Why Does The NRA Charge $10 For Its Annual Meeting?

The NRA Annual Meeting is the crown event of its year as what the N0.1 proponent of gun rights stages. At an event where it might be argued that members should be let in for free, the organization charges $10, or more, for entry to its NRA-ILA Leadership Forum. It up sells tickets to $20 and $40. (There is also reserve seating, which is nearer the speakers.) Why, from a financial standpoint, does the NRA sell tickets? The likely answer is that it can.

One of the aspects of the Leadership Forum which allows the NRA to make money is speakers, primarily politicians, who almost certainly speak for free which should give the event a large profit margin. This year, the list included Donald Trump, and Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, who get a stadium sized audience.

The Annual Meeting draws huge numbers of members, which almost certainly is a “sticky” event to keep these members as members. The NRA makes money on the Annual Meeting in several ways, beyond the sale of tickets to its Leadership Forum. It has a massive exhibit hall which covers 10 acres. Exhibitors pay for the privilege of selling their products. The event is held from the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville and runs from May 19 to May 22.

The NRA also has a paid concert, headlined by country music star Toby Keith. Tickets to this event cost as much as $100. It is not clear what Keith gets paid, if anything.

Finally, the NRA has a number of event at the meeting for which it charges for tickets. Among these are a Women’s Leadership event, and Foundation Banquet

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Based on all those ticket and exhibition charges, the Annual Event almost certainly brings the NRA hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars. How? Members will pay for it.