Rochester, N.Y. – The city’s Party in the Park concert series saw a 40 percent drop in attendance last summer.
Thirty-two thousand people attended the 2011 Thursday-night concert series, according to legislation submitted to City Council by the mayor. The legislation proposes continuing the contract with The Springut Group to produce 10 concerts in 2012, despite the attendance woes.
The city attributes the decline to the economy, two weeks of weak talent draw and the weather. Last summer also marked the first time the city began charging $2 admission.
The concerts are held in a parking lot on Exchange Blvd. that the city uses as a festival site in evenings and on weekends.
The mayor proposes a $100,000 contract with The Springut Group, which is responsible for booking artists, security, fire protection and food and beverage vendors. The admission brought in $61,584 in revenue to the city.
The city will put out a Request for Proposals to possibly seek a different producer for the 2013 series.
