“People were more money-conscious this year,” said fair manager Scot Meader.
Grandstand sales were down about 200 tickets a night for evening events like the rodeo and demolition derby. However, concessions and sales were up this year and twice as many people turned out for the fair headliner, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, than the country act the previous year.
There was a push toward the Internet this year, with close to 80 percent of fairgoers purchasing event tickets online, Meader said. Also, fair participants and 4-H members could register their farm animals or home-baked goods online for the first time.
Using the Internet cut down on paper consumption. It was part of a plan to go greener and cut costs, Meader said. Staffers also installed efficient lightbulbs in the fair buildings and worked swing shifts rather than accumulating overtime pay. The fair used larger, but fewer, receptacles to cut down on waste pickup.
Concession sales were up $10,000 this year, bringing in a total $385,000. There was only one additional concessionaire this year. Some stands like the Missoula Indian Center saw $3,000 more in profits from 2007.
Sales in the beer garden climbed slowly in 2008, recovering slightly from last year's dismal drop in revenue, which many associated with the absence of horse racing. Beer sales were up 11 percent over 2007, but still below what they were in 2006.
It's hard to say why the beer garden sales were up, Meader said, other than the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band attracted a beer-drinking crowd.
Carnival proceeds were down slightly from 2007. However, the past several years proved some of the most successful carnivals in the 45 years it's been produced by Inland Empire Shows and Royalty West Amusement. The 2008 carnival yielded $292,798, compared to $253,811 the year before.
The Carson and Barnes Circus was a popular attraction this year, drawing 1,300 to three shows, but the touring circus is not slated for the lineup at the 2009 fair. Meader is searching for afternoon acts to help fill a void previously occupied by horse racing.
“Any time you can add anything in the afternoon, it's one more added attraction,” he said.
More people took advantage of presale carnival tickets than ever before, Meader said. Presale tickets accounted for $74,414. Presale tickets were sold online or at local businesses for a reduced price.
Two of the six days saw hot weather. It rained Thursday evening on the night of the Professional Bull Riders event and again during the Saturday afternoon rodeo, which likely affected attendance, Meader said.
The fair also competed with the Summer Olympics and the Missoula Symphony Orchestra's free concert in Caras Park, Meader said.
The No. 1 goal is to break even, he said. Fair staffers are still crunching the numbers from the August event, but Meader hopes to show a little profit. It costs roughly $100,000 a day to operate the fair, he said.
Already, Meader and his staff are planning for next year's fair. They've made an offer to Christian band Casting Crowns, but have yet to hear back. The 2009 fair is slated for Aug. 11-16.
Reporter Chelsi Moy can be reached at 523-5260 or at chelsi.moy@missoulian.com.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)
Kim Dishman wrote on Sep 20, 2008 11:51 AM:
" We planned our summer trips "back Home" around the Fair dates but quit when the horse racing was discontinued---the older generation loved to go all day and it was a real social event for them. We will instead plan a way to get the family to a real horse racing venue in the future years. "
Sandra Norman wrote on Sep 19, 2008 10:11 AM: