Changes coming at State Fair
Joseph McDermott, executive director of the Nebraska State Fair, speaks about changes at this year's fair Tuesday a tthe Grand Island Rotary Club meeting. (Independent/Denton Cushing)
By Denton Cushingdenton.cushing@theindependent.com
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Nebraska State Fair Executive Director Joseph McDermott shared new ideas and upcoming changes for the 2011 State Fair with the Grand Island Rotary Club on Tuesday.
"We are making some announcements now," McDermott said. "We will be making a lot more announcements in the near future."
McDermott's list of new ideas and plans for 2011 include making it easier to find your way through the grounds with more signs, more seating and green space, fewer courtesy carts and more shuttles, increased ag displays and rearranged grounds to eliminate some walking distance.
"We want to bring in more shuttles and run them within the grounds," McDermott said. "In Lincoln, that would not have been possible, because the grounds were just not laid out right. Here, they are."
Some other notable changes for 2011 include having the concession vendors pay the occupation tax, having two concerts on Older Nebraskans Day instead of one and adding about 150 RV pads to the 50 that were available in 2010.
"In Lincoln, Older Nebraskans Day would generally see 2,500 people, and in 2010, we had over 10,000, so it caused us some grief," McDermott said. "We are going to be much better prepared in 2011, as will the vendors."
He also presented attendance numbers from the 2010 State Fair. Total attendance was recorded at 309,400, which was less than 2009, but more than 2008.
read more at:http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2011/04/27/news/local/13276070.txt
"We are making some announcements now," McDermott said. "We will be making a lot more announcements in the near future."
McDermott's list of new ideas and plans for 2011 include making it easier to find your way through the grounds with more signs, more seating and green space, fewer courtesy carts and more shuttles, increased ag displays and rearranged grounds to eliminate some walking distance.
"We want to bring in more shuttles and run them within the grounds," McDermott said. "In Lincoln, that would not have been possible, because the grounds were just not laid out right. Here, they are."
Some other notable changes for 2011 include having the concession vendors pay the occupation tax, having two concerts on Older Nebraskans Day instead of one and adding about 150 RV pads to the 50 that were available in 2010.
"In Lincoln, Older Nebraskans Day would generally see 2,500 people, and in 2010, we had over 10,000, so it caused us some grief," McDermott said. "We are going to be much better prepared in 2011, as will the vendors."
He also presented attendance numbers from the 2010 State Fair. Total attendance was recorded at 309,400, which was less than 2009, but more than 2008.
read more at:http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2011/04/27/news/local/13276070.txt
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