Mayfest, Blue Dome Prove People Will Come Downtown

[PonderInc]

Estimates are that 400,000 people came downtown for Mayfest and the Blue Dome Festival.  Gosh, despite all the alleged "high crime, lack of parking, and homelessness!"  So, if 400,000 people can (and joyfully do) come downtown for these festivals...what's the lesson?

Give the people a product--a reason--to come downtown and they will.

Everyone who's banking on downtown (and there are more every day who are investing in new retail, restaurants, bars, hotels, lofts/apartments, etc) should be happy.  All we need is critical mass.  Give the folks something great, and they will be there.  Provide a great product, and all those lame excuses evaporate in the rush of people eager to enjoy something cool and unique.

(Anyone who doubts this should drop by McNellies on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.  Always a good crowd.  Families and friends get together for a late lunch or a brew in a nice atmosphere with great food.  Big surprise...it works!  And it's working downtown, right now.  Get used to it!)

[TheTed]

The people who say folks won't come downtown are idiots.

Go to any city with a thriving downtown and there are people of every type, even families with little kids. They're eating, shopping, going to baseball games, etc.

I still remember when I was 8 and we walked out of Chicago Union Station. I saw a bum pull a hostess wrapper out of the trash and lick it clean.

[jamesrage]

The only thing that proves is people loves festivals.


I seriously doubt people would go to downtown 5 or 7 days a week so they can pay for parking,get hassled for money by bums and perhaps get charged more for the same stuff you can buy cheaper elsewhere in Tulsa when you go anywhere else in Tulsa and not have to deal with those things.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by jamesrage

The only thing that proves is people loves festivals.


I seriously doubt people would go to downtown 5 or 7 days a week so they can pay for parking,get hassled for money by bums and perhaps get charged more for the same stuff you can buy cheaper elsewhere in Tulsa when you go anywhere else in Tulsa and not have to deal with those things.

I haven't been hassled by bums or overcharged anywhere outside 71st Street for years.

[jackbristow]

quote:Originally posted by jamesrage

The only thing that proves is people loves festivals.


I seriously doubt people would go to downtown 5 or 7 days a week so they can pay for parking,get hassled for money by bums and perhaps get charged more for the same stuff you can buy cheaper elsewhere in Tulsa when you go anywhere else in Tulsa and not have to deal with those things.

Your scale is measured by the point of view of one person though.  Sure, I won't go downtown 5 or 7 days a week for entertainment.  That is ridiculous to assume that is what is needed from people.  A different mix of people on a weekly basis is what would be expected, with SOME regulars who likely live close by being there on a daily/weekly basis.

It doesn't take the same people going there every day to keep a place busy.  That certainly isn't the case in the busiest part of town.  You think people go to 71st and Memorial to shop/eat on a daily basis?  No!  It is a different mix of people day by day, week by week.

[rwarn17588]

This past weekend also proves how festival attendance is dependent on good weather.

The weather was perfect all weekend, which is practically an aberration for Mayfest. And Viola! You have big attendance numbers.

[Gaspar]

It seemed like there were fewer artists this year.  More carnival type food and less unique restaurant style food.  

The weather was the big draw!  In the shade it was perfect, and even in the sun, with a little breeze you could avoid a sweat!

[PonderInc]

quote:Originally posted by jackbristow

quote:Originally posted by jamesrage

The only thing that proves is people loves festivals.

I seriously doubt people would go to downtown 5 or 7 days a week so they can pay for parking,get hassled for money by bums and perhaps get charged more for the same stuff you can buy cheaper elsewhere in Tulsa when you go anywhere else in Tulsa and not have to deal with those things.

Your scale is measured by the point of view of one person though.  Sure, I won't go downtown 5 or 7 days a week for entertainment.  That is ridiculous to assume that is what is needed from people.  A different mix of people on a weekly basis is what would be expected, with SOME regulars who likely live close by being there on a daily/weekly basis.

It doesn't take the same people going there every day to keep a place busy.  That certainly isn't the case in the busiest part of town.  You think people go to 71st and Memorial to shop/eat on a daily basis?  No!  It is a different mix of people day by day, week by week.

I go to the 71st and Memorial area once a year.  This year, I've gone twice.  Ugh!  Once for my annual shopping trek to Eddie Bauer in Woodland Hills Mall.  And once to Sun and Ski, to replace my lost my rain jacket.  (The two things I bought in south Tulsa are things I could have bought using my computer at home.  Nothing unique to see here...move along)

[Wilbur]

If Mayfest was someplace else, say along the river or something, we'd be saying the same thing about that place.  I'll agree that providing a product people want will draw people.  Downtown has nothing to do with that.  I would go to Mayfest if it was someplace else.  I don't go to Mayfest only because it is downtown.

The other piece is, taxpayers shouldn't provide the entertainment to get people downtown, which tends to be the trend, although, Mayfest is not part of that trend.

[deinstein]

Wait until Dfest.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Gaspar

It seemed like there were fewer artists this year.  More carnival type food and less unique restaurant style food.  

The weather was the big draw!  In the shade it was perfect, and even in the sun, with a little breeze you could avoid a sweat!

Artists were the same although they get moved around from year to year. I miss helmuts but I think it was pretty much the same food as next year. Mayfest is only as good as the people who apply and hopefully these stories will drum up some new and wider variety applicants.

[shadows]

Estimates are that 400,000 people came downtown for Mayfest and the Blue Dome Festival. Gosh, despite all the alleged "high crime, lack of parking, and homelessness!" So, if 400,000 people can (and joyfully do) come downtown for these festivals...what's the lesson?

Wow !  400,000 people that are a hold passel of people that was sure hidden in the TV clips where the total numbers on the clip could have been counted on ones fingers.   Then some may have wanted to see the DT changes that's policy is spend now and let the grandchildren worry about the paying off the revenue bonds issued by reverse taxation.   Yes, either vote for G.O. Bonds or they will indebt the working poor at the back door.   Course your gift U.S. check has been deposited already and their seem to be no difficulty to spend it.  We will expect the reassurance each year.  After all the cost of paper and ink is all that is required.  (Internet depost three cents ) We have found the solution "build it and deposit the money in our bank account and we will come."  

[RecycleMichael]

So shadows decides to trash Mayfest attendance because he saw a couple of clips on the evening news?  Way to jump to conclusions there.

Mayfest was packed, especially on Saturday and Sunday. I was there every day and every night and there were thousands and thousands of people. I have been going to Mayfest for 30 years and have been involved in helping put on the festival for 21 years. I don't ever remember bigger crowds during the day on Saturday than this year.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by shadows

Estimates are that 400,000 people came downtown for Mayfest and the Blue Dome Festival. Gosh, despite all the alleged "high crime, lack of parking, and homelessness!" So, if 400,000 people can (and joyfully do) come downtown for these festivals...what's the lesson?

Wow !  400,000 people that are a hold passel of people that was sure hidden in the TV clips where the total numbers on the clip could have been counted on ones fingers.   Then some may have wanted to see the DT changes that's policy is spend now and let the grandchildren worry about the paying off the revenue bonds issued by reverse taxation.   Yes, either vote for G.O. Bonds or they will indebt the working poor at the back door.   Course your gift U.S. check has been deposited already and their seem to be no difficulty to spend it.  We will expect the reassurance each year.  After all the cost of paper and ink is all that is required.  (Internet depost three cents ) We have found the solution "build it and deposit the money in our bank account and we will come."  

I left my decoder ring in my other pants. Can anyone help out?

[Kenosha]

Have another, dude.

"hold passel"

pancakes???

quote:Originally posted by shadows

Estimates are that 400,000 people came downtown for Mayfest and the Blue Dome Festival. Gosh, despite all the alleged "high crime, lack of parking, and homelessness!" So, if 400,000 people can (and joyfully do) come downtown for these festivals...what's the lesson?

Wow !  400,000 people that are a hold passel of people that was sure hidden in the TV clips where the total numbers on the clip could have been counted on ones fingers.   Then some may have wanted to see the DT changes that's policy is spend now and let the grandchildren worry about the paying off the revenue bonds issued by reverse taxation.   Yes, either vote for G.O. Bonds or they will indebt the working poor at the back door.   Course your gift U.S. check has been deposited already and their seem to be no difficulty to spend it.  We will expect the reassurance each year.  After all the cost of paper and ink is all that is required.  (Internet depost three cents ) We have found the solution "build it and deposit the money in our bank account and we will come."