Will Salmon Festival's mega-concert sink or swim?
Committee chairman says organizers expecting 'huge walk-up' attendance on Saturday
Organizers of this year's Salmon Festival in Grand Falls-Windsor are hoping for a flood of ticket sales prior to and during Saturday's musical extravaganza.
There's a worry that another financial setback could bring an end to the mega-concert, which has long been a hallmark of the five-day festival.
Signs abound that the concert at Centennial Field, with headliner John Fogerty, will be what some are calling an "intimate" affair.
For instance, the largest hotel in the area, the Mount Peyton, reported there were still rooms available as of Thursday, a scenario that was unheard of in previous years at this late date.
"It doesn't look like they've ordered as many portable toilets as they have in previous years," a dispatcher with a cab company told CBC News Thursday afternoon.
8,000 tickets in order to break even
Organizers have set a target of 8,000 tickets sales, but Coun. Darren Finn, chairman of the festival committee, refused on Thursday afternoon to say how sales were going.
"We're expecting a good crowd," he said, adding that organizers expect a "huge walk-up" attendance on Saturday.
But sources say sales are well below the mark, and some worry that the town may be on the hook for another financial setback, similar to the nearly half-million-dollar shortfall in 2014, despite big-time acts such as Maroon 5 and Pitbull.
One source with close links to the event said the concert continues to be tarnished by a series of unfortunate events in 2013, which attracted 21,000 concert-goers on an especially hot summer's day.
Patrons complained about a lack of access to water and other necessities, and many of those who forked out extra money for VIP tickets to see The Eagles and other acts were also disappointed.
Changes have been made to avoid similar problems, including a new re-admission policy and free entry for those 12-and-under who are accompanied by an adult.
The central Newfoundland concert is also facing stiff competition this weekend from the Confederation Hill Music Festival in St. John's, which is featuring another classic-rock music icon, Rod Stewart.
"We knew from the beginning that people have a choice," said Finn. "But we have a strong lineup to fit our demographics."
Some positive signs
Grand Falls-Windsor is a town of 5,800 households, and an annual municipal budget of more than $12 million.
While the festival is a much-needed boost to the local economy, any losses will be shouldered by the town.
No one is prepared to accept yearly losses into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially if it means tax increases for property owners.
Mayor Al Hawkins intimated last year that another financial flop cannot be tolerated.
"We're in a position where we can't take two big hits two years in a row," he told CBC News in December.
When asked if the future of the concert is at stake, Finn would only say that the committee will do a thorough assessment following this year's event.
"This is all on the town. We're all aware of that," said Finn.
Positive signs
There are some positive signs, however.
They're booked to capacity at both the Westwood Inn and Suites and Hotel Robin Hood.
"We're fully booked, as usual, and we're getting about 20 to 30 calls every day," said Hotel Robin Hood owner Graham Hutchinson.
He said the entire area counts on spinoffs from the Salmon Festival, which has been a summer stalwart in the central Newfoundland town for more than three decades.
The weather may also draw some patrons, with a forecast for temperatures in the mid-teens.
