Some say the Stadium of Fire misfired

PROVO — If ticket sales are a barometer of success, this year's Stadium of Fire would be judged a success.

More than 65,000 people flocked to the capstone event of America's Freedom Festival at Provo — and an estimated 150,000 more lined nearby streets to see the fireworks sparked after country star Reba McEntire's encore.

But when the last rocket glared red, many of those inside and out of LaVell Edwards Stadium grumbled about the length of the event, what seemed like a shorter-than-usual fireworks show and in-your-face political overtones.

"The fireworks were depressing. There weren't as many as in the past," said Ray Thacker, who attended the July 3 event with his family.

"It had also turned into a Republican convention. I'm all for both parties, but it got to be a little much with Sean Hannity pushing his conservative views."

But some fans of Hannity, whose talk show is heard locally on KSL Newsradio 1160, walked away disappointed, too.

Why? They missed what he had to say because of a problem with the speakers, said spectator Genevieve Hanson, who complained about not being able to hear what performers were saying.

And others took offense at the presence of Oliver North, who has gained a following as a conservative radio commentator but remains politically tainted for his role in the 1987 Iran-Contra scandal.

In addition, one of the organizers, in the final moments of the event, took aim at recent legal skirmishes regarding the Pledge of Allegiance, hailing public patriotic displays mentioning God, "regardless of what judge in San Francisco says."

But organizers of America's Freedom Festival at Provo don't consider their selection of such guests as Hannity and North, as well as a tribute to late President Ronald Reagan, to be partisan. They call it patriotic.

"All we're trying to do is send out a message about love of country, freedom we enjoy here and that we are anxious to support those working to gain their freedom elsewhere," said Carl Bacon, festival director.

"This is non-political. However, there are reasons people maybe feel that it is because we are pro-military."

But many may have relished the atmosphere, considering that Utah County in the 1980s was considered the most Republican county in the country.