of the draw to get in unless you have money to campaign a dog to get top 5 breed standings. That isn’t necessarily the top dogs or the best.
No matter what, I love the show and attending and exhibiting. I truly appreciate and am in awe of the amount of work that goes into setting it up, no matter the location. And always in awe that I have attended and placed 2 years in a row.
- Exhibitor: Bronwyn Bresnahan
How many times have you attended Westminster? 8
Were you there as an exhibitor or spectator? What day/ breed I’ve attended exclusively as a breeder/owner/handler. Monday for non-sporting competition.
If you’ve been to other WKC venues, how do you feel this venue compared? What did you like? I’ve competed at Madison Square Garden multiple times, the Piers, Lyndhurst, and now the Billie Jean King Stadium. I loved the holding area for a large entry of French Bulldogs. It was spacious and cool with the tent for shade. It was very easy to access the ring. Loading and unloading was stress free and we didn’t have to carry show gear a long distance. We also didn’t wait long for the shuttle bus to and from the parking area. The people working the loading/unloading and traffic were helpful and so pleasant.
What did you dislike or feel could be improved about the venue or location?
Change isn’t easy, and this venue did make me more nervous safety wise. We were never checked by security in/out of the tent or venue. Even though there was security standing there, and metal detectors at the front. I feel anyone could have walked in/out with a dog they didn’t own. I would never attend with a dog alone as I had done in the past at Lyndhurst. Unlike Lyndhurst and the Tarrytown area where I felt safer. The heat from the concrete structure of the venue was a concern for me regarding the dogs. The grooming tent we were moved 3 times due to lack of crate space. The tent heated up during the day, and they had to lift the sides. More food and beverage kiosks helpful even though we were forewarned and hauled in gallons of water and a cooler for our food. Signs to find the shuttle back to the parking lot would have been helpful. The traffic in the surrounding area was a complete nightmare to return home. It is the first time we had NOT been approached by ONE spectator at a Westminster event. I was amazed by this!!!! No children/families. The spectators sat in the direct sun on metal bleachers. It was HOT there.
How likely would you be to attend at this date and venue again? This venue was an adventure. We enjoyed it immensely. Being able to attend is such a meaningful accomplishment. It IS my least favorite venue. It didn’t have the excitement of the most special event Westminster truly is. That vibe was missing It’s a privilege to attend Westminster, and I would readily go again. We normally explore the area, and look to do business with local establishments. Not at this venue, but to return I would really require a minimum of one other person with us. If I was to rate the venues in order it would be Madison Square Garden, Lyndhurst, Billie Jean King Stadium, the Piers.
- Exhibitor: Jarrod Samuel Ball
How many times have you attended WKC?
5
Were you there as an exhibitor or spectator? What day/ breed
I have attended WKC 5 times.
I have been an exhibitor the past three years. The first two years, I was a spectator. I showed a Black and Tan Coonhound.
If you’ve been to other WKC venues, how do you feel this venue compared? What did you like?
I really liked the logistics of the Tennis center. I liked how everything was set up. I did like the timing of this year’s show. The weather was perfect.
What did you dislike or feel could be improved about the venue or location?
I dislike how close the train tracks where to the rings. You could hear the train every time it went by. I also did not like how the announcer echoed during groups. Inside the stadium, it was very hard to understand.
How likely would you be to attend at this date and venue again?
It is very likely for me to attend this venue and date again, but for the history of WKC I would prefer to see it returned to Madison Square Garden.
- Exhibitor: Susan Buckley Thibodeaux
How many times have you attended WKC? The last 9 years I think. I never showed at WKC when I had my Vizslas as I wasn’t comfortable taking them in February to NYC. But since I began in Toys it’s been an annual event!
Were you there as an exhibitor or spectator? What day/ breed
Saturday I went to watch the agility and dock diving and get the ‘lay of the land’ since it was a new venue. I exhibited on Monday.
If you’ve been to other WKC venues, how do you feel this venue compared? What did you like?
I loved the spaciousness, the grooming was easy to access and plenty of room, groomings proximity to the rings, the vendors were easy to find and convenient. The shuttles from the host hotels made coming and going so easy! The seating for the groups was much better than Lyndhurst and the walking didn’t seem as tiring with the layout of everything. The bathrooms were good too – better than Lyndhurst or the Piers (yes we ladies notice these things!)
What did you dislike or feel could be improved about the venue or location?
The only real issue I had was several of us that flew in didn’t have vehicles because the hotel and WKC shuttles were so convenient, but getting food became problematic as there weren’t reasonably priced eating locations in walking distance of the hotels. I can tell you Door dash messed up every order I had this past weekend. I was also disappointed at the empty seats during groups. I had hoped more people would come and watch the show. WKC did a beautiful job of decorating the grounds and it truly was a class act.
A number of my handler friends reported they didn’t like the wood floor under the artificial turf in the outside rings – they worried about their footing as they ran with their dogs. Several folks went back to their hotels because it got too warm in the afternoon to sit outside the outdoor rings in the sun and the indoor rings closed mid afternoon for preparation for the groups so they just left. I wonder if they could find a way to provide cover for shade or if (God forbid) it rains for the spectators at the outdoor rings.
How likely would you be to attend at this date and venue again?
It did cause me to miss some shows I typically attend so the date isn’t my favorite (although spring in NY is very nice – the weather was PERFECT). I loved the venue. I do wish they could find a place in the city again though – I miss making it a long weekend with theater shows, shopping, sightseeing, etc. I wasn’t comfortable leaving my dog that far away – when it was at its previous location at the Piers and MSG we could easily and frequently check on the dogs if we were out and about, but if we’re a 45 minute or an hour’s taxi ride away I wasn’t prepared to leave them in a hotel room by themselves all day. So I didn’t do anything in the city besides the dog show, which for the amount of money I spent traveling plus the time off from work, was a bit disappointing and made the weekend not as much fun as it used to be.
All that said, hats off the Westminster Kennel Club for once again putting on one of the most special dog shows in the world and for all the thought and effort they went into for the exhibitors. As an exhibitor, their effort for the dogs and exhibitors comfort and convenience truly showed. Thank you!