While overall ticket sales for the 2018 Stars and Thunder are slower than last year, the March sales are slightly up.
A planning and financial update for the music festival and fireworks competition being held June 24- July 1 is included in the March 27 council agenda.
As of March 19, the staff report shows that 3,447 tickets worth $993,750 have been sold. At the same time in 2017, 13,121 tickets worth $2.9 million had been sold.
The month-by-month comparison shows slower sales for November to February, however the March sales are slightly higher than last year. In 2017, as of the morning of March 19 there were 166 tickets sold, while this year 174 were bought.
“In order to break even based on our budget we still need $3,264,370 in gross sales,” reads the report.
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams is the headliner for this year’s eight-day festival at Hollinger Park.
Tickets for the festival went on sale in November, and the early-bird pricing is available until April 30. After that date, ticket prices will go up. This year, council has also introduced special kids’ pricing in the general admission area.
Cash sponsorships for the event are up this year.
The report notes that $543,750 sponsors have committed this year, compared to $150,00 in 2017.
The in-kind sponsorships are the same for each year at $650,000.
For 2018, the plan is to host free activities in an expanded Urban Park downtown Timmins.
It would be offered during the week days (June 25 to June 29) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“This will include inflatables, rock wall, a rope clumber, busker performances, mini putt and local musicians,” reads the report. “On Canada Day we will have a site (location to be determined) for free activities which will include inflatables, rock wall, rope climber, busker performances and local musicians.”
You can read the full report here. It will be up for discussion at the March 27 council meeting.
Tickets for the festival are available at starsandthunder.com.
