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Updated: 9:08 PM Sep 2, 2010
Nebraska State Fair Attendance Beats Expectations
Grand Island People who thought attendance at the Nebraska State Fair would drop when it moved to Grand Island from Lincoln are being proved wrong.
Posted: 12:32 PM Sep 2, 2010Reporter: Sara Geake Email Address: sara.geake@1011now.com |
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35 Comments 
About 2,500 school children went through the Nebraska State Fair's gates Thursday. According to fair officials, so have thousands of others.
"It's nice to be validated that this has worked out so well so far," State Fair Vice Chair Tam Allan.
The 2010 attendance numbers have been released. More than 120,000 people have come to the fair from Friday to Tuesday. Some days have beat last year's record setting year in Lincoln, others haven't, but everyone seems to be hungry.
Fair officials say the Beef Pit has already served as many people as they did all of last year - about 11,000.
"To have the numbers come in as strong as they have in addition to ensuring that the experience is top notch, just seems a little bit like icing on the cake," said Cindy Johnson, Grand Island Chamber of Commerce president.
Fair officials say they're still focusing on the other numbers - those satisfied.
"Our numbers are very strong when it comes to satisfaction and service, and to me that says a lot because obviously we've moved a fairgrounds in the last 13 months," said State Fair Director Joseph McDermott. "We've got a lot of new employees out there, a lot of new vendors, new sponsors, the volunteers."
Fair-goers don't seem to mind.
"We think it's wonderful, very nice," said Donna Micek of Bellwood. "We just came from the 4-H exhibit building. We're impressed with the 4-H exhibits."
"[We're] getting a lot of positive comments about the layout of the grounds. It's easy to get to the grounds and once you're on the grounds, it's very easy to navigate," said McDermott.
Fair officials say attendance is about 18,000 people down from last year's record setting year, but 1,100 up from 2008.
Attendance numbers were up on the fair's first day and Tuesday, when the free Mel Tillis concert drew thousands. Other days attendance numbers have been slightly down from 2010's record.
Paid ticket sales are up 10 percent, according to Allan.
Fair officials say they don't know what the Labor Day weekend crowds will look like with a Husker football game in Lincoln.
Allan says they decided to release attendance numbers - after saying they wouldn't until the end of the fair - after the popularity of the Mel Tillis concert.
Latest Comments
Wow, the comments from the pompous Lincoln/Omaha people are hilarious. Especially Lincolnites. Congratulations Lincoln you just lost another large money making event like some of the HS championships you've lost. All for a technology park that is going to go nowhere. The university babies once again got a pacifier when they cried. UNL hasn't even come close to filling the land in the Highlands they have for "technology", how do they expect to fill the state fairground area. Lincoln and UNL's thinking that "they are all that" is backfiring in a big way. Omaha is leaving Lincoln in the dust and other communities in Nebraska are catching up with opportunities. We might as well move the capital back to Omaha while we're moving things and let Lincoln die a slow death.
I never realized that it was a longer drive from Lincoln to Grand Island, then Grand Island to Lincoln.. The state fair was AWESOME..(it was in Lincoln) and NOW in Grand Island:) Congrats State Fair board with a job well done!!!!!
Personally, the fair wasn't a big deal to me when it was in Lincoln, so it's certainly not going to be a big deal in GI. It has nothing to do with "Lincoln & Omaha" not giving the rest of the state a chance to be great too. I hope the rest of the state embraces it in GI. Similar to Omahans not typically making a trek to Lincoln (they have more to do than we do) I can't blame them either. Don't take it negatively, rural Nebraska, it's just the way it is.
It's too bad Lincoln & Omaha can't give the rest of our great state a chance to be great too. No matter where the State Fair is in Nebraska everyone in our state should try to have a positive attitude about it! How many times have the people from west of Lincoln had to spend the extra money on gas,lodging,food,tickets, etc to go to things in Lincoln & Omaha. Why not share a little with the rest of our great state? Besides if GI people can drive to & from Lincoln & spend a day there why can't Lincoln people do the same to & from GI? It was nice that the State Fair wasn't so spread out in GI like in Lincoln as it is sometimes harder for some people to do a lot of walking, etc. Let's all get along & enjoy EVERYTHING our great state has to offer whether it be the State Fair, Nebraska Football, the Qwest center or many historical & fun activities in the western part of our state!
Sarah,,Did you ever think the teenagers from G.I. and out west, had the same problems with going to Lincoln. Your point is useless. People from Lincoln area waited to long before supporting the fair. Change is good!
The 2011 edition of the Nebraska State Fair was great! In only one years time to get Fonner park ready for the fair was amazing, we can't wait to see the improvements next year. The fair grounds were clean and inviting, the people helping with the fair were very polite and helpful. The vendors were almost over whelmed by the attendance as I know some food vendors did twice the amount of business vs. last year in Lincoln. Is there room for improvement, sure there is, but what did they do in Lincoln? Let buildings run down to the point of being condemned, move all of the concerts out of the Devaney to an outdoor stage in a hot and humid climate, nice. I live in Lincoln and find going to GI is no big deal, all of you in Lincoln and Omaha get over yourselves, if you really wanted it to stay in the area you should have fought for it. As for the technology park, yeah let's see how that goes, if it is managed in the same manner as the fair when it was in Lincoln it will be broke fast.
It only takes about an 1 1/2 hours to get from Lincoln to GI at the most, I bet a lot of you complaining about that don't have any problems driving the 2 hours to Worlds/Oceans of fun.
I've gone to the state fair every year, up until this year. Teenagers really don't have the money to drive all the way to Grand Island, possibly pay for a hotel room, and drive back. Not saying the fair wasn't good, because I heard it was. It was just a bad idea to move it from the two most populous cities in the state. Hope it works out, but it doesn't look hopeful to me.
The first words out were, "Attendance was down from 2009." 2010 equaled 2008 in Lincoln. Think Positive for crying out loud. I heard only one suggestion from a fairgoer. Get someone to clean up after those who leave their mess on the tables provided for eating. I wager that some nay sayers from Lnk never bothered to go when it was in LNK.
I have to admit, I had no intentions of going to the fair because it moved to GI, but we did go and I was pleasantly surprised. It was clean and more than enough room to expand in the following years. The only thing I can think of to complain about was all the dust from the wind and lack of concrete in some areas, but that can be fixed and certainly won't stop me from going next year.
We attended the fair, it was nice. We met a woman from Colorado who took her grandchildren to the Nebraska state fair and RAVED about it. She was so impressed. She met family there and will do so again. GI easier than Lincoln - last 100 miles too hard. Good Job Grand Island. We hope for Continued, increasing success with the fair. Nice facilities and Nebraska pride continues. Keep up the good work.
glad to hear people are happy with the fair. I've gone with my family every year but probably won't get to go anymore as G.I. is a bit far to walk. and yes I do drive but car won't make it that far and with gas I probably wouldn't have money for the fair
Maybe the 48% were all from Lincoln??? I think the fair has been a tremendous success!!! I am thrilled to drive only 40 miles. since some eastern people boycotted the Fair this year...left more room for us "Westies".
Guess what Central Nebraska, you can have the State Fair as many of us are going to Iowa State Fair HA!. You can have the big ol'e cow mooing state fair with the financial drain as it sucks away Grand Islands bottom line. Thank you UNL for your forward vision in building the Technology Park.
I think the other 52% must have showed up when I was there - the fair was "boomin'!"
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