Back with a roar: Officials say over 636,000 people attended Illinois State Fair
Two years after it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois Department of Agriculture officials said Monday that an estimated 636,700 people walked through the gates during the 11-day run of the Illinois State Fair in August, making it the highest-attended fair since new attendance record-keeping started in 2014.
The fair also claimed a $6.4 million revenue.
Rebecca Clark, who completed her first year as fair manager, said weather and an easement on COVID restrictions helped boost numbers.
"The weather was probably the leading factor in (the fair's success)," Clark said Tuesday. "Mother Nature definitely gets the blue ribbon for that. I appreciate her being on my team this year."
The fair's run was marked by mild temperatures and less humid conditions.
Rain did force postponement of the USAC Bettenhausen 100 race the last Saturday of the fair. It also delayed and shortened a concert by the band Disturbed later that evening.
The estimated attendance figures announced Monday will stand, Clark said, though revenue numbers will be revised and released in the coming months.
In addition to the Bettenhausen 100, the Bares, Broncs and Bulls rodeo was also rescheduled.
More:5 questions for Illinois State Fair Director Rebecca Clark
About 472,390 fairgoers attended the 2021 fair generating an estimated overall revenue of $5 million.
That fair had a number of COVID restrictions. Proof of vaccinations or negative COVID-19 tests were required for the standing-room-only area at outdoor grandstand concerts. Masks had to be worn in public places indoors throughout the fairgrounds and at all outdoor grandstand performances.
Those restrictions were not in place for 2022.
"From a very early onset, there was this renewed optimism, this buzz about no COVID mitigations and finally getting back to normal," Clark said. "You saw that not only leading up to the fair, but during the fair, people remarked on how nice it was not to have to wear a mask. That's one of the great things about being an outdoor event is that we're able to relax those mitigations."
Clark said the economy, particularly higher fuel prices, might have figured into some families staying close to home.
Grandstand revenue set a record this summer, with over $2.3 million coming in for nine paid shows. The amount nudged out the previous mark of over $2.2 million set in 2019.
The performance of country stars Brooks & Dunn, on the first Sunday of the fair, drew the most people of all the shows with 10,142 in attendance. Other fair acts included Willie Nelson & Family, Trevor Noah and Sammy Hagar and Ann Wilson.
Overall, 48,104 grandstand tickets were sold this year.
The first Sunday of the fair had the highest attendance with 80,331 visitors.
An $8.6 million revamping of the Multi-Purpose Arena meant that the Bares, Broncs and Bulls rodeo was rescheduled for the Coliseum at 4 p.m. Sunday while the Bettenhausen 100 is slated for Oct. 15.
Clark said she got positive comments throughout the fair about the condition of the fairgrounds.
"Our buildings and grounds crews worked really hard to make sure these fairgrounds looked absolutely great," Clark said. "Even a fresh coat of paint and a nicely paved road does change the outlook on things."
In late June, Gov. JB Pritzker announced plans for a $58.1 million project that included major renovations to the Coliseum in addition to the Multi-Purpose Arena, road improvements and replacement of the roof and HVAC systems in many of the site's buildings.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois State Fair officials say attendance, revenue up
