Dom DeLuca has officially cleared the air. After weeks of rumors and speculation, he confirmed that The Gathering skateboarding trade show is happening this August in Las Vegas. He is involved. He never stepped away. And he is making sure it goes down.
A lot of people have been asking questions, wondering if the show was canceled or if Dom was no longer part of it. He put those rumors to rest and explained why he is so invested in making this happen. According to him, this is not about profit. It is about supporting skateboarding and giving the industry a space to reconnect. For the past two years, he has been putting in serious time and effort to build this show because no one else was taking the lead.
He did not hold back when speaking to brands and shops. For brands, the message is simple. If you want shops to show up, start reaching out to them. Make the calls. Set up appointments. Offer something real like exclusive product or discounts to those who commit early. Do not wait around asking which shops are attending. The way to get shops on board is to let them know you are going.
And for the shops wondering who will be there, Dom made it clear that until contracts are finalized, only a few early signups can be confirmed. It works both ways. Brands need to commit. Shops need to commit. The sooner both sides step in, the stronger the show becomes.
Dom also spoke honestly about the challenges the skateboarding world is facing. Budgets have been cut. The climate is tough. But despite that, he kept pushing forward because he believes the industry still needs a space like this. A place to meet, talk, and stay connected.
If you are a shop, he pointed out that getting to Las Vegas is more manageable than it might seem. There are good deals out there. And more importantly, the opportunity to meet with brands in person, talk about product, and stay in tune with the bigger picture is worth it.
He made it clear he is not trying to act a certain way or come across with attitude. He just cares. A lot. And he is asking everyone else in the skate community to care too. He is not doing this for recognition. He is doing it because skateboarding deserves this kind of effort and commitment.
So, the message is simple. The show is on. Dom is in. And if you are part of skateboarding, this is your chance to show up and be part of something that matters. Las Vegas in August. Be there.