After a meeting that can only be described as turbulent, city council has given the green light to another eight day, city-run, sole-sourced music and fireworks festival next summer.
The budget for the 2018 edition of Stars and Thunder will begin at $5,725,000.
2017's edition was first approved at $3.5 million in October of 2016. Numbers recently released showed that the festival ended up costing over $5.9 million to complete.
Mayor Steve Black's resolution narrowly passed on Tuesday evening with a five to four vote. He received support from Councillors Pat Bamford, Veronica Farrell, Andrew Marks, and Walter Wawrzaszek in addition to his own vote. Voting against the resolution were Councillors Mike Doody, Rick Dubeau, Joe Campbell, and Noella Rinaldo.
Both Doody and Rinaldo explained they weren't completely against hosting another festival, but after hearing plenty of public feedback that the first edition was too long, they stated that it seemed that a four day festival would be a better option.
Mayor Steve Black made it clear he would only support an eight day festival, as he felt it is 'less of a risk.'
"I will not vote for it. I will do my best to support whatever council decides as a direction, and make it as successful as possible. I personally feel the risk is too much for me to vote for it," he told Rinaldo after she inquired about his involvement in a four day scenario just moments before the vote.
Black's report shows that along with $5,750,000 in gross expenditures, he estimates the event will take in exactly $5,750,000 in total revenue. That includes $450,000 extra in ticket sales due to increased ticket prices, but the sales numbers are based on 2017 numbers, and not the increase in total tickets sold that Black is anticipating.
The resolution cites 'great benefit in both tourism and community pride' and also directs staff to seek agreements with promoter Ron Sakamoto for $500,000 to handle the music production including stage, lighting, video, sound and all backline requirements, as well as renew their agreement with Front Gate Tickets. David Whysall International Fireworks will also be back. The company will launch the remaining four displays which were cancelled at this year's event, for an additional cost of $175,000, meaning some days will end without a bang.
2018's entertainment budget is earmarked for $2 million.
The event will again take place from June 24, St. Jean Baptiste Day, to Canada Day on July 1.
Black explained that most of the event sponsors from this year's event have expressed interest in contributing again, including several media outlets and hotels. He told council that both the LaRonde Cultural Centre and La Caisse Populaire's stipulated that their support would be dependent on having an all Francophone day of music.
His overall pitch was that the benefits of an eight-day event outweighed those of the four-day scenario, and that some costs, such as the stage and portable restrooms would be the same either way.
Factors in favour of a four-day event listed were less burden on staff and volunteers, and that it would be less tiring for attendees.
Mayor Steve Black is aiming to have clearly defined sections for seated areas and standing areas in both the VIP and General Admission areas. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday"I actually think it's a good complaint to have at the end of a festival, if one of your number one complaints is that people are tired and worn out. It's not the worst type of complaint to have at the end of a festival, but it was one of the ones we frequently hear," said Black.
But a risk of a shorter festival is less incentive for people to buy an all-week pass as opposed to individual day passes, according to Black.
"When you have four days, people may be more inclined to hold out, wait and see if they want to buy the individual day tickets, because there's not a large price gap, and they can wait and see what the weather is and things like that. Then we'd lose a significant portion of our all-week revenue."
The shorter option would also have less of an ability to have a mix of music that would encourage an all-week pass said Black.
His plan is to have two country days, two 'older rock' days, two pop rock days, a mixed day, and a Francophone day, so those hoping to see different kinds of artists than last year will likely be out of luck.
New recommendations for the 2018 edition include reduced tickets for kids 10 and under, better defined sections for sitters versus standers, a limited number of individual day VIP tickets, and festival water bottles to be sold, which can then be filled at watering stations.
A festival finance chair will be appointed, and once assigned, that person will need to personally approve any additional expenditures outside of the $5.7 million.
