Ticket price hike at State Fair?

The State Fairpark Board is mulling over whether to raise the admission price to the State Fair next year, even though the cost of putting on the annual event has not increased the past four years.

The board is expected to consider a ticket price hike at its Aug. 20 meeting.

The board, which rejected an admission price increase last year for the upcoming fair, discussed many of the same issues Tuesday concerning ticket prices. But this time the board widened the scope to include a debate of whether to continue the free admission period on opening day and possible parking fee increases.

Current state fair parking is $4 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. That will be the same for this year but will be reviewed for 2003.

The board needs to finalize its proposed 2003-04 budget during August. Preliminary figures make it look doubtful the fair budget can be in the black without a ticket increase.

Current state fair ticket prices are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors 62 and older and $4 for children 6-16. Children 5 and under are free.

Richard Abbott, Fairpark controller, said one study recommended the prices for adults would need to be $7.17 to be competitive.

Board member Don Marchant argued that if admission was raised gradually, it would have less of an impact on families, as well as providing the fair with needed revenue.

"We've been giving people a bargain," he said.

Fairpark board chairman Lynn Runolfson said raising prices gradually, by 25 cents each year, would present new challenges for the Fairpark staff. That's because they'd have to deal with more coin change, and that would require more labor to process.

Abbott said a $7 or $7.50 adult cost is about in line with first-run movie admission tickets.

However, board member Russ Fjeldsted said that may not be a suitable comparison.

"We'd have a day event for $7. This is more than a movie. It's a one-time-a-year event."

Marchant said skiing is perhaps a better comparison because it's a half-day, or day event.

A $1 increase in ticket prices would add about $100,000 to the fair's income.

"Our philosophy is to keep the price down, so more can participate," Runolfson said.

Another issue is whether the state fair should retain its free admission policy during the first few hours of opening day. Board member Judith Olson wonders if a $1 admission or a half-price deal on opening day wouldn't be a better alternative.

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E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com