finance_budget_cultural_recreational_2012 - Cabarrus County

County Fair
Mandated Service
No
Mission
To provide a safe, family, fun-filled experience through educational and agricultural exhibits, amusement rides, and entertainment for all
citizens in Cabarrus County.
Program Description
This program is responsible for managing and operating all aspects of the Cabarrus County Agricultural Fair. The Cabarrus County
Agricultural Fair was organized in 1953 and forty-nine fairs were held at the intersection of Cabarrus Avenue and Union Cemetery Road. In
December 2000, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners agreed to assume responsibility for managing the annual fair in exchange
for ownership of the original fairgrounds. The County purchased a 70-acre parcel located at Highway 49 and Old Airport Road in Concord;
and in June 2001, ground was broken on the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center. The 50th Annual Cabarrus County Fair was held at the
new facility in 2003 and was an overwhelming success. Fair participation and attendance has continued steady growth.
FY 2011 Major Accomplishments & Challenges
Major Accomplishments: Attendance numbers , gate revenues, carnival reciepts and entries were all record breaking numbers for the fair.
Challenge: Staff turnover left the new fair staff a few short weeks to plan and implement this years fair.
Challenge: Economic Climate
Goals & Objectives
Increase advance gate and carnival ticket sales by reaching out to local businesses, committees and organizations; along with providing
additional advertising at local events to increase awareness of advance ticket sale opportunities.
Create individually tailored in-kind partnership and sponsorship opportunities to allow more small local businesses a chance to benefit from
the fair. By offering in-kind sponsorship opportunitues this will also help lower fair expenses.
Raise attendance and carnival reciepts by securing popluar and budget conscience local entertainment that will draw larger crowds and
minimize expenses for the fair.
Increase entries by extending the deadline for accepting entries to one week prior to the fair, developing new departments and creating new
e-newletters for past exhibitors to receive updates. In past years, the deadline for receiving entries has been 30 days prior to the fair.
Construct a new offer for School Night to increase gate revenues by increasing participation.
Performance Summary
Outcomes and Performance
Measures
Current Goal
FY 2009
Actual
FY 2010
Actual
FY 2011
Actual
FY 2012
Objective
Our Fair is safe and meets the community needs for a safe, entertaining, and cost effective experience
Trend
Comments or
Analysis
Advance gate ticket sales
Advance carnival sales
Increase FPY $ 6,071 $ 6,153 $ 8,909 $ 10,000 Up from FY 2010.
Increase FPY $ 17,745 $ 22,339 $ 18,735 $ 20,000
Limited number of
advance tickets
printed contributed
to the FY 11
decrease.
Sponsorship sales (monetary)
Sponsorship sales (in-kind)
Stable $ 12,500 $ 12,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000
Increase FPY
No accurate
historical data.
No accurate
historical data. $ 1,700 $ 12,000
This stable
projection makes a
shift towards more inkind
partnerships.
This reflects the
donation value of
small and large inkind
agreements
with businesses.
202