Why? The event lost money four years straight – under three different managers -Emerald Coast Classic group, SMG/Pensacola Civic Center and Captn Fun’s. The 2005 crowds were decent – 46K, and the PNJ was its major medium sponsoer – but it still lost over $100K.
The truth is events like Springfest need to be underwritten by major sponsors. Our larger employers are city and county government- followed by the school systems, universities and hospitals. Our once large employers are mere shells of what they once were – Solutia, International Paper, GE, Armstrong, BellSouth. The banks are branches of larger systems.
The lack of sponsors is why we lost the Blue Angel Classic golf tournament, too.
Our two-trick pony economy of military and tourism is killing our chances for big events like Springfest and Blue Angel Classic. Instead, we get the Pensacola Interstate Fair….teeth and shoes optional.