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Spinning like a top

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Illinois State Fair officials are trying to put the best spin on this year’s attendance figures.

13-percent fewer people came through the gates this year… but fair officials say revenues overall should remain even, in part because of record Grandstand ticket sales.

* Man, did they ever use lots of spin. Check out this press release…

PRELIMINARY REPORTS INDICATE GROSS REVENUE FOR 2016 FAIR WILL SURPASS 2015 REVENUE LEVELS
2016 Fair Breaks Two Grandstand Ticket Records

SPRINGFIELD, IL - Despite triple digit heat indices, power outages, flooding and the cancelation of a concert at the Grandstand, the 2016 Illinois State Fair revenues remained on pace with figures from previous years. In fact, preliminary figures project that gross revenue estimates for the 2016 Illinois State Fair will surpass 2015 revenue levels.

2016 was the highest-grossing Grandstand line-up in State Fair history with tickets sales of $2.08 million. The sales figure eclipsed the previous record of $2.03 million set in 2013. Concerts like Meghan Trainor, Jake Owen, KISS, and Cole Swindell proved to be popular among fairgoers.

“Someone once stated that conducting the Illinois State Fair consisted of 15% planning and 85% weather, and after this year’s fair, I tend to believe it,” said State Fair Manager Kevin Gordon. “This year we battled obstacles at every turn: triple digit heat indices, power outages and seven and three quarter inches (7.75″) of rain. In one evening alone we saw a record 5.59 inches of rain which led to extensive flooding, parking lot closures and event cancellations. Yet, we still had thousands of people leave Springfield with memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.”

The Illinois State Fair continues to provide affordable entertainment and free educational opportunities for Illinoisans. In addition, the fair offers the State of Illinois an opportunity to highlight our state’s number one industry. This year an estimated 357,409 fairgoers attended the Illinois State Fair. While flooding forced the early closure of the fair on the first Friday (August 12), near perfect weather conditions followed for the first weekend (August 13-14). Historically, the first weekend of the fair is the highest attended dates of the Illinois State Fair.

And it goes on and on and on like that until you finally get to the actual attendance figures. But instead of providing a grand total and context from last year, the state fair folks only provided each individual day’s attendance figures for this year.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:35 am

Comments

I’d like to compare the attendance/financial numbers to the DuQuoin State Fair.

Comment by IMSA Alumnus Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:36 am
They have a point, if they only lost 13% of their attendance this year, then that was a massive win. From weather to issues over paying vendors (plus some people not going in protest over the budget), I don’t know if I remember a fair that had remotely as many or as big of challenges. The new director should get a pat on the back.

Comment by m Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:42 am
You usually have to read newspaper stories about declining circulation to get this much pro spin.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:49 am
Monday, August 14 - Senior Citizens Day/Scout Day

WOW on those attendance numbers! Wonder how the cancellation of the tractor and truck pulls that night had on that day’s numbers?

And as to the formula used to estimate free admissions, it really can’t be that hard to use a counter at each gate to get a better idea on entrances. And, anyone with a stamp (left and came back in later before 5 or 6 pm- whatever the cutoff time is), just don’t count ‘em again.

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 9:50 am
In true State Fair spirit, this is a “Vortex” press release.

If you spin fast enough, you stay in place even as the bottom falls out.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:00 am
Grand champion steer bought by Rauner so he can say record??

More importantly, the numbers they released for Granstand acts they portray overall they made money. But the released numbers don’t include any of the costs related to the acts including sound, lighting, rain insurance, stagehands, catering, etc. When you add In those costs, is it still a net gain? Not usually.

Comment by Thinking Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:03 am
>But instead of providing a grand total and context from last year, the state fair folks only provided each individual day’s attendance figures for this year.

It’s very much the style today to provide the details at a later date. /s

Comment by Earnest Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:04 am
I spend several days at the State Fair every year. This year I was there only four days. Based on the days I was there attendance was down a lot more than 13%. As they say “…lies, damn lies, and statistics…”

Comment by Expletivedeleted Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:08 am
If they had worked “sustainable” or “sustainability” into that word jumble, I would have believed it.

Comment by Donald Segretti Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:20 am
Ok, so attendance in 2016 was just below 2015, but we made a little more money.
However, what they forgot to tell you is what a bust 2015 was compared to 2014, 2013, etc.

Comment by Winnin' Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:28 am
about 355 for the total. Not awful given the weather, higher tix and reason #1 school starting.
Good first Saturday and 45K on the final day is good.
Capt fax should admit this “spin” no where as good as BigBrain describing IL as a hell hole and a great place to locate biz in one of those high speed car rides OR the ever emerging “cyber attacks” explanation.

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:30 am
Here is what most “new” people don’t realize; the State Fair used to be very important to state government because it gave them a venue to present state agency accomplishments, new programs and streamlined services. As a citizen, you could walk up to an agency tent/table, ask a question and get a knowledgable person to speak with right there. State employees used to have to man those boothes and take your turn doing customer service as part if your “other duties as required” and go do your part at the fair to serve the public and be more accessible for ten days to the man on the street. It was a reason to kerp gate fees low. It was big reason people attended too. We showcased exactly what we were doing as public employees for our taxpayers. Now……you can tell they view it as an entertainment venue just to make money on. Truly they “don’t get it” on the state serving their public. Warped.

Comment by Team Warwick Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 10:45 am
Team Warwick- It’s a shame that this is now the “trend”. It does nothing to build goodwill and connect people to their government. When they changed the Ag Tent a few years ago into a “museum” (I’ve heard there has been walk back from that), people would step into the tent, stand in one place and look around, turn around, and leave. It was a shame.

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:03 am
==Warwick==
I still find knowledgeable people in the IDNR tents. Latest news on fishing, foresty bugs and those climate denying armadillos moving north.
My memory may be faulty but I thought we had 1 million attendance in the early 80’s ?

Comment by Anotherretiree Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 11:37 am
The KISS show made it all worthwhile.

Comment by Keyser Soze Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 12:06 pm
Fair attendance was way off last year as well, so that a 13% drop on top of the 20% from last year.

What about sales tax revenue??? looks way down as well…. lot of vendors pulling out due to low sales volume. High ticket prices and the elimination of non-ag events are killing the fair. Rauner the buisness man cant seem to operate a simple 1 week buisness. it went from being crowded, popilar and a boon to local business and sales tax revenue to a decaying event.

Kids would spend days going on their ride pass, and buying food and drinks each day. now most cant afford to go more then 1 day with the tickets up.

plus all the fun shows are gone. conservation world has become a ghost town with no events or shows

Comment by Ghost Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 12:35 pm
side point. If Rauner cant even run the fair profitably, or heck at its previous year levels; why do we think his ideas on how to run the State are any good?

Turning it into an elite music venue isnt whats its about. the fair used to be for the people, not just those with high dollar grandstand tickets and a desire for beer. The people dont need more expensive entertainment venues. they need low cost fun.

Comment by Ghost Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 12:38 pm
Gross revenue?

Reminder: If you charge 1000 people $100 to watch you burn a million dollars, your ‘gross revenue’ for the event will be $100,000!

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:28 pm
Where is the Net Revenue, Finke, Schoenberg, Vinicky, Miller?

Comment by Juvenal Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:55 pm
Juvenal-
Where is Erickson when we need him?

Comment by Winnin' Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 2:21 pm
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 1:28 pm: =

Good one!

Comment by Mama Retired Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 4:23 pm
MrJM — well done.

Comment by Soccermom Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 5:30 pm
Given the state of the state, the fact that we even have this archaic event shows an amazing lack of any sense of priorities. It panders to a tiny fraction of the state’s population and is simply a waste of money we don’t have.

Comment by striketoo Monday, Sep 19, 16 @ 5:53 pm