Fairpark ticket prices to fall on weekdays, rise on weekends

If you're a Utah State Fairgoer, there's good news or bad news for adults, depending on when you usually visit the fair.

The Utah State Fairpark Board voted Tuesday morning to decrease weekday adult admission prices, while increasing weekend adult ticket costs.

Except for the first two hours of opening day, the previous prices have been $6 for adults, $5 for seniors 62 and older and $4 for children 6-16. The new prices will be $7 for adults on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays), $5 for seniors and $4 for children. On weekdays, the prices will be $5 for adults and seniors and $4 for children.

In addition, the board has decided to try a $1-per-person universal admission price on the fair's opening day, a Thursday, for any hour of arrival.

Earlier this year, the board had considered a $1 across-the-board admission ticket hike but decided to moderate that for the sake of families — even though the state fair has now had two straight seasons of sagging attendance.

According to Donna Dahl, executive director of the Fairpark, the tragic events of 9/11 decreased attendance significantly in 2001. Then, this past September had a spate of rainy days and attendance sank even lower — gate admission revenue was down $74,000 and entertainment revenue dropped by $172,000.

"The rain did impact everybody," Dick Abbott, the Fairpark finance director, said. "That's what's eating up our rainy day fund, literally, rainy days."

New Fairpark board chairman Lorin L. Moench Jr. said it's obvious the board has a shortage of revenues and if the reserve fund has to be used one more year, the board could be in the red by the 2004 fair — unless the state kicks in more money.

Dahl said the state supplemented the Fairpark's budget this year with an additional $358,000 appropriation. She's appreciative of that but indicated at one time the governor promised to supplement a total of $600,000 annually.

"The problem is we've got to get more people to the fair," board member Spencer Jones said.

Doug Peterson, another board member, agreed and pushed for the increase/decrease plan. The fair attracts its largest crowds on weekends and increased rates then would bolster a sagging budget. Lower prices on less-attended weekdays will allow those adults who need to save money to enjoy the fair.

If weekday attendance increases, vendors who have complained in recent years about lagging business should also be happy.