Aerial photographs were taken of the fairgrounds Sunday, the busiest day of the fair, to help analyze traffic patterns.
State Fair: Still room to grow
By Leslie Reed WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Wednesday September 8, 2010LINCOLN — Even after clicking more than 300,000 people through the gates of the new fairgrounds in Grand Island, Nebraska State Fair organizers say their event has more room to grow.
Fair officials reported Tuesday that 309,400, attended the first fair to be held outside Lincoln in more than a century. Although attendance fell short of the 367,203 who turned out for last year's final fair in Lincoln, it was the second largest turnout in the past decade.
While curiosity about the new location likely bumped up this year's attendance, State Fair Board member Tam Allan of Lincoln said he is optimistic that future fairs could attract crowds of an equal size or larger.
He explained that many people attend State Fairs as participants — some have children showing livestock, others have submitted a pie or a quilt for exhibits, still others are staffing a commercial exhibit booth, and many are selling food in the concessions area.
The 2010 fair had more commercial exhibits and more livestock exhibits than usual, Allan said. Most vendors reported excellent sales and gave high reviews to the Nebraska event.
“I imagine those people — and their friends — will be back,” Allan said.
The State Fair was moved from its historic location in Lincoln after the state decided to use the former fairgrounds for a research park for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Considering the fair's new location in a less-populous part of the state, fair officials did not expect to equal 2009 attendance figures. However, they were pleased to exceed 2008 attendance figures by about 260 people.
Wednesday September 8, 2010LINCOLN — Even after clicking more than 300,000 people through the gates of the new fairgrounds in Grand Island, Nebraska State Fair organizers say their event has more room to grow.
Fair officials reported Tuesday that 309,400, attended the first fair to be held outside Lincoln in more than a century. Although attendance fell short of the 367,203 who turned out for last year's final fair in Lincoln, it was the second largest turnout in the past decade.
While curiosity about the new location likely bumped up this year's attendance, State Fair Board member Tam Allan of Lincoln said he is optimistic that future fairs could attract crowds of an equal size or larger.
He explained that many people attend State Fairs as participants — some have children showing livestock, others have submitted a pie or a quilt for exhibits, still others are staffing a commercial exhibit booth, and many are selling food in the concessions area.
The 2010 fair had more commercial exhibits and more livestock exhibits than usual, Allan said. Most vendors reported excellent sales and gave high reviews to the Nebraska event.
“I imagine those people — and their friends — will be back,” Allan said.
The State Fair was moved from its historic location in Lincoln after the state decided to use the former fairgrounds for a research park for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Considering the fair's new location in a less-populous part of the state, fair officials did not expect to equal 2009 attendance figures. However, they were pleased to exceed 2008 attendance figures by about 260 people.
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