Fair’s Revenue 9% Below Expectations

The bad weather and sluggish economy that kept visitors away from last summer’s Ventura County Fair resulted in fair revenue that was about 9% below expectations.

Michael Paluszak, general manager of the Ventura County Fairgrounds, released the final figures Tuesday to the fair board.

“We were not blessed with great weather,” he said Wednesday, also citing the soft economy as a factor.

“We’re a recreational endeavor, and we rely on discretionary money,” he said.

Fairground officials had budgeted this year’s fair revenue at $2.6 million. Instead, revenue fell short of that figure by $240,000.

Paid attendance was 7% below last year. Parking revenue also was down, as was concession revenue, despite an increase in fair competitors.

Paluszak said the lower revenue won’t cause significant operating or program changes next year.

“It’s a significant amount of money, but out of a $7-million (yearly fairgrounds) budget, it’s not the end of the world,” he said.