Tulsa State Fair attendance dips 7 percent

By STAFF REPORTS
10/8/2007 3:17 PM

Attendance at the 2007 Tulsa State Fair was down 7 percent over last year, officials announced Monday.

Preliminary numbers show the 11-day event, which ended Sunday, drew 987,057; last year, the fair drew 1,055,948. The 2007 attendance figure was the second best in the last five years.

While some people had spoken of boycotting the fair this year because of the closing of Bell's Amusement Park, Expo Square President and CEO Rick Bjorklund said a couple of days of bad weather hurt the fair's overall attendance.

Attendance was up 6 percent after the first five days, but storms on Tuesday and Sunday kept the crowds away, Bjorklund said.

Gate sales decreased 7 percent while food and beverage concessions also decreased 4 percent.

Mega Ride Pass sales were down 17 percent and Midway coupon sales declined 29 percent.

Bjorklund said it was possible the departure from the fairgrounds of Bell's Amusement Park played a role in the drop in Mega Ride pass sales, but said he did not believe it had an effect on attendance.

The Disney on Ice show "Princess Wishes" sold out and the Junior Livestock Auction raised a record $510,000, according to preliminary numbers provided by Expo Square.

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Is it bad that I find this so deliciously entertaining? Myself and many friends are boycotting anything led at expo sguare after the poor treatment Bells received.

You can find my recounts on this in the following places:

• July 15, 2007


• May 11, 2007


• September 28, 2006

As you will find the Tulsa State Fair used to mean the world to me. Nothing better summed up what Oklahoma meant to me then this one celebration. When the Expo Square Board forced Bells out it crushed that feeling, it made me ill. I want them to see just what they have done.