Fair falls short on revenue

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

The first county fair at the 1-year-old, $62 million fairgrounds concluded with high points and low. Rodeo attendance was good, but concert ticket sales were dismal. Exhibitors loved their large air-conditioned building, but carnival income did not meet some expectations.

The mix of good and bad news has the people behind the Larimer County Fair and Rodeo contemplating changes for next year, even while feeling relief that the big test is over.

Financially, the fair underperformed by about 15 percent, said fairgrounds director Jay Hardy. The county had projected income of $605,000. This year's fair budget included several one-time equipment purchases that will be used for numerous events throughout the year, Hardy added.

He and fair manager Bob Holt agreed they need to adjust the concert strategy next year. Holt said it cost the fair more than $100,000 to put on multiple concerts, but ticket sales brought in $57,696. Holt said he believes the lineup did not compete well with the closely scheduled Frontier Days in Cheyenne and the Stampede in Greeley.

"There were other venues where people were spending their entertainment dollars," he said.

On the same vein, fairgoer Barb Green of Windsor noted that her family of four bypassed the carnival rides after paying gate admission. It would have cost $16 for the family to ride the Ferris wheel, she said, so they opted for free events like the 4-H demonstration booth and the petting zoo. It was their first time at the county fair.

Holt said the fair brought in $80,000 through gate admissions; 4-H exhibitors and some others had free passes. Holt estimated attendance at about 85,000, similar to past years. Prior to the fair, he was hoping for more than 100,000 visitors.

Fees from commercial exhibitors returned $53,600 to the fair. In past years, at the smaller fairgrounds, exhibitor fees produced some $20,000 in income, Holt said.

"I'm extremely proud of our county for building a world-class facility," said Ranch-Way Feeds owner Bonnie Szidon at her commercial booth in the exhibition hall. "I've had people say to me it's hard to believe it's a county facility."

The carnival reported income of $150,000, of which Larimer County gets a guaranteed $90,000, Holt said. While the county makes money on the carnival, a better profit margin would keep carnival owners happy, he explained.

The fair manager was pleased, however, that many 4-H families resolved their apprehensions about the new fairgrounds.

"We were a little skeptical, but it turned out nice," said 4-H mom Fran Seaworth of Waverly. "There are a few kinks to work out, but overall it went well."

Her son, Alan Seaworth, a member of the Buckeye Buck'n Ears, said he liked the trees and the shade at the old fairgrounds but the new livestock facilities were easier to keep clean. He brought market lambs, market steers and a breeding heifer to the fair.

The fairgrounds staff is still adding up costs and receipts, so the bottom line report is not yet available. "We will take a long, hard look at where we want to go with the fair," Holt said.