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Post by flute on Aug 4, 2007 13:53:15 GMT -5
Bayfest is crucial for Sarnia's tourism revenue Editorial - Thursday, August 02, 2007 @ 16:00 Sarnia ObserverSir: I read with some concern the noise complaints related to the recent Bayfest weekend. Obviously the limited aggravation associated with the loud music upset certain people in our community. Let me point out that this weekend represents one of the largest attractions, if not the largest, in the Sarnia area. One writer indicated that the benefits flowed to a limited number of businesses, such as restaurants, motels, etc. , forgetting that these businesses employ literally hundreds of people in our community who depend on tourism for their jobs. The Stokleys should be complimented for the risk they are exposed to in putting on this massive music festival. Apparently the cost in total is in the millions of dollars when considering the cost of the entertainers, the new stage, security personnel, to name but a few of the expenses associated with Bayfest. Stokleys do the work in organizing the event and do so without government handouts or subsidies. That in itself is quite an accomplishment. Let me congratulate the Stokleys for the success they have achieved in organizing Bayfest '07 and I want to wish them every future success for the 10th anniversary scheduled for next year. Andy Brandt Sarnia
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Post by flute on Aug 4, 2007 14:13:15 GMT -5
Funny, I was just talking to a few restaurant and motel owners the other day about the impact BayFest has on their annual revenues. Almost all of them said that they would have to layoff hundreds of employees if it weren't for that four day music event.
Jack Gibbick, owner of the Give Me a Break Motel, says that the additional revenues generated for his business BayFest weekend helps to pay the wages for his employees for the remaining 361 days of the year. "Thanks to Bayfest," he says, "I can send my kids to college. The wife and I are also looking to hire 300 new employees. Those four days really make a difference."
A spokesperson for Cheap Fast Food restaurants says that it is quite likely that they would have to close their franchise operations in Sarnia had it not been for the annual BayFest event. "Truth of the matter, is that we get almost no business at our restaurants during the year. We really depend on that four day drivethru surge just to survive," the spokesperson says.
A person from Tourism Sarnia Lambton says that 99% of the people who attend Bayfest are from out of town. Our research shows that only two or three local people attend BayFest. Everyone else is from out of town. That's a real boom for our economy.
Meanwhile, Mike Bradley is asking the Government to make Bayfest weekend a four day national holiday. It should be criminal to force people to work Bayfest weekend the mayor says. The mayor also says that there is rumour circulating of residents organizing a Stokely Day parade. People really love the Stokelys says the mayor. They have almost singlhandedly saved this community from economic collapse.
NOTE: This post is sarcasm.
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Post by flute on Aug 4, 2007 15:21:10 GMT -5
Let me point out that this weekend represents one of the largest attractions, if not the largest, in the Sarnia area. One writer indicated that the benefits flowed to a limited number of businesses, such as restaurants, motels, etc. , forgetting that these businesses employ literally hundreds of people in our community who depend on tourism for their jobs. Note how Mr. Brandt doesn't mention the local businesses that lose customers that weekend. Places like bars, taverns, restaurants, movie theatres, golf courses, etcetera. These businesses all employ hundreds of people as well. And they have to compete with Bayfest for their share of customers that weekend. The Stokleys should be complimented for the risk they are exposed to in putting on this massive music festival. What risk? I'm sure the Stokely's are not stupid enough to enter into contracts that don't afford them some protection should certain entertainers bail out at the last minute. Also, what kind of idiot puts on an event like BayFest without having oodles and oodles of insurance? Apparently the cost in total is in the millions of dollars when considering the cost of the entertainers, the new stage, security personnel, to name but a few of the expenses associated with Bayfest. The costs? The costs are paid by the people who attend the shows and buy the overpriced food and beverages. The idea is to generate enough revenue that your costs are covered and you earn yourself a tidy profit. And the Stokely's do earn a profit from BayFest. They make a substantial profit from BayFest. The cost of the stage is a onetime thing. They can also use the cost of the stage to realize significant tax savings. Other costs like security personnel, etcetera helps to lower their insurance premiums and provide them with tax benefits so that they can keep more of the profit that they make from BayFest. Hell, even the BayFest proceeds that are directed to local charities provide the Stokely's with substantial tax savings. Stokleys do the work in organizing the event and do so without government handouts or subsidies. That in itself is quite an accomplishment. Wow! Private enterprise that pays its own bills. What an accomplishment in a welfare state like Canada. Let's not forget that the Stokely's get damn near free use of city property. That could be considered to be a government handout/subsidy. Also, the Stokely's get corporate sponsorship from companies like Rogers and Molson... Just to name a few. So it's not as though they're bearing the brunt on their own. NOTE: I'm not bashing BayFest. I really don't give two shits about whether BayFest happens or not. I don't go to it, and I live far enough away that the noise and traffic has no impact on me. I do find it offensive to read of political propaganda surrounding the event in the newspapers however. Especially when the propaganda is so parochial and biased in nature.
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Post by richardnoggin on Aug 6, 2007 16:57:56 GMT -5
Someone who does nothing with their life critisizng someone who doesn't still live with their parents, Hmmm. You should sue Andy Brandt. He's got millions. I didn't know you were so knowledgeable in insurance and business affairs also??
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Post by flute on Aug 6, 2007 20:39:27 GMT -5
Someone who does nothing with their life critisizng someone who doesn't still live with their parents, Hmmm. You should sue Andy Brandt. He's got millions. I didn't know you were so knowledgeable in insurance and business affairs also?? That's a big hangup for you, isn't it? It really matters to you that I live with my parents. I just don't understand why. What difference does it make to you? Are you bitter that your parents didn't provide you with uncondional love and acceptance? Or is it that you're just getting some flack for targeting innocent people? Where I choose to reside should have no impact or bearing on how you live your life. Personally, I think you just have an axe to grind and you have nothing significant in your arsenal with which to hit me. I find that sad. I find it really sad. But you probably think that it makes YOU look like a big man, huh?
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Post by richardnoggin on Aug 11, 2007 18:39:42 GMT -5
"That's a big hangup for you, isn't it?"
Not really. It just annoys me when I hear people like you critisizing people who are doing something constructive with their lives. So in my mind you are disqualified from having anything negative to say about anyone but bums like you.
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Post by mingo3doh on Sept 9, 2007 3:35:27 GMT -5
YOU AND YOU........FIGHT!!!
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Post by richardnoggin on Sept 9, 2007 9:27:55 GMT -5
LET'S GET IT ONN!!
Wait, I'm tapping out. Submission by Puss.
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