Meanwhile, Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman said the county will do "everything we possibly can" to keep the show in Salt Lake.

"It's extremely important that we keep the Outdoor Retailers here," Workman said. "We are trying to find the funds."

Workman said the county is examining its budget and understands the time constraints. She declined to discuss the amount of money the county might be able to contribute, either short or long term, to Salt Palace expansion.

Peter Devin, Outdoor Retailer Show director, said via e-mail that the show will make its decision within the next few months.

Salt Lake City "has been and continues to be a gracious and accommodating host to Outdoor Retailer and the hundreds of companies and thousands of retailers from around the world that attend the show both in summer and winter," Devin said.

"Currently, Outdoor Retailer is contracted for the upcoming Summer OR Show in August of 2004 and the Winter OR Show in January of 2005. Outdoor Retailer has requested the SLCVB assess and determine their future expansion plans and time lines, as well as a number of other infrastructure issues that confront a show of this size."

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Contributing: Brady Snyder

E-mail: jnii@desnews.com