Fair hits record

Article Photos

ESCANABA - The U.P. State Fair had record gate attendance this year, according to officials. The fair, however, is no longer estimating total fair attendance, said Scott Staelgraeve, manager for the U.P. State Fair.

Staelgraeve said between 69,000 and 70,000 people actually bought a daily or weekly pass this year. That does not include fair-goers who were admitted free.

In the past, they were included in the estimate of total fair attendance.

Total attendance for the 2007 and 2006 U.P. State Fairs were estimated in those years at more than 90,000.

"Our paid gate attendance was up this year," he said, referring to the number of tickets and passes sold. "Our revenue was up almost $100,000 over last year."

Total attendance reported last year, however, was more than 90,000. Staelgraeve reported last year that an estimated 94,994 people attended the 2007 U.P. State Fair. In 2006, attendance was estimated at 93,661.

Staelgraeve said this year they are no longer estimating total fair attendance.

"What we've done in the past is reported the total attendance figure but there's a huge guess factor in that because... we don't have turnstiles like at Disney," Staelgraeve said. "All I'm interested in is, how was our year overall in paid revenue (from) gate entrance(s)."

Staelgraeve said Skerbeck Bros. set a record on the midway for the third year in a row.

"Their prices didn't change, so that's another indicator that our attendance was up for the year," he said.

Staelgraeve said the fair was extremely successful.

"The feedback on our new pricing has been good and I think people think it's a good deal," he said.

Staelgraeve said the U.P. State Fair plans to continue with the pricing structure where grandstand entrance is included with your entrance fee to the fair.

In addition, exhibitor numbers were up and a record average price for hog sales was set - and the weather was great, too.

"We were really fortunate," said Staelgraeve. "I can't think back and think of one thing to say that was negative."

Staelgraeve said the fair also boasted the biggest crowds at the grandstand in probably the last 10 years. They also did well with their reserved seating sales for the Craig Morgan and Tracy Lawrence concerts.

Staelgraeve addressed rumors the fair will look for more rock acts as opposed to country by saying that part of the normal fair planning process is the grandstand line up.

"(We look at) what is going to draw more fair-goers and add the most value to for our (customers)," said Staelgraeve. "There's less rock available for people in the area. If you look at the amount of country music available to people in our draw radius, you've got Porterfield, (casinos), Country USA - whereas nobody's really offering the young rock-n-roll crowd."

Staelgraeve said he wanted to make sure that he thanked all the fair sponsors, especially the Island Resort and Casino for presenting sponsor.

"Without those folks we'd have a really tough time putting the fair together... They're our lifeblood and we greatly appreciate their commitment to the U.P. State Fair," said Staelgraeve. "And we're already starting to plan an outstanding fair for 2009."