Riverfest slumps: Ticket, concessions sales down
BELOIT — The weather was beautiful.
It didn't matter.
Tickets were inexpensive.
It didn't matter.
The economy is in an unprecedented slump.
It mattered.
Rod Beaudoin, Riverfest executive director, on Monday reported ticket sales to the five-day music festival were down.
"Well, we had fantastic weather, but gate sales were down, beer sales were down, everything was down," Beaudoin said.
Exactly how much "everything was down" won't be known until later this week, Beaudoin said.
The losses come at an especially hard time for the festival.
Last year's torrential rains forced organizers to cancel an evening. The 2008 cancellation cost an estimated $74,000 in direct expenses and $100,000 in potential revenue from tickets sales and other purchases.
This year, Beaudoin hoped to lure people back with advance ticket specials including five nights for $25. Despite the bargain-basement prices, advance ticket sales from June were down about 53 percent from last June.
When last-minute ticket buyers didn't take up the slack, Beaudoin knew he was in trouble.
He thinks unemployment—and anxiety about unemployment—caused the drop in sales.
"With GM closing, the down economy has had a stronger impact on Rock County," Beaudoin said. "People are stressed; people are strained."
What's next?
"The first thing I'm going to do is to get a couple of nights of sleep," Beaudoin said. "Then I'm going to go through the numbers, and I'll meet with the executive board next week."
The purpose of the meeting will be to "take a step back and then begin to problem solve."
When asked if the discussion would include ending the festival, Beaudoin said, "I think everything has to be on the table."
"It depends on where were end up in the red; it's such a big festival for a small city," he said. "But the festival is really a source of community pride. We've got 500, 600 volunteers involved."
Jul 17, 2009 at 10:35 p.m.
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A couple of us went fri to see trapt. I'm glad to have a festival that uses rock bands, as that seems like something other local venues never want to go near (listening rock country 4-h fair board?) I was a bit taken aback when the guy at the gate tells me it's $13 to get in. That is a bit high priced when you compare the prices on all day music fests in the area and fair entrance prices. Not to mention I paid like 7 bucks to see trapt together with RA at the old club raven. I also was not a big fan of what they were charging to park in the old mall, as there really isn't any other choice for parking. not to mention we were on bikes so three of us only took up one stall, yet we all had to pay full price. There has been a drastic drop in the amount of vendors and other types of booths at riverfest as well. I work in Beloit and many people that live there have said that the riverfest managment raised the price to get a booth to an obscene amount and that is why the amount of vendors and such has dropped to nearly nothing. It's sad that it was a dissappointing experience because it is one of the few things I will be going to this year because the rock county fair has done a great job of getting another very poor lineup this year....AGAIN.
Jul 15, 2009 at 4:41 p.m.
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My husband & I went on Friday night to see Trapt (our kind of music) $26 for two people to see the band we like wasn't too bad, as far as we were concerned. There really wasn't much there. I remember when we first started going down there, there were rides everywhere, booths with fun stuff, good food, then the music. This year the only thing that really caught our eye was the space art family. It was pretty sweet. Don't know if I'll go next year unless they have better bands.
Jul 15, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.
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sarahb- could it be that we have heard ENOUGH of REO??!!!
Jul 15, 2009 at 3:03 p.m.
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There are a lot of things I dont-cannot afford to go to anymore. Used to have money to go to all the fun stuff plus more and now cannot go to the fun stuff and have to save for the FEW things I dont want to miss out on.
It may be cheap to get in but yes there are things to buy when you get there.
Jul 15, 2009 at 2:01 p.m.
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I went on Saturday with two friends. We each spent $13 to get into a place where nothing seemed to be going on. The races were over and there wasn't any music. We each grabbed a snack and left. The three of us spent nearly $50 and felt like we were swindled. We won't be returning unless we hear the ticket price is significantly less.
Jul 15, 2009 at 12:53 p.m.
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Does anyone know if there is an on-line review of the Guess Who show?
Jul 15, 2009 at 11:49 a.m.
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deltafox,
you hit the nail on the head. the sub-par. youth center carnival was not due to location. it's the economy. go figure.
Jul 15, 2009 at 11:34 a.m.
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Roadmaster: Thanks for the info ... I had no idea.
Jul 15, 2009 at 10:49 a.m.
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There were boat races Saturday & Sunday afternoon sponsored by the TCPBA at Riverfest.
Jul 15, 2009 at 9:58 a.m.
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/...
Jul 15, 2009 at 8:27 a.m.
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Wow...sounds like what happened at the 4th Celebration at the Janesville Youth Sports Complex. Huh, might be the economy....duh
Jul 15, 2009 at 6:53 a.m.
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we should be well used to this situation,why even print this in the newspaper
Jul 15, 2009 at 5:35 a.m.
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I'd just like to add that there are several charity poker runs going on this past weekend, which take away from the targeted age group, and segment of people that listen to this type of music. I didn't go because there was the Thunder Run for diabetes in Madison, and MAD for Marnie at Kutter Harley, and a big event at Hfffrrrgggh's (sp?). Honestly, I couldn't choose who I wanted to give my money to, so I stayed home and hung onto it. It's already earmarked for bills anyway.
Jul 15, 2009 at 2:35 a.m.
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I totally agree ekim. A variety of acts. Even a ventriliquist show with Jeff Dunham. He's good or anybody else but the same..What about a famous gospel show or Reba or some R&B. C'mon can't ppl see what is really going on? I do not make alot in nursing but I would not mind shedding mine if something in Riverfest is worth it.
Jul 15, 2009 at 12:17 a.m.
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people have gotten wiser over the last few months. maybe the ticket prices werent so bad, but what about the other things , beer ,pop , food. we have been priced gauged for years. we quit going to things like this a couple of years ago because of the over pricing . i won tickets to summerfest we went one day, a bottle of water/pop was $3.00 , bottle beer $6.00, a chicago hot dog $5.00 , if a regular business marked up their prices like this the state would be screaming .
Jul 14, 2009 at 11:51 p.m.
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Schedule speedboat races during the festival ... they will bring in a new crowd. Riverfest tried to have a different genre of music per night for many years and dropped that schedule because it did not pull in enough people. I wonder if part of the problem (besides the economy) is that the area's population is aging.
Jul 14, 2009 at 10:44 p.m.
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Well, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the employment situation in Rock County and surrounding areas was a major factor. Add in a relatively lame musical lineup and there you have it. It would be a shame if Riverfest folded however. We didn't go this year because of the music lineup, and the fact it seems less and less family friendly.
One suggestion would be to book a larger variety of acts, a Jack Johnson type of artist, or an R&B act. The nostalgia acts are tired and mostly appeal to a much older demographic. Just my 2 cents.
Jul 14, 2009 at 10:33 p.m.
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The Beach Boys have had it.
Jul 14, 2009 at 9:53 p.m.
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For the Clowns that disrupt Riverfest,any arrest at this (other) functions results in a lifetime ban PEROID!
Jul 14, 2009 at 9:43 p.m.
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All the low-lifes still showed up! The EMS people and police were busy as usual. We really do need to figure out a way for these jack-asses to stay away from ruining the good bars, family functions, and organized events. Maybe some of you who know these poeple should speak up. As for the event itself, I'm sorry it didn't go so well, and better luck next year.
Jul 14, 2009 at 9:29 p.m.
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Truth,please tell me next year is NOT this lineup.Why not an oldies revue,country night,etc. The same genre gets tiresome.Add to that no shuttle bus(park at Eclipse center,walk from (basically) Henry Ave. to Portland Ave.(WE are not young),Expensive food,Drinks.We are unemployed and want to support Riverfest yet are budget was severely stretched.These same acts just finished at Summerfest,did they not?This director has to think differently,not the same old,same old.WE are Watching,and listening.Mr.B. ARE YOU?
Jul 14, 2009 at 9:20 p.m.
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They were selling bears?? Who would want to buy a bear anyways?
Jul 14, 2009 at 5:36 p.m.
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I dont mind hearing some of the same oldies BUT EVERY YEAR?? Not to mention bear sales?? At $4.00 per can wow..That's all the director is worried about. I no longer attend ROCKFEST!! Until someody takes over with half a brain my business will go to rock cty 4h or something else of interest. I totally agree, curtain call - NEW DIRECTOR PLEASE??!!
Jul 14, 2009 at 4:46 p.m.
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Wow, between Riverfest and the Beloit (formerly Beloit Janesville) Symphony, this management team is really on a roll.
Jul 14, 2009 at 4:40 p.m.
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Hey Kids, lets go see the same people my dad listened to. Then there is the band we saw last year, that's great!
We don't want to go to that little fest in Rockton next weekend with Zac Brown Band and Jamie Johnson!
Why did beloit hire a guy from Summerfest that hires outdated shows?
Next year is Survivor, Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon and Styx. They've only been here twice in the past 10 years.
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