by Evelyn Pyburn-oringally published in the Yellowstone County news print edition.
BILLINGS — The numbers show MontanaFair had another very successful year.
MetraPark Manager Bill Dutcher reported the fair numbers to Yellowstone County Commissioners on Tuesday. MetraPark depends on fair revenues to fund about a fourth of its annual budget.
With 226,333 people attending the fair, Thomas Carnival had another stellar year, said Dutcher. Although the carnival did not set a new record, following five record- setting years, they did have total sales of $973,325, of which MetraPark gets $380,330.
Night shows did, however, have a record-setting year, with total ticket sales of $687,311.
Outside vendors generated $107,000 in sales.
Midway food sales also set a new record of $201,500 in sponsorships. They sold 4,166 value passes for $248,000.
Having had no major problems for the nine-day event must be considered as another measure of a successful fair, said Sue DeVries, assistant manager for MetraPark.
MetraPark staff also tore down the fair and prepared within a week to host 10,000 Gold Wing motorbikers – another measure of success for MetraPark.
The Gold Wing event generated MetraPark $13,329 in concession sales, $12,000 in outside vendor sales, $19,000 in camping space rentals, and $48,000 in the rental of MetraPark, which resulted in over $9,000 going into the capital improvement fund.