JANESVILLE, Wis. — The loss of the 2013 Southern Wisconsin AirFest could be Rockford’s gain.
The southern Wisconsin show is not likely to return until a U.S. jet team is signed on for future air shows. The 2013 Rockford AirFest will feature the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels.
Tom Morgan, director of the Southern Wisconsin AirFest, said an air show without the Blue Angels or the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is not financially sustainable.
“We had the Canadian Snowbirds signed for the 2013 show, but we could not get the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds,” Morgan said.
“While the Snowbirds have been a great addition to our shows, we just can’t make it without one of the two U.S. jet teams.”
The necessity for a U.S. jet team became more important after the Chicago Rockford International Airport announced it would feature the Blue Angels at its 2013 show. Historically, AirFest is only successful when the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels fly, Morgan said in a news release issued Sunday.
“Rockford’s show next year is the first week in June with the Blues soon after our traditional Memorial Day weekend date,” Morgan said. “Without a U.S. jet team, we could not compete.”
Increased financial support, in addition to a U.S. jet team, is needed for future air shows, Morgan said.
“We need more community support and corporate sponsorship,” he said. “We do not receive any public funding. In fact, we pay the county to use the airport.”
The absence of public subsidies puts the Wisconsin show in stark contrast to other shows, like Rockford’s.
“Rockford has support from the county and their airport commission,” Morgan said. “They also have a 5 million-population market within a 45-minute to one-hour drive. We have to compete with that, and we can, but not without the Thunderbirds or the Blues.”
Morgan said future air shows would cost $400,000 or more.
“I understand their concern and their decision to cancel the 2013 show because air shows are very expensive to put on,” said Mike Dunn, Rockford airport director. “That said, it does offer Rockford the opportunity to reach out and possibly attract some new audience members. We won’t do any more or less in terms of marketing — we always market the Madison, Janesville and southern Wisconsin areas.”
“We certainly will want to reach out to some of their sponsors and see if they have any interest in helping our show here.”
Southern Wisconsin AirFest was founded in 2003 and has since donated more than $500,000 to non-profit agencies in the Janesville area, Morgan said. The lack of a U.S. jet team, not the loss of the show’s lead corporate sponsor, prompted the show cancelation, he said.
“ABC Supply has been a tremendous lead sponsor for our event and remains committed to it,” he said. “We welcome ABC Supply as our lead sponsor at our next show with the Blues or the Thunderbirds.”
But AirFest President George Messina painted a bleak picture for the event.
“This was a great event that we have been proud of for the past 10 years. However, without additional community and sponsorship support and a U.S. jet team, AirFest is simply not sustainable,” Messina said. “AirFest’s generous sponsors are just that — sponsors; therefore, (they) have no financial responsibility associated with this not-for-profit entity.
“Their generosity and support have made it possible for AirFest to not only contribute to support the goals of WAA, but also over the past 10 years have injected millions of dollars into the local economy,” Messina said.
AirFest’s near-term future is in the hands of the Blues and Thunderbirds. They will announce next month whether they will come to Rock County in 2014.
“The application process was completed July 1,” Morgan said. “We’ve completed all the paperwork necessary, so it’s now just a matter of waiting to see if we get one of the teams.
“The teams select the counties,” Morgan said. “Our 2014 plans depend entirely on whether one of the teams selects Rock County.”
Source: http://www.rrstar.com
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