From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The hosts of Milwaukee’s Summerfest learned this year how tough it can be to throw an outdoor party in rainy weather and a slumping economy.
Attendance at the 11-day music festival on the lakefront slumped to 831,024, the smallest crowd to push through the turnstiles since 1993. Revenue from ticket, food and beverage sales turned downward as well, roughly 4% below the take from the 40th anniversary year of 2007.
...The Summerfest business plan is based on attendance ranging from 825,000 to 900,000, and despite the nearly 7% decrease from 2007, the festival drew enough people to reach the mark.
“We are pleased with our 2008 results, considering key factors that were out of our control,” said Don Smiley, the president and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival Inc. “We kept prices affordable, delivered a quality experience for our patrons and remained profitable during tough economic times.”
Considering that enormous 7 percent drop in attendance, a 4 percent drop in revenue isn't that bad.
I wonder how beer sales in 2008 compare with the 2007 figures. How much beer was consumed?
Summerfest raised beer prices this year, the first increase since 2003.
Did the price jump help offset the losses in revenue due to the 7 percent attendance decrease?
Or, was the price increase a factor in keeping festival-goers away?
Outdoor festivals are always at the mercy of the weather, but when it comes to Summerfest, people seem to have been willing to weather the storms if the entertainment is good enough. Fans are fans.
Since Summerfest's general strategy in recent years has been to cater to an older crowd, I think that had a big impact on this year's attendance figures. The old folks are less likely to want to splash around in the rain. The "rheumatis" acts up.
Good News: This weekend, Milwaukee offers some fantastic free festivals.
Bastille Days and one of the city's first lakefront festivals, the South Shore Water Frolics (now the South Shore Frolics) in Bay View provide great opportunities to enjoy a good time without the pinch of an attendance fee. Greek Fest at State Fair Park has plenty of free entry hours as well.
Bad News: It's raining.
Good News: The rain should move out for the second half of the weekend.
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